UPDATED AS OF NOV. 8, 2018As expected, the Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in the congressional midterm elections, portending a major shift in focus for retirement policy issues.Currently the party affiliation in the House stands at 219 Democrats and 193 Republicans. In the... READ MORE

The growth and maturity of the independent advisor industry segment has brought new levels of competition among firms, particularly when it comes to attracting and retaining talent, according to the latest findings from Schwab’s Independent Advisor Outlook Study.In the past five years, a third of... READ MORE

IRS guidance issued last month clarifies when advisors and other taxpayers can continue to deduct 50% of the cost of food or beverages conducted in the course of doing business.Prior to enactment of last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), taxpayers generally could deduct 50% of meal expenses and... READ MORE

The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing rule changes to the disclosure regime for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts in an effort to help investors with their investment decisions.According to an Oct. 30 announcement, the proposal seeks to build upon the commission’s... READ MORE

A new study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute warns that Americans should be concerned about saving for health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses in retirement.Since 2011, the amount of savings Medicare beneficiaries are projected to need to cover program premiums, deductibles... READ MORE

With firms under pressure to expand, fees facing increased scrutiny and client attitudes changing, it’s more important than ever for advisors to stand out from the crowd, yet a new study finds that a majority of investors think all advisors make the same promises.In fact, the study by BNY Mellon’s... READ MORE

The United States maintained an overall grade of ‘C’ in a global study of retirement systems around the world, but there were some overall improvements in the score. Now in its 10th year, the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index (MMGPI) examines the retirement income systems in 34 countries,... READ MORE

A new study finds that millionaire investors have a positive current financial outlook, but they are uncertain about the future and are looking to advisors for help. In the midst of the longest bull market in history, Fidelity Investments’ 2018 Millionaire Outlook Study reveals that investor... READ MORE

In a sign of ongoing strategic purchases and deal-making, Invesco and MassMutual announced Oct. 18 that the firms have entered into an agreement whereby Invesco will acquire MassMutual asset management affiliate OppenheimerFunds, Inc. — a combination that will result in one of the largest global... READ MORE