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The article offers tips on choosing automated investment advisers. Topics discussed include the common approach of robo advisers including using automation to choose investments and focus on low or no fees, the market value of assets managed by Internet-age advisers and the characteristics of a robo-adviser customer as described by software engineer Ed Lee.

The article discusses a measure of deception among certified financial planners (CFP) who advertise as being paid exclusively by fees charged to clients. Some who claim to be fee-only advisers work for brokerage firms or insurance companies that in fact charge commissions. Standards set by regulating body the CFP Board bar such planners from calling themselves fee-only advisers.

The article reports on the rebranding strategy of financial planners in the U.S. and the concern of financial adviser Deena Katz and other advisers on the impact of such strategy on people who need urgent financial help.

The article focuses on fee-based brokerage accounts in the U.S. The author reports that as a result of a federal court decision, firms have until October 2007 to end their fee-based brokerage programs. The article defines those programs as popular accounts in which clients typically pay an annual fee for an unlimited number of transactions along with basic investing advice. The court found fault with the program because brokers were giving advice without being registered as investment advisors.

The article focuses on a change in the financial planning industry of the U.S. being seen in 2007. The industry has started to pay closer attention to and offer services to consumers in the 20 to 30-year-old group, which had long been shunned because of their lack of wealth. Companies within the industry have made the change because it has realized that these younger clients may make their way into wealth in coming years and may continue to need and use their services

The article provides answers to nine questions pertaining to personal finance for newlyweds and the role that money plays in a relationship. Couples should discuss their financial assets and liabilities before getting married, the type of debt a partner-to-be has, spending habits, financial aspirations and duties, career expectations, and the number of checkbooks that will be used. Financial planner Lauren Gadkowski makes a suggestion for approaching the topic of a prenuptial agreement.

Discusses how advice from financial planners may be biased. Announcement by the National Association of Securities Dealers of settlements with securities firms used by outside planners and accountants; Way that planners and accountants may promote certain mutual funds that they are more likely to financial benefit from; Allegations against Linsco/Private Ledger Corp..

Discusses how the Vanguard Group is bolstering its resources to provide advice on retirement. How the company has doubled its staff and expect more growth in the future; Other financial services companies who are getting involved in retirement planning; Challenge that Vanguard faces in offering retirement advice because of its strong association with do-it-yourself investors; Possible response of investors.

Reports that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Morgan Stanley with failure to tell clients that it paid its brokers more to sell certain mutual funds that were more profitable to the firm. Other SEC charges against Morgan Stanley, resulting in additional costs to mutual-fund investors; Value of settlement reached on the civil charges; Comments from Stephen Cutler, director of the SEC's enforcement division regarding the integrity of advice investors receive from financial advisors; Excerpt from a statement released by Morgan Stanley chief executive officer Phillip Purcell in regret of the company's information disclosure practices. INSET: Scandal Scorecard.

Presents advice from investment professionals regarding the portfolio of Charles Boyet. Value of Boyet's retirement savings; Concentration of Boyet's portfolio in real estate investment trusts (REIT); Comments from Boyet regarding his portfolio's vulnerability; Age of Boyet's wife, indicating that she is likely to living longer than him and the need to keep as much principle in retirement account as possible; Results and recommendations of three financial planners, who analyzed Boyet's portfolio; Patricia Brennan of Key Financial; Marshall Jaffe of Jaffe Asset Management; Nelson Lam of The Lam Group.

Focuses on the retirement planning of Jim and Sue May, a Kentucky couple. Amount of money amassed in the May's retirement income; Comments from Jim May regarding how much money he will need to retire and how that figure kept changing over the years; Questions that all pre-retirees should ask themselves; Analysis of the Mays' portfolio, indicating a need for diversification; Percentage of the entire portfolio invested in U.S. Bancorp; Advice given to the Mays from three retirement planners: Pillar Financial Advisors, Zussman Financial Advisors and Mayhew Asset Management.

The article reports that the popularity of behavioral finance has motivated financial planners to act as therapists by helping clients get in touch with their feelings behind their relationships with money, including exploring experiences that contribute to self-destructive financial behavior.

The article offers advice on how financial advisors can teach financial concepts such as personal financial management and investing to their children. Tips include speaking to children about finance when they are young to foster a positive attitude toward money, teaching them about inflation, and reinforcing good values.

The article offers suggestions for meeting with a financial adviser for the first time such as understanding how advisers are paid, organizing financial records, and having a realistic approach to financial planning.

This article explores how some people in the U.S. are saving for their retirement. It cites the decision of a couple to rent instead of buy a house to save for their retirement. It also discusses the effort of a single man to put funds into his 401(k) retirement plan. The article also presents the views of financial advisers on the saving strategies.

This article discusses the move of some financial advisors to talk to clients about their religion or spirituality to obtain a full understanding of their financial goals.

The article features several financial advisers who provide their services to celebrities.

This section offers news briefs related to financial planning in the U.S., including the increasing number of people earmarking more of their estate for their own expenses and reducing the amount they plan to leave for their heirs, and the lucrative referrals received by a select group of Merrill Lynch advisers from the commercial-banking unit of Merrill parent Bank of America Corp.

This article discusses the factors to consider when hiring a financial adviser.

The article presents the changes in the recommendations given by several financial advisers for 2010 including William T. Baldwin of Pillar Financial Advisors, Richard L. Bellmer of Deerfield Financial Advisors Inc. and Michael Joyce of Joyce Payne Partners.

The article explores ways that a financial adviser could show his/her appreciation to an affluent client. Richard Bermont and his partner Adam Carlin made donations to nonprofit organizations using their clients' names. Carol Fabbri, managing director of Fair Advisors, sends items or observes standard occasions such as birthdays. According to etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore, thoughtfulness makes good business sense.

The article offers news briefs about investment planning. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority introduced a pilot arbitration program enabling a three-person panel to decide on a limited number of cases exceeding claims amounting $50,000. Certified financial planners are now required by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to provide information about compensation and possible conflicts of interest when engaging in financial-planning services. A list of couples who have difficulties reconciling financial differences is presented.

The article presents excerpts from a conversation between Nicholas A. Nicolette, president of the Financial Planning Association, and David Kudla, chief investment strategist at Mainstay Capital, about a new law that allows sellers of 401(k) funds provide guidance to investors, the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Nicolette says that the law could help close the advice gap. Kudla mentions that access to investment advice for the employee's 401(k) has only grown in importance.

The article considers the possibility that finance-industry insiders manage their personal finances better than those of their firms. The months of November 2006 and February 2007 had the first- and third-greatest volume of insider sales of any months since 1990, according to Thomson Financial data. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones U.S. Financials Index declined 9.8% since last November.

The article reports on efforts in the U.S. to increase the number of women in the financial planning industry. Two trade associations are increasing efforts to attract and retain more women in what remains a male-dominated industry. The Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Personal Finance Advisors have formed task forces to tackle the issue amid growing concern among their respective memberships about the low number of female financial advisers.

The author focuses on retirement planning. He suggests that people need about 75% to 85% of their preretirement income in retirement. Some financial planners warn that expenses in retirement will be higher than workers anticipate. He thinks that the later life may be the best opportunity for finding one's true passion.

Considers the increasing number of designations in the financial planning, investment-advisory, and tax areas.

The article focuses on improving index-fund portfolios and selecting an investment adviser. The trend in money managers putting clients' funds in "passive investments" such as exchange-traded funds, which are based on market indexes, is mentioned. The author suggests that investors look to the Financial Planning Association, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, or the Garrett Planning Network to find an investment planner and three questions for "passive" investment specialists to consider. Jerry A. Miccolis of Brinton Eaton Associates Inc. and Bob Frey of Financial Management Inc. offer their views on fees.

Focuses on the customer service operations of stockbrokers and alternatives for investors put off by being forced to use call-centers. Changing nature of personal stockbrokers, who now act more like wealth managers; Establishment of a call center by Morgan Stanley for clients whose accounts are under $100,000, reducing face-to-face meetings between investors and brokers; Alternatives to call centers; Suggestion to hire a financial planner that charges by the hour. INSET: Helping Hand.

Reports on the plans of U.S. financial planners to provide financial planning education to geriatric clients.

Presents the advice of three planners to Teri Lewallen, a divorced mother, on how to rebuild her finances. Comments by Lewallen concerning her financial experience; Positive aspects of her situation, including the ownership of a home and stock portfolio; Difficulties faced by Lewallen, such as her lack of experience in managing money and that she's never held a job until her divorce; Her employment as a teacher; Uncertainty over whether she should sell her home; Description of her stocks; Advice of the planners. INSETS: Teri Lewallen's Financial Snapshot;Recommendations for Teri Lewallen.

Presents a guide for funds buyers regarding the questions they should ask to inform themselves of any potential conflict of interest between their stockbrokers and the stocks they recommend. Efforts of the Securities and Exchange Commission to promote more detailed disclosures from fund sellers to reveal potential conflicts of interest; Methods of conducting a payment transaction between the buyer to the advisor; Description of multiple share classes; Incentive of an advisor to propose one share class over another; Receiving commission discounts. INSETS: Looking for Answers;Fund Investor's Checklist.

Responds to a question from a reader regarding the possibility of finding an investment advisor for a person who does not have many assets. Suggestion of finding an advisor who charges between $100 and $400 by the hour; National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, which recommends investment advisors; Need for a written agreement detailing scope and compensation, and a profile of a typical client.

Reports that brokerage firms are hiring financial advisors to lure clients with net worth over $10 million in an effort to capture a bigger share of super wealthy investors from private banks, trust companies and investment advisors that have dominated the wealth-advisory business. Details of UBS Group's plan to attract more wealthy investors; Why UBS's push into wealth-advisory is significant; Comments from Anthony DeChellis, co-head of UBS's Private Management Group, regarding the growth potential of wealth-advisory.

Focuses on the financial plans being sold by many financial service companies and warns investors interested in these plans. Example of John Haritos Jr., whose financial plan with American Express Financial Advisors did not perform well; Number of households in the United States that signed up for financial plans from mid-2000 to mid-2002, according to SRI Consulting Business Intelligence, indicating an increase from a 1998 survey; View of author that investors, who feel they are getting independent advice tailored to their own needs, are the victims of a sales tool that often make money for the advisors; Discussion of the disclosure of information by investment advisors; Percentage of advisor sales that go to proprietary products at American Express. INSET: The AmEx Advantage.