Alternative investments

Non-traditional investment allocations in defined contribution plans, while commonplace in defined benefit pension portfolios, are a rare sight in today's retirement plan lineup.

Franklin Resources, the parent of Franklin Templeton Investments, is readying its first multi-manager alternative mutual fund almost a year after buying a majority stake in K2 Advisors Holdings, a fund of hedge funds manager, from private equity shop TA Associates.

Mutual funds may not be on a hiring spree right now, but Longboard Asset Management Portfolio Manager Cole Wilcox is seeing demand increase elsewhere.

Wes Long, executive vice president and head of the private client services group at Wedbush Securities discusses his 23 years in the securities business.

The tax-advantaged plan was supposed to help average Americans save for their children's college education. Today, advisors are increasingly recommending them as an estate planning tool for the wealthy.

The FPA's president says advisors of all ages should be thinking about the next chapter of their careers.

Lenox Wealth Management thrives on its strong ties to Procter & Gamble's top management.

Non-traditional investment allocations in defined contribution plans, while commonplace in defined benefit pension portfolios, are a rare sight in today's retirement plan lineup.

Advisors and institutions are turning to mutual funds as their choice du jour to access alternative strategies, according to new findings by Morningstar.

Right now, hedge funds cannot technically advertise to anyone. They cannot solicit potential investors — they must find a way to cleverly (but legally) inspire accredited investors to come to them, ask questions, and hope they’ll stick around. It’s not an easy business by any means, but with the potential to make billions of dollars a year; enterprising individuals are frequently attracted to the industry.

Milwaukee-based Direxion Funds is currently prepping the Direxion Long/Short Global Currency Fund to launch within the next few months.

As Congress reconsiders various tax breaks it voted into existence (home mortgage deductions, etc.), could 529s come in for increased scrutiny and possible elimination?

Franklin Buys Remaining Stake in Alt Shop

While liquid alternative assets grew double-digits last year within the wirehouse segment, the asset class has also seemingly hit a wall.

Franklin Resources has acquired the remaining 80% stake of alternative investments specialist Pelagos Capital Management.

Now is a good time to buy contemporary art, even though prices have never been higher, the Dallas-based collector Howard Rachofsky says as he digests his bratwurst.

Ridgefield, Conn.-based Simple Alternatives, an alternative mutual fund shop, has added two more long/short managers to its flagship S1 Fund (SONEX), a multi-manager, long/short equity mutual fund.

While liquid alternative assets grew double-digits last year within the wirehouse segment, the asset class has also seemingly hit a wall.

A new Portland, Ore.-based investment shop has bagged its first sub-advisory mandate courtesy of its affiliate.

Ron O’Hanley, Fidelity Investment’s president of asset management and corporate services, laid out his take on a number of economic trends through a game of red light/green light led by Morningstar’s head of global research Scott Burns.