by
Ray Fazzi
Even one of the greatest financial downfalls in U.S. history hasn't
been enough to get people to take retirement planning more seriously,
according to a new survey.
Both the mutual fund industry and advocates for fund shareholders found
something to like in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision Tuesday
regarding fund fees.
Top executives may soon have to cope with the same health-care coverage
as their employees or pay on their own for some of the extras their
companies used to provide them.
The Medicare tax in President Barack Obama's new health-care legislation
will hit the rich hardest at first. But its impact may spread over time
to not-so-wealthy taxpayers.
UBS AG's advisors see the recent announcement of nearly 200 layoffs as a
sign that things may be looking up.
by
Jeff Schlegel
The CFP Board of Standards Inc. this week added
two members to its Disciplinary and Ethics Commission, filling out the
nine-person body that doles out penalties for misconduct violations.
Financial advisors may look to overseas markets and alternative investments as they move clients back into stocks, according to several new
research reports.
A proposal to hire an investors' advocate at the Securities and
Exchange Commission begs the question: What is the SEC advocating now,
if not the interests of investors?
Exchange-traded funds that focus on dividend-paying
stocks trailed the market in 2009, but they may
attract bond investors who are worried about the
prospect of rising interest rates.
by
Dorothy Hinchcliff
Morningstar launched a complete upgrade today of a research and
investment software platform used by about one in four advisors in the
United States.
There is a window of opportunity to tap into the huge gift-tax savings now associated with a GRAT before Congress clamps down on the rules.
Small-company stocks have enjoyed a good run against their larger peers,
but past
market returns suggest their winning streak may be near its end.
Firms are spewing reports about how people need hundreds of
thousands of dollars to cover health-care expenses in retirement. Are
those costs real or is this a ploy to gather assets?
by
Karen DeMasters
Institutional investing techniques can help advisors provide wealthy
individual clients with a more structured investing approach, says
Steve Horan at the CFA Institute.
California has become one of the world's top solar power markets and has
attracted startup companies that make biofuels.
Roth conversions and charitable remainder trusts are two tools tax advisors are pushing to help taxpayers leave more money to their children and their favorite cause.
Edward Jones plans to add more than 1,000 brokers in the U.S. and Canada
this year as it seeks to expand its presence in urban and coastal
areas.
by
Ray Fazzi
Enthusiasm for the markets has waned since the end of last year, as
money managers take a wait-and-see approach on economic recovery,
according to Russell Investments.
Firms with multiple brokerage channels are seeing notable success in both recruiting and retaining U.S. advisors, analysts say.
Financial advisors are fielding calls from clients worried about the new health-care bill and what it will cost them.
