Women are starting businesses at a record pace - motivated to pursue passions, financial independence and the flexibility that eludes most traditional jobs.

In the U.S. alone, women entrepreneurs generate $1.1 million in revenue on average across retail, professional and personal service businesses that have operated for 11 years. This stat comes from Visa's new 'State of Female Entrepreneurship' report, which informed their recently announced program, She's Next, Empowered by Visa, a global initiative to support and champion women in their efforts to grow their small businesses.

Barb Stegemann: Founder of The 7 Virtues

Barb Stegemann became a social entrepreneur before it was cool. She wrote a book that empowers women to use their buying power to promote peace and make a difference in the world. Then she began sourcing orange blossom oil for perfume to support farmers in Afghanistan. Her company, The 7 Virtues, has expanded its mission into other countries while selling perfumes in Sephora stores across the U.S. and Canada.

Stegemann has done all this – and more – by committing to protect her joy, no matter what stands in her way or what is

Financial planners had better get ready for Generation Z. The generation that grew up watching their millennial relatives drown in student loan debt and finds it almost impossible to imagine how someone could save for retirement, already appears more conservative with money, distrustful of financial institutions, and disinterested in traditional money management tools, according to one expert.

“They don't really trust authority, or at least they feel they are on their own,” said Marcos Jacober, gig economy expert and chief executive officer of Life Hacks Wealth. “It could affect attitudes with regards to established businesses and ways of doing business. Business will need to transform to serve

As the clock ticks down to the United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union, one prominent billionaire is predicting a major recession. While other experts see a bit of hyperbole in the doom-and-gloom forecasts, multinationals appear to be hedging their bets. But could U.S. firms find ways to benefit from Brexit?

A self-described prominent billionaire said he believes the United Kingdom’s impending “Brexit” from the European Union will wreak havoc on the world economy, creating a “lose-lose” situation for Britain, the U.S., and others.

Advisors tell investors what to look for. An ethical financial advisor would not hesitate to show their personal portfolio to prospective clients.

“Tell any new advisor that you will only invest in securities that he or she personally has money in. Then be prepared to look them in the eye and ask for proof,” said Fred Wollman, CFP^®, MPAS^®, AIF^®, founder of Wollman Wealth Designs. “You want to see the statements with their investments. Ask them to show you their financial plan. You want to see their succession plan, buy-sell agreement.”

Investors need to thoroughly vet prospective advisors,

Bethenny Frankel is cast in the national spotlight as a prolific entrepreneur, a reality TV star crowd-pleaser, a “Shark Tank” investor, and more recently as a pioneer in international disaster relief efforts that some say put the U.S. government to shame. Since she’s been interviewed by print, broadcast, and digital platforms countless times, “Advisors Magazine” was surprised to hear Frankel’s answer when we asked her, “What is the one thing that you’ve never been asked, but you wish someone would?”

“I guess, what I want,” she said.

The simplicity of her answer is juxtaposed with its depth –

A dilemma for government, professionals, and consumers
Studies show that investors cannot tell the difference between fiduciary and non-fiduciary advisors. Here’s our guide to sorting the real deal from a sharp-dressed product-pusher.Several studies show few investors can spot the difference between a fiduciary advisor’s disclosure and a broker-dealer’s. Investors, however, often fail to realize that the difference eludes them, allowing less-than-forthright service providers to take advantage of clients.
A RAND Corp. study, released earlier this year, bears this out. The study, conducted for the Securities and Exchange