Alternative investments

Among financial services firms well known to investors, affluent investors have the most favorable impression of Fidelity, Vanguard and American Funds. This is according to a Phoenix Marketing International survey of 850 investors age 35 to 64 with household income and investable assets, excluding workplace retirement plans, of at least $100,000 conducted this past November.

Following the financial crisis, advisers are most likely to recommend financial services companies they perceive as ethical and trustworthy, Phoenix Marketing International research shows. Conducted this past November, the Phoenix study shows that American Funds, Vanguard, John Hancock, Franklin Templeton and Fidelity command the most favorable impression among firms well known to advisers. In terms of brand recognition, advisers cited Hancock, Prudential, Vanguard and MetLife as leaders.

Advisor confidence in the economy and the stock market rose in January, according to Rydex SGI AdvisorBenchmarking.

Macquarie Group has launched the Macquarie Mexican Infrastructure Fund, with approximately $5.2 billion in initial commitments from Mexican pension funds, Macquarie and Mexico’s National Infrastructure Fund, the latter of which, as a cornerstone investor in the fund, has made an initial commitment of $1.04 billion to $3 billion.

After plummeting 46.63% in 2008, real estate mutual funds outpaced the S&P 500 by seven percentage points in 2009, delivering an average of 30.34%. This year, however, managers of these funds expect only modest, single-digit gains.

To help the middle-class save for retirement, President Obama may have also given a boost to the annuities sector.

After the recent massive meltdown, it's no surprise that 81% of registered investment advisory firms and 79% of brokers and advisers now believe that traditional asset allocation relying on stocks, bonds and cash provides insufficient portfolio diversification.

Fred Alger Management has launched the Alger Dynamic Opportunities Fund, a mutual fund that will invest both long and short, similarly to the privately placed, institutional Alger Dynamic Return Fund.

Now that BlackRock Inc. has become the elephant in the room, the New York-based money manager plans to spend 2010 expanding internationally, developing its exchange-traded fund and defined contribution businesses.

Janus Capital Group enjoyed the benefits of the market recovery and increased demand for its fixed income funds as it posted strong profits for the fourth quarter.

After spending much of the past two years repairing its balance sheet, E-Trade Financial Corp. plans to shift its customer base from just active traders to include more long-term investors.

The ETF Council, a new trade organization for exchange-traded funds that will focus on both marketing and lobbying, is set to launch next month.

NEW YORK—Putnam Investments unveiled a new website for its 401(k) plans Monday that keys investors into a monthly retirement income figure, rather than their existing balance or a retirement savings target.

New York Life Insurance has secured the rights as the presenting sponsor of the 2010 Big East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships. The men’s championship is taking place March 9-13 at Madison Square Garden, and the women’s games will be held March 5-9 at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.

GuaranteesMatter.com, a microsite from New York Life Insurance, is designed to offer consumers educational and planning materials to help them navigate the changing financial landscape, by showcasing guaranteed products.

Bank of America’s Merrill Lynch Wealth Management unit has launched a new U.S. marketing campaign, “help2retire_____,” to illustrate individuals’ evolving retirement priorities and personal aspirations. Budgeted at $20 million, it launched Monday and is scheduled to run through the end of April on broadcast network and national cable TV, as well as print and online consumer and trade magazines, including sister publication Financial Planning.

In helping the middle-class save for retirement, President Obama may have also given a boost to the annuities sector.

Blackstone Advisory Services Vice Chairman Byron R. Wien, who has made annual predictions for U.S. markets and the economy at the start of the year for the past quarter century, believes there will be a number of welcome surprises in 2010—not least of which will be GDP growth surpassing forecasts of 5%.

John Hancock Financial Services has named James R. Boyle president, in charge of all phases of the company’s businesses, including life insurance, long-term care insurance, variable annuities, 401(k) plans, fixed products and mutual funds, the John Hancock financial network and investment management services.

Sun Life Financial is readying a national marketing campaign to raise its profile, and to underscore the effort, has just signed a multi-year agreement with the Miami Dolphins to rename the team’s Miami Gardens, Fla., stadium the Sun Life Stadium.