Nick Maggiulli, chief operating officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management, has introduced the 0.01% rule as a financial guideline to help with small spending decisions. The rule suggests that if a potential purchase is 0.01% or less of one's net worth, it can be made without significant worry. However, Maggiulli notes that there is potential for misuse by justifying frequent small splurges.

Widowed clients often face both emotional strain and complex financial transitions that require patience and structured guidance, writes Christopher D. Bentley, CFP®, CLU, BFA, CRPC. Advisers can support them by addressing urgent needs first, reassessing investment risk tolerance and carefully navigating retirement, tax, insurance and estate decisions. With both technical expertise and emotional sensitivity, advisers can help clients move from uncertainty to long-term financial security. Read the Journal article now.

Retirement planning for women can be complex, requiring ongoing adjustments for changing health, marital status, income sources and family responsibilities, writes Alexandra Armstrong, CFP®, founder and chairman emeritus of Armstrong, Fleming & Moore Inc. Advisers must go beyond financial projections to help clients prepare emotionally and physically for multiple phases of retirement, from active years to later-life care. Read the Journal article now.

Many older Americans hold a higher percentage of stocks in their portfolios than they prefer, according to the Center for Retirement Research, but many financial advisers say this higher stock allocation is beneficial, given rising living expenses and life expectancy. While investors aged 50 to 78 would like to allocate 37% of their portfolios to stocks, actual allocations range from 43% to 48%, driven by default options in 401(k) plans such as target date funds.

Dimensional Fund Advisors Chairman David Booth offers practical advice in investing for your clients, emphasizing the importance of setting long-term, attainable goals and breaking them down into manageable annual steps. He also stresses the need for flexibility in financial planning to adapt to life's unpredictable changes.

The wealth management industry is at a key inflection point, with many firms falling into a "comfort trap" and hesitating to act boldly and make changes amid looming structural shifts, write Steve Gresham and Suzanne Schmitt of NextChapter. They highlight trends such as digital disruption and an adviser talent shortage and suggest changes firms should make to proactively redefine their value proposition.

With AI use accelerating in wealth management, many firms face increasing regulatory risks due to gaps in internal oversight and compliance protocols. Experts at the recent Future Proof Festival highlighted that AI-related missteps -- such as mishandling client data, unarchived communications or vendor vulnerabilities -- can expose firms to SEC penalties, which have surpassed $1.5 billion in recent years. To mitigate these risks, they urge financial professionals to implement clear AI usage policies, archive all AI-generated communications and ensure regular adviser training aligned with compliance manuals.

The IRS and Department of the Treasury issued final rules on Roth catch-up contributions under a provision of the SECURE 2.0 retirement package. Retirement plans are expected to follow the rules on a "reasonable, good faith" basis in 2026.