Advisor Sales Strategies

With applications for Social Security Disability Insurance reaching 275,981 in September 2011, 19 percent higher than in September 2010, Allsup recommends working with a representative when approaching the Social Security Administration with a claim.

Transamerica Retirement Services will host a webinar for financial advisors and consultants at 4:30 p.m. EST on Oct. 19, 2011. The discussion will focus on defined benefit and cash balance retirement plans and how to identify potential clients who may benefit from these types of plans.

Automatic employee enrollment into a company 401(k) plan raises participation for all racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study by Vanguard.

Are investors overreacting to the prospect of a recession?

Annuity Think Tank has started a television site dedicated to annuities, called annuity television. The consumer site will offer educational annuity videos, while providing annuity white papers, free reports and daily annuity-related blogs.

State governments are focusing increased attention on legal and regulatory protections against elder abuse, including scams that deprive older people of financial assets.

Average returns for funds with an equal mix of stock and bond allocations have historically been statistically equivalent during recessions and expansions, according to Vanguard.

For the third quarter of 2011, the John Hancock Investor Sentiment Index score is +10, a significant drop from the +18 score in the years second quarter and from the +22 score of the inaugural index in Q1 2011.