Alternative investments

With heavyweights like Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) throwing its hat into the managed futures mutual fund ring, interest from both investors and asset management in this investment vehicle appears to be rising.

With heavyweights like Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) throwing its hat into the managed futures mutual fund ring, interest from both investors and asset management in this investment vehicle appears to be rising.

Options have been used in asset management for several decades, but due to current market conditions asset managers' interest has been renewed in this strategy. With bonds in a bear market and an equity market meandering horizontally, these managers are embracing options as a way to generate income while protecting against the downside.

Commonwealth Financial Network already stands out for its revenue mix. Now it has a new model for RIAs.

A passion for indexing has helped Mark Hebner build Index Fund Advisors into a $1.8 billion financial planning firm.

Use these concepts to frame conversations with your clients.

Amid ownership shifts, Hennessy Focus is still looking for a few (very few) reasonably priced stocks that it can hold for years.

Raymond James is ramping up its pitch to attract independent advisors by opening up access to alternative investments.

As low interest rates and sluggish loan demand continue to make healthy profit streams from traditional deposit and lending activities harder to come by at financial institutions, investment programs are increasingly viewed as a critical channel for generating non-interest income.

Alternatives juggernaut Blackstone joined the likes of other fellow private investment firms The Carlyle Group and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) last month as the asset management practice continues its revolutionary switch in business focus out of institutional coffers and into the retail investment space.

Raymond James is ramping up its pitch to attract independent advisors by opening up access to alternative investments.

Raymond James is ramping up its pitch to attract independent advisors by opening up access to alternative investments.

Clients often dream of retiring overseas for a change of scenery and lifestyle. Here’s what a handful of advisors have to say about some of the most popular overseas retirement destinations among their clients.

As risk has dialed up in today's uncertain climate, there has been a growing trend of mutual funds embracing the flexibility and creativity of various options strategies to dampen volatility and garner better returns.

Alternatives juggernaut Blackstone joined the likes of other fellow private investment firms The Carlyle Group and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) last month as the asset management practice continues its revolutionary switch in business focus out of institutional coffers and into the retail investment space.

For the third year in a row, Financial Planning and the Foundation for Financial Planning jointly present the Pro Bono Awards to recognize both individual advisors and teams of planners who provide exceptional free planning help to those who could not afford it.

The wealth management business is receiving good grades, with a major caveat: Try harder, because things won't get easier.

After a strong response to our summer reading list for advisors, we decided to expand it. Here are the 20 books that financial advisors said -- via Twitter, LinkedIn, emails and phone calls -- were crucial to their practices.

A run-down of the stories in this issue, which focuses on global strategy and taking advantage of emerging markets.

Mark Tibergien, CEO of Pershing Advisor Solutions, wants to custody more client assets. Here's what he's offering in return.