By Wendy Lanton
In their own way, words are nothing but metaphors indicating the objects they epitomize. Every word can be viewed as a metaphor representing something beyond its simple spelling and articulation. This is particularly true for some of the language featured in the industry standard new account form.
Cultivating a long lasting client bond is crucial to both the longevity of the relationship and future generations.
Wed, 2015-09-30 12:42
Cultivating a long lasting client bond is crucial to both the longevity of the relationship and future generations.
Clients look to their financial services professionals as a resource for their financial needs. Whether it is a broad based conversation about their long-term financial needs, narrowly focused questions regarding their taxes or inquiring about the latest breaking news on CNBC, the financial professional is a trusted source.
By Keith Lanton
September 10, 2015 at 11:25 AM EDT
Some leveraged Closed-end Funds are currently paying distribution rates as high as 10%.
Melville, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/10/2015 -- Hate to haggle for a bargain? You're not alone. So, imagine your excitement at having the opportunity to shop at a store where most prices are meaningfully discounted from where they were just a few weeks ago. Now, picture that a kind stranger just handed you a coupon to take an additional discount off the already reduced prices.
by Wendy Lanton
Teaching investors the role their financial representatives play is a crucial component of the educational process.
The recent barrage of articles regarding the “fiduciary standard” is not bound to cease but rather to endure. At the crux of the debate is the Department of Labor’s [DOL] intention to adopt and enforce a new standard that would, among other things, force brokers who work with retirement accounts to become fiduciaries.
By Wendy Lanton
Communication is a two-way street.
There is a symbiotic relationship between broker-dealer, advisor and client. They all rely on each other to manage a relationship that can be effective only if each party is honest and provides complete information.
By Wendy Lanton
While almost all broker-dealer and investment advisory firms recognize they need a plan to deter, prevent and detect cyber invasions, most advisors don’t seem to realize the vital role they play.
Simple steps can make the difference between keeping client data secure and suffering a cyber attack
By Wendy Lanton
Corporate culture is a top down approach. Management at member firms should take a close look at their corporate culture to ensure that what is being preached is actually being practiced.
Melville, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/06/2015 -- "Don't judge a book by its cover and your investment performance by its brokerage statement!" cautions Keith Lanton, President of Lantern Investments.
Lanton warns that investors continue to inaccurately assess the performance of their investments, especially around this time of the year, tax season, when they review their 1099 Form.
By Sherly Nance-Nash. Special to Newsday
By Keith Lanton
Holding tax-free municipals to maturity can make otherwise skittish investors more confident
The only certain thing about investing is uncertainty. That theme was validated last year and humbled the wise men of Wall Street. Seventy-two out of 72 economists polled predicted that interest rates would rise. Yet the 10-year Treasury yield fell to 2.20% from 3.00%. In addition, none of the economists foresaw the price of oil tumbling to under $60 a barrel from $110, yet it did.
By Wendy Lanton
Lately, registered representatives at FINRA registered broker dealer firms seem to be quickly heading for the doors to join RIA firms.
By Keith Lanton
Zero-coupon tax-free bonds may offer the best investment opportunity in today’s fixed-income market. Intermediate- and longer-term tax-free zeros are currently yielding about 20% more than comparable coupon-paying bonds. For example, an investor in a high-tax state can earn 3.50% to 3.75% on a 20-year tax-free muni. A client in a high federal and state tax bracket could see a tax-equivalent yield of 7.00% to 7.50%.
By Sheryl Nance-Nash. Special to Newsday
By Wendy Lanton
It's that time of year when the compliance department hands out the annual compliance questionnaire. It comes with an overwhelming sense of anxiety to many advisors even if they have nothing to fear. Why is it so dreaded? Here are the top five reasons why it is so feared:
By Ted Phillips This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By Sal Favarolo
The Federal Reserve, in keeping with its dual mandate of pursuing full employment and stable prices, has been conducting aggressive monetary policy driving interest rates to historically, low levels. This action by the Fed has resulted in large gains in bond prices. As such, most bonds are now trading at what is referred to as a “premium”.