Investment Insights

Updated Monday, May 20, 2013 as of 4:20 AM ET

Portfolio - Investment Insights

U.S. Is Best Market for Fund Investors, Says Morningstar

The United States is the best market for fund investors based on criteria such as investor protection, transparency, fees, taxation, and investment distribution, according to�Morningstar�s Global Fund Investor Experience report, which assesses the experiences of mutual fund investors in 24 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Morningstar researchers evaluated countries in four categories: Regulation and Taxation, Disclosure, Fees and Expenses, and Sales and Media. Morningstar weighted the questions and answers to give greater importance to factual, empirical answers as well as the high-priority issues of fees, taxes, and transparency. Morningstar assigned countries a letter grade for each category and then added the category scores to produce an overall country grade. The report�s authors gathered information from available public data and from Morningstar analysts. more »

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Advisors Urged to Invest in Gender-Balanced Corporate Boards

“If corporate America does not achieve parity in boardrooms as other countries are actively implementing, we will fall further behind,” Eve Ellis warned at the Women Advisors Forum. more »

Female Investment Managers Outperforming Men

Women advisors are more risk averse than their male counterparts, and in the wake of the financial crisis, that has proven to be a good thing. more »

10 Global Investing Strategies for 2013

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Pimco Pares Risk on View Monetary Easing Distorts Global Markets

PIMCO is shying away from risky assets as it sees a growing disconnect between the performances of financial markets and the global economy. more »

Investors Optimistic About Year Ahead

A new Franklin Templeton survey found that globally investors are optimistic about 2013, but are still wary of the potential for risk. more »

The Quest for Yield

Yield by any name may sound sweet, but experts say closed-end fund investors need to consider other factors, too. more »

Fidelity Launches Target Volatility Portfolio

Fidelity Investments has rolled out a target volatility strategy, the Fidelity VIP Target Volatility Portfolio. The portfolio seeks to manage total return volatility within a target range. more »

Low Interest Rates Could Ding Retirement Plans, EBRI Warns

A new study attempts to quantify the very real effect that low interest rates and muted yields in certain asset classes could have on investors' retirement planning. more »

Goldman's Blankfein: This Could Be China's Century

The Goldman Sachs chief is bullish on China, calls proposals for taxes on financial transactions "screwy," and believes that his firm needs to do a better job of repairing its image. more »

7 Smart Ideas from Active Managers

Speakers and attendees alike had plenty to say about the merits of an active management approach to investor assets at the annual conference of he National Association of Active Investment Managers. Check out some of the smartest things overheard at the conference. more »

Alternative Investments With the Best Payoff

Some nontraditional investments can provide valuable diversification in a portfolio. But choose wisely. more »

Overcoming a Crisis of Trust

From athletes who abuse illegal substances in order to win to business executives who lie on financial statements to boost profitability, examples of cheating are all around. more »

Bullish Market, Recovering Economy Deserve Respect

The current investing enviornment is the “Rodney Dangerfield” of bull markets, because even after five years of bullish returns it is still not getting the respect it deserves, according to Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab’s chief investment strategist. more »

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