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What Many Advisors Overlook in Boosting Clients’ Financial Security

Clark and Mitchell find that policies and interventions aimed at increasing the financial resilience of lower- and middle-income households can help them better respond to unanticipated income needs. They also seek to determine the factors and characteristics correlated with financial resilience — and to identify if these changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the study, financial resilience is defined “as a household’s ability to withstand acute shocks having an adverse effect on its financial well-being.” While some of the inputs are objective, such as the ability to immediately cover three months of expenses in cash, other inputs are psychological in nature, such as whether respondents perceive their debt to be manageable and whether they are anxious about their finances today and in retirement. Clark and Mitchell find that respondents’ average resilience scores remained relatively stable across the first two years of the pandemic period, but some variation between groups of respondents was found. The more financially resilient households were older, better educated and earned higher incomes. Additionally, and not surprisingly, federal stimulus checks improved resilience, as did higher levels of financial literacy. By contrast, the authors explain, those with higher personal discount rates were less resilient. What It All Means...

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JetBlue, Spirit Airlines Call Off $3.8B Merger on Antitrust Hurdle

Article 0 Comments Low-cost air carriers JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines canceled their $3.8-billion merger agreement on Monday, seeing no path forward after a U.S. judge blocked the deal in January on anti-competition concerns. A successful deal would have created the fifth-largest carrier in the United States and helped Spirit ensure its survival, but the deal had been on the ropes ever since a Boston judge said it would harm consumers by reducing competition. The decision is a victory for the Biden Administration, which has taken a hard line against tie-ups in the aviation sector and argued the deal would boost ticket prices for consumers. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the decision by JetBlue “is yet another victory for the Justice Department’s work on behalf of American consumers” saying the merger “would have caused tens of millions of travelers to face higher fares and fewer choices.” The administration has used antitrust action and other enforcement efforts to try to bring down prices for U.S. residents across several industries. “With the ruling from the federal court and the Department of Justice’s continued opposition, the probability of getting the green light to move forward with the merger anytime soon is extremely...

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Here’s What Separates ‘Somewhat’ and ‘Very’ Satisfied Clients

Another technique that advisors can employ is practicing positive reinforcement through acknowledging and rewarding positive financial behaviors or milestones. By providing encouraging feedback and making sure that each client feels seen, advisors can reinforce constructive financial habits and bolster clients’ confidence in their financial decision-making. This also strengthens the advisor-client relationship by creating a supportive environment. Emotional intelligence can also play a key role in shaping investment decisions. Investors with high emotional intelligence can recognize and control their emotions when market dynamics inevitably shift. Advisors play an essential role in ensuring that clients don’t let their emotions get the best of them when making investment decisions.  In asking our survey respondents what their advisor provides to them, 40% of those surveyed who said they were “very satisfied” with their financial advisor relayed that their advisor helps “keep my emotions in check during periods of elevated market volatility.” Advisors should aim to build a collaborative relationship built on trust so that clients turn to them before they make a risky decision. Additionally, the concept of “commitments” suggests that people generally have a strong inclination to uphold their promises. Advisors can help clients control their emotions by taking an approach that fosters...

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Ameriprise Braces for $50M SEC Fine Over Electronic Messages

Ameriprise Financial has booked a charge for a $50 million penalty from the Securities and Exchange Commission over the use of electronic messaging platforms. In Ameriprise’s annual report, released Feb. 24, the firm states that it has responded to SEC document and information requests “regarding the preservation of certain business-related communications sent on electronic messaging platforms that have not been approved” by the firm. During 2023, Ameriprise states, it recorded a $50 million accrual for this matter within its introducing broker-dealer subsidiary. Ameriprise states that it has reached an agreement in principle with the SEC staff, “subject to Commission approval, that it believes resolves this matter.”

12 Worst Tax States for High Earners 0

12 Worst Tax States for High Earners

Start Slideshow As Tax Day — April 15 — draws closer, WalletHub, a personal finance website, looked at what percentage of income that high, medium and low earners across the country spend on sales and excise taxes, property taxes and income taxes. WalletHub generated estimates of the state-specific tax burden on residents at three income levels — low ($25,000), medium ($50,000) and high ($150,000) — in each of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Researchers used data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy’s 2024 report, which published tax burden estimates at seven points in the state-specific income distribution.  In order to compare tax burdens for households at the same income level across states, the researchers fit a regression model to estimate the relationship between income and tax burden for each state and the District of Columbia. They used log transformations to improve model fit and deployed this model to generate predicted tax burdens at the income levels they examined. The share of income that taxpayers contribute toward tax obligations varies by state. In most states, low- and middle-income families pay a greater share of income than do wealthy families. This regressive effect owes in part...

CSIO Announces 2024 Members’ Meeting and Reception 0

CSIO Announces 2024 Members’ Meeting and Reception

Toronto, ON (Feb. 28, 2024) – CSIO is pleased to announce its 2024 Members’ Meeting and Reception will feature a keynote address by Andrew Kirsch, Founder and CEO of Kirsch Group. The annual meeting takes place on April 18 at the One King West Hotel in Toronto. Andrew Kirsch, a graduate of Brown University in Public Policy, has almost 20 years of experience in security, having worked in both public and private sectors. He founded Kirsch Group, a risk consultancy firm helping government, corporate and private clients identify and mitigate security threats. Additionally, Mr. Kirsch was the first Department Security Officer of Ontario’s Office of the Provincial Security Advisor with a mandate to enhance information and network security across the Ontario Public Service. Prior to this, he served as an intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, where he held roles as a policy analyst and a field investigator ultimately leading teams on covert warranted special operations. Mr. Kirsch speaks regularly on the growing cybersecurity threats in Canada and what we can do to better protect ourselves. “CSIO looks forward to celebrating our achievements together with members at our 2024 Members’ Meeting and Reception,” said Catherine Smola, President &...

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Kansas’ Conrade Insurance Group Discloses Data Breach

Article 0 Comments Conrade Insurance Group this week reported a data breach upon identifying unusual activity in its email system. The Newton, Kansas-based insurance agency posted a Notice of data Event on its website stating an investigation determined that one employee email account was subject to unauthorized access between July 14, 2023 and July 27, 2023. The company said it then undertook a review of the contents of the affected email account to determine what information was present in the relevant account and to whom the information relates. Conrade said that an unauthorized party may have had access to customers’ name, Social Security number, driver’s license or state/federal identification number, and financial account number. The information is not the same for each potentially affected individual, Conrade said. The agency said it is notifying potentially affected individuals as information becomes available and providing them with information and resources to help protect their information. Conrade is providing access to complimentary credit monitoring and identify restoration services. Topics Cyber Data Driven Kansas Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Submit No Thanks Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell...

On Side Restoration Moves into Chatham to Serve Communities in Need 0

On Side Restoration Moves into Chatham to Serve Communities in Need

On Side grows in Ontario with new satellite branch opening Toronto, ON (Feb. 29, 2024) – On Side Developments Ltd. continues to expand in Eastern Canada with the opening of its newest satellite branch in Chatham, Ontario. This location brings On Side Restoration’s nationwide reach to 46 branches and is an important milestone toward the company’s growth goals in the region. From Chatham, On Side will be better positioned to serve the communities of Wallaceburg, Dresden, Thamesville, Blenheim, Ridgetown and many others. Bill Docherty, Territory Manager in Ontario for On Side, says the new branch will help meet the needs, and greater demand for restoration services within this area of the country. “Chatham and its surrounding areas are poised to have major growth because of the supply of affordable housing and its proximity to nature, beaches, and lakes. We are very excited to call Chatham home to one of On Side’s newest branches and look forward to becoming part of the community.” For On Side, this is part of a 5-year plan to increase growth and profitability while developing its people. “We’re focusing on broadening our geographical reach and building our expertise to meet the needs of more communities across...

CHES Launches Guide to Professional Liability, Medical Malpractice Insurance 0

CHES Launches Guide to Professional Liability, Medical Malpractice Insurance

CHES Empowers Insurance Brokers with a Comprehensive Guide for Business Challenges in 2024 Toronto, ON (Jan. 7, 2024) – CHES Special Risk, a prominent name in professional insurance solutions, is proud to announce the release of its highly anticipated “What’s Hot Guide” on Professional Liability Insurance and Medical Malpractice Insurance. Tailored for insurance brokers with a keen focus on industry trends, this guide is a meticulously curated resource shedding light on key sectors and coverage options crucial for navigating the complex landscape of professional insurance in today’s dynamic environment. Michael Chaplik, Senior Professional Liability Underwriter at CHES, expressed his enthusiasm about the guide’s significance in the ever-evolving realm of Professional Liability and MedMal Insurance. “In an industry marked by rapid changes, it is imperative for businesses to remain well-informed about the diverse products and options available in professional liability and medical malpractice insurance. Our ‘What’s Hot Guide’ is a valuable asset, offering insights into innovative solutions that can make a substantial difference,” he stated. To enhance the introduction of the guide, Chaplik also emphasized CHES’s distinctive advantage for insurance brokers. He stated, “Our markets are exclusive to us, offering alternative products and coverage beyond what traditional London-based MGAs provide. This...

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Ryan Specialty Q4 Net Income Up 28% on E&S Expansion

Article 0 Comments Ryan Specialty reported fourth quarter 2023 net income of $58.5 million and net income of $194.5 million for the full year. The Chicago-based specialty insurance firm grew Q4 net income by about 28% from the prior year, while full year net income improved by 19%. Ryan Specialty credited fourth quarter revenue of $533 million to solid organic revenue growth, driven by new mergers and acquisitions and expanded relationships with existing clients, coupled with continued expansion of the E&S market. Founder, Chairman and CEO Pat Ryan said 2023 marked the second best year for M&A in the company’s history, only topped in 2020 when it acquired All Risks. Ryan Specialty in December signed an agreement to acquire MGA Castel Underwriting, which is anticipated to close in the first half of 2024. The acquisition is expected add approximately $44 million of annual revenue, said Ryan. Ryan Specialty’s wholesale brokerage division netted Q4 commissions and fees of $343 million, up 66% year-over-year. Director and President Tim Turner said in the company’s Feb. 28 earnings call that Ryan Specialty continues to expect the flow of business into the non-admitted market to be a “significant driver” of the company’s growth, “more so...