Brian Wallheimer

Rockford

Editor-in-Chief at Financial Planning

EIC of @finplan at @arizent_co. Tips on #wealthmanagement news — [email protected]. Also a father of 3 - we camp, hike and root for the StlCards.

Articles

Ask an Advisor: Is my Social Security strategy outdated?

1 week ago | financial-planning.com | Brian Wallheimer

The turbulent economy has many retirees on edge as they see their nest eggs plummet and recover on a regular basis. That's in addition to major questions about the future of the Social Security program. Social Security's trust fund is set to become insolvent in the 2030s, meaning beneficiaries will not receive full payments if Congress fails to shore up the system.
Ask an Advisor: Should you offer friends and family discounts?

1 month ago | financial-planning.com | Brian Wallheimer

It's only natural for a financial advisor to want to help a friend or family member with some investing tips or a nudge toward an estate plan. But how far should that go? Some general advice around the Thanksgiving Day table is one thing, but should advisors offer discounts on their actual services? On the one hand, it might feel strange to charge full price to a parent, sibling or close friend.
Tariff turmoil: How advisors can stay on top of huge market swings

2 months ago | financial-planning.com | Brian Wallheimer

For days, markets turned south as President Trump's tariffs led to concerns about higher prices and global trade wars. Now, the president has paused and lowered some of his tariffs, adding to the turmoil on Wall Street, albeit in a positive direction this time. Financial advisors are often telling clients to stay the course and consider investments in the long term. But the whiplash of the past few months is a lot to handle.
Ask an advisor: What AI tools are financial advisors using right now?

2 months ago | financial-planning.com | Brian Wallheimer

Welcome back to "Ask an Advisor," the advice column where real financial professionals answer questions from real people. The topic can be anything in the world of finance, from retirement to taxes to wealth management — or even advice on advising. The 2025 T3/Inside Information Software Survey found that more than 4 in 10 (41%) advisors are using one or more search or generative AI tools today.
Top brokers, RIAs and Financial Planning rankings in 2024

Jan 20, 2025 | financial-planning.com | Brian Wallheimer

Each year, the team here at Financial Planning analyzes wealth management data from dozens of angles to shine light on the state of the industry. Over the last year, we have ranked registered investment advisories, independent broker-dealers, the top young brokers and more. Additionally, we've shined a light on the work our rising stars are doing to improve wealth management and looked ahead to see who will be impacting the industry in 2025.
Cover stories, top series: FP's 2024 wealth management deep dives

Dec 27, 2024 | financial-planning.com | Brian Wallheimer

Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors. The last several months of 2024 have been filled with the rumblings of a national election and the possibilities that will come with a new administration. But throughout the year, the Financial Planning staff spent much of its time diving deep on issues that have significant implications for the wealth management industry.
63 brokers suspended, 4 banned in CE cheating scheme

Nov 26, 2024 | financial-planning.com | Brian Wallheimer

A continuing education cheating scheme has landed at least 63 brokers suspensions and fines from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Four brokers have been barred from the industry for refusing to cooperate with the investigation. The disciplined brokers certified to the state of New York that they had completed 15 hours of continuing education to maintain their state insurance licenses when, in fact, someone else completed the requirements for them.
AI in wealth management is coming fast, Microsoft's Charles Morris says at ADVISE AI

Oct 9, 2024 | financial-planning.com | Brian Wallheimer

AI is moving fast, and it's time for advisors to get on board. That's the message this morning from Charles Morris, chief data scientist at Microsoft, who delivered the keynote session for the first day of ADVISE AI, Financial Planning's conference this week in Las Vegas. "I've never seen financial services companies adopt a technology so quickly. The things that we have access to in the next couple of years are going to be incredible," Morris said. "It's not about if AI is going to be involved.
Financial Services Trends in 2024: What marketers must know

Feb 12, 2024 | arizent.com | Brian Wallheimer

Web Seminar: Financial Services Trends in 2024: What marketers must know Tuesday, March 5, 2024 | 2:00p.m. EST | 45 minutesWhat are the most pressing pain points for decision-makers in the financial services industry this year? That's what you as a marketer need to know in order to reach your goals.
With spot-crypto ETFs on the horizon, here's what advisors need to know

Oct 18, 2023 | financial-planning.com | Brian Wallheimer

While there have certainly been early adopters and proponents of cryptocurrency among financial advisors, many have been at least a little wary about the scandal and volatility that have dogged digital currencies in recent years. But this week, the Securities and Exchange Commission reportedly ' quest for a spot-bitcoin ETF, a sign that approval of the product may be imminent.