September is our annual broker-dealer issue and includes the 22nd annual Broker-Dealers of the Year contest. Chosen by their own reps, the four winners met us in Chicago to talk about the issues they face in their businesses and the industry overall.
September also brings the 12th annual Top Wealth Managers survey. We uncover the changes and challenges the wealth management industry has experienced over the last year and look ahead to new ones.
Also in this issue, look for the 2012 Broker-Dealer Sales Oversight study, which examines the state of broker-dealer compliance and interaction with sales practice management. Olivia Mellan shares what she's learned about why boomers are divorcing and how their advisors can help them. And, Savita Iyer-Ahrestani explains the right way to invest in China.
To Serve and Protect: The 2012 Broker-Dealers of the YearNot to take anything away from previous Broker-Dealers of the Year winners, but the interaction between this year's honorees at our roundtable discussion in Chicago was top-notch, once again showcasing the passion and dedication that earned each of them the award.
All of this year's participants were owners or part-owners of their respective firms, and the entrepreneurial spirit was present throughout. Group Editor-in-Chief James J. Green and Editor-in-Chief John Sullivan sat down with the winners to get their thoughts on regulations, service, succession planning and budgetary priorities.
The wealth management industry is rapidly changing and has entered into the mature stages of its evolution. The average wealth management firm is not only much larger, but is also a more prominent competitor with a well-established brand, presence and reach into the very top levels of the high-net-worth market.
Many firms are owned by institutional investors, such as private equity and publicly owned firms. New structures of ownership and branding are emerging, providing new resources and capabilities while altering the competitive landscape. Finally, the patient efforts of organically grown firms have paid off in building large, competitive organizations. Philip Palaveev and Jonathan McQuade break down the results of the 12th annual Top Wealth Manager Survey.
Forces for Good: Trends and Challenges for Broker-DealersIn 2010, Albridge, an affiliate of Pershing, a BNY Mellon company, commissioned Beacon Strategies LLC, a strategy and tactical consulting firm that focuses on the broker-dealer market, to systematically examine the state of broker-dealer compliance and interaction with sales practice management. The results were published in November 2010 in a report entitled "Broker-Dealer Sales Practices Oversight: Secrets of Their Success."
Albridge believes it is important for the broker-dealer community to have a continuous, updated perspective on this topic, and commissioned Beacon to update this study in January 2012. Chip Kispert and Marshall Levin of Beacon Strategies share the results of the study.
The Baby Boomer Bust-Up
Life Partners: Grow Your Practice With an Insurance Partner
New China: Investing in a Growing Global Leader
On a Tear: How Altegris Made Alternatives Pay Off
