Not long ago, Chad Nehring did something he hadn’t done for 12 years: He took a real vacation. Although Nehring runs his Appleton, Wis.-based practice, Conceptual Financial Planning, with a partner, he bears most of the responsibility for...

Even though the market has been rallying for more than two years, clients remain wary. Many still are clinging to big cash stakes. To calm nerves and ease clients back into stocks, consider using equity funds that rank among the most conservative...