Though the DOL Fiduciary Rule is off the regulatory table at this point, its impact on investment advisory and wealth management practices is undeniable and likely lasting.  As a result, financial planning has become a strategic priority for many firms and advisors.  Yet from what we at Greene Consulting have seen, the implementation of such…

Recent research about the financial services industry suggests we have some work to do as to how our industry is perceived by the general public. In 2016, the financial services industry (for the fourth consecutive year) ranked dead last out of 15 industry categories.[1] Only 1 out of 3 customers are strongly committed to continuing…

“75% of solution selling efforts were considered failures after only three years.” McKinsey & Company 2015 I thought it timely to write about this topic as we have recently run into so many financial services firms who are implementing a new sales process. Obviously, the goal in doing so for most firms is to enhance…

By: Lisa Earle McLeod Lisa Earle McLeod is a leading authority on sales leadership and the author of four provocative books including the bestseller, Selling with Noble Purpose. Companies like Apple, Kimberly-Clark and Pfizer hire her to help them create passionate, purpose-driven sales organization. Her NSP is to help leaders drive revenue and do work…

In this our fourth in a series of articles about helping clients in the Accumulation Phase of Retirement Planning, we address the fourth root cause of inadequate retirement saving, which is improper allocation of their retirement accumulation portfolio(s) when measured against their objectives and risk tolerance. We have been witnessing a steady decline in defined…

As we mentioned in a previous post, Whitney Houston was having some trouble with estate planning before her death due to complicated family issues.   And now after her passing, it may only get worse. Financial Planning Magazine discusses what could become a big problem. If Whitney has only a simple will, and leaves her potential…

Here are a couple of rules-of-thumb regarding estate planning: It doesn’t exist if it’s not in writing. It is especially important to put a written plan in place in a second marriage where children are involved. Verbal understandings among family members, especially when a second marriage between one or two parents takes place, tend to…

Now that couples can exclude up to $10 million ($5 million for singles) from estate taxes, most of us have no need to worry about estate planning. Right? Well, not exactly. Clients still have estate-planning needs that need to be addressed. Here are just a few that financial planners and advisors should keep on their…

The current environment requires financial advisors and planners to be well versed in a wide array of products, services, and planning techniques. This is a daunting task, but is especially difficult when seeking to explore a client’s financial needs in an area outside the advisor’s comfort zone. Take estate planning, for example. For many advisors,…

Financial planners should take note that the IRS recently announced inflation adjustments for 2012. In addition to increasing personal exemptions, standard deductions, and widening the tax brackets for income taxes, this will also raise the estate tax applicable exclusion amount to $5,120,000 (up from $5,000,000). The annual exclusion for gifts, however, will remain unchanged at…