White Papers/Reports

2012 Trends in Investing Special Report

FPA continues its annual investment research with insights on adviser use and perceptions of various investment vehicles. The chart below provides a snapshot of current and future use. More research results are available in the Journal of Financial Planning special report.

2011 Alternative Investments (PDF | 412KB)
FPA Research Center white paper, September 2011

While alternative investments are a subset of investment planning, they take a significant amount of time and energy from advisers who choose to use/recommend alternatives within their overall investment strategy. You can use the information in this whitepaper to see the strategies fellow advisers commonly employ, learn about different approaches or products you may not have considered, and compare your practice to your peers.

2011 Trends in Investing (PDF | 521KB)
FPA Research Center white paper, June 2011

This white paper can help you better understand the current investment planning landscape along with the most common strategies, tactics, and products used by advisers to help their clients achieve their goals. As an adviser you can compare your practice to your peers, see what other products or techniques are being used by advisers, and see what your fellow advisers expect in the next few years.

Articles

3-year Trends in Investment Recommendations (PDF | 521KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 15-16, Q3 2010

This overview of how investment recommendations have changed over the past three years includes information on how frequently planners re-evaluate their asset allocation strategy and what methods are being used to hedge against market turmoil.

Advisers Regaining Investing Confidence
Journal of Financial Planning, June 2010

After seeing a shift in core investing philosophies from 2008 to 2009, when clients and advisers were reeling from the market crash of October 2008, it appears advisers are regaining confidence in their investment decisions. According to FPA's 2010 Trends in Investing survey-the third year such research has been conducted-advisers seem confident with the investment vehicles they currently use and recommend.

About Annuities: Planner Experience and Client Demands (PDF | 891KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 7-9, Q2 2010

Discover how fellow planners are current using (or not using!) annuity products in the financial planning process. Also learn more about consumer interest and client demands with annuities along with FPA resources designed to help you whether you are an annuity lover or hater.

Annuities In Financial Planning (PDF | 1.99MB)
Supplement to the Journal of Financial Planning, April 2010

Get exclusive findings from FPA's 2010 Financial Adviser Use and Perceptions of Annuity Products survey, as well as the latest on FINRA Rule 2821, annuity taxation issues and the straight talk on deferred annuities in this special supplement to the Journal of Financial Planning.

A Year After the Market Crash
FPA Research Center whitepaper, January 2010

Discover how planning has changed as a result of the October 2008 market crash. Unique research is available for FPA members to learn how they compare to the average planner in regard to client interactions, investment recommendations, changes in investment philosophy, client investment actions, and general planner/practice effects.

How Planner Screen Investments (PDF | 1.5MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 8-9, Q3 2009

What effect have changes in the market had on how planners screen investment vehicles? This article looks at planner use of 22 different screens and considers changes from 2008 to 2009.

Asset Allocation Resources and Strategies (PDF | 5.5MB)
FPA Insight, Q3 2009

In this edition of FPA Insight, Cerulli Associates focuses on various aspects of the portfolio construction and asset allocation process used by FPA advisers, and how some responses to inquiries on these topics have changed since 2007.

Portfolio Construction and Managed Accounts (PDF | 6MB)
FPA Insight, Q1 2009

In this issue of FPA Insight, Cerulli Associates looks deeper into the role of investment management and, specifically, managed account programs within the practices of FPA members.

Investment Product Use (PDF | 1.5MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 8-10, 12, Q2 2008

This article explores the use of various investment products with a focused look at mutual funds, active versus passive management, alternatives, and target-date and target-risk funds.

How Financial Planners Select Investment Products (PDF | 1.5MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 1-4, Q2 2008

Learn more about the various investment screens planners use to evaluate and make investment decisions.

Managed Accounts and Rollovers (PDF | 548KB)
FPA Insight, pages 10-17, Q4 2007

Cerulli Associates looks at three issues affecting financial advisers and their relationships with broker-dealers, service agents and product manufacturers who support their practices. Adviser teams, fee-based managed account programs that have been growing in popularity at broker-dealers and IRA rollovers also are covered.

Portfolio Construction Becoming More Complex: Advisers Using Wider Range of Products (PDF | 1.5MB)
FPA Insight, Q2 2007

Learn about portfolio construction difficulties, product usage and adviser strategies for making product choices.