RESEARCH
Survey Finds Time to 401(k) Eligibility Decreasing >
Feb 01, 2008 -- More employers are allowing workers to joining their 401(k) plan earlier, a new Profit Sharing/401k Council of America` (PSCA) survey says.
INVESTING
Merrill Buys Back Subprime-Backed Securities from MA City >
Feb 01, 2008 -- Merrill Lynch&Co. has bought back from the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) that included subprime mortgages.
COMPLIANCE
Feds Offer Cash Balance Conversion Relief >
Feb 01, 2008 -- New guidance issued by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides that cash balance conversions that have filed for an IRS determination letter and occur before next year will not be disqualified solely for relying on traditional conversion rules.
PRODUCTS
Program Lets Advisers Outsource Client Retention Strategies >
Feb 01, 2008 -- A new program, FAcontact, offers advisers a way to give clients regular continued contact, so they can spend more time prospecting.
RESEARCH
Asset Managers Struggle to Differentiate >
Feb 01, 2008 -- A study from asset manager consultant kasina suggests executives are thinking alike when it comes to facing industry challenges.
DEALS/PEOPLE
Newport Group Appoints New Northeastern Regional Director >
Feb 01, 2008 -- The Newport Group, a national full-service provider of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, has appointed Alan Valenca to the position of Regional Director, Qualified Plans, for the firm’s Northeastern region
INVESTING
ETF Assets Increase to $608B >
Feb 01, 2008 -- The combined assets of the nation's exchange-traded funds (ETFs) rose in December by $36.3 billion, or 6.3%, to $608.4 billion, according to the Investment Company Institute (ICI).
PRODUCTS
Morgan Stanley Launches Long/Short Hedge Fund of Funds >
January 31, 2008 -- Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) has launched the Morgan Stanley Global Long/Short Fund, a fund of hedge funds.
DEALS/PEOPLE
Wilmington Trust Expands with Acquisition of AST Capital Trust >
January 31, 2008 -- Wilmington Trust FSB has agreed to acquire AST Capital Trust Company, a provider of directed trustee, trust administration, and back-office services.
COMPLIANCE
403(b) Interests Excluded from Bankruptcy Turnover >
January 31, 2008 -- The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio has ruled the interests of seven debtors in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Section 403(b) plans did not have to be turned over to the Chapter 7 trustees of the debtors’ estates.