SEC “Merrill Lynch Rule″ Governing Advice Struck Down
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) rule exempting certain broker-dealers who offer investment planning advice from strict disclosure requirements was overturned Friday.
News
U-5 Notices Get Absolute Privilege
The New York Court of Appeals ruled that the notices employers must provide to the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) when they terminate an employee cannot be...
ETF Assets Increase More Than a Third Over Past Year
Over the past 12 months, assets of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) increased $110.99 billion (34.4%), according to the Investment Company Institute (ICI).
Phased Retirement Programs Require Preparation
The Pension Protection Act (PPA) paves the way for more phased retirements, but firms must consider many issues in undertaking such policies, asserts a new Conference Board report.
Consultant Introduces 401(k) Plan Optimization Services
The Advisory Group of San Francisco has launched a suite of services to help employers optimize their 401(k) plan and costs to determine whether fiduciaries and their participants...
Fidelity Investments to End DB Plan
The fund giant will instead offer a richer 401(k) match and an annual credit to a health savings plan.
John Hancock Launches New Plan and Adviser Pricing Structure
The firm has introduced a new retirement plan vehicle that gives advisers pricing flexibility.
Americans Working With Advisers Better Prepared for Retirement
Households that work with financial advisers are saving more and are on track to replace more income in retirement than those that do not.
Estimated $215,000 Needed for Retiree Health Care Costs
The average 65-year-old couple needs an estimated $215,000 to cover health care costs in retirement, $15,000 more than was predicted last year, according to research by Fidelity Investments.
Money Managers Fret About Inflation, Softening Real Estate Market
The latest Russell Investment Group poll of U.S. money managers finds an optimistic outlook tempered by concerns about conditions that could cause a market stumble.
$14M Award to Brokers Fired For Market-Timing Upheld
Rejecting Merrill Lynch’s requests to throw out the award, a federal judge upheld a $14 million award to three former Merrill Lynch brokers fired over allegations of improper...
Workers under 35 Interested in Investment Advice
Younger participants are more likely to want advice about in choosing their investments, but those in the $50,000 and under income bracket are the most likely (37%) to...
Lincoln Taps Two for Adviser Recruiting Arm
Lincoln Financial Network, the retail distribution division of Lincoln Financial Group, has tapped Dee Morgan and David Taksen for its financial planner/adviser recruiting group.
Salient Joins Fidelity’s Ring of RIAs
Salient Wealth Management LLC will now be included in Fidelity Investments’ Wealth Advisor Solutions, which gives customers of the financial services firm the opportunity to build relationships with...
Boomer Retirements Fuel Annuity Sales
Advisers who currently target small businesses – or who work with individual participants at businesses of any size – could see a major shift over the next decade,...
Most Tell SPARK They’re Ready for 22c-2
Nearly all recordkeepers say they’ll be ready for the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Rule 22c-2 deadline of April 16.
Six New SPDR ETFs Emerge at State Street
The investment management arm of State Street Corporation has added six emerging markets exchange-traded funds (ETF) to its SPDRs ETF lineup.
RolloverSystems Snags NRP Contract
California-based National Retirement Partners Inc (NRP) has signed RolloverSystems to help with its asset-retention and rollover strategy.