Howard J. Stock

While 2010 fixed-annuity sales can’t hold a candle to freakishly high sales a year ago, widening spreads are making it a pretty good year.

Premiums in life insurance of all stripes was up across the board in the second quarter, but term life couldn’t keep pace with last year’s record run.

Outside of currency and fixed-income plays, active exchange-traded funds are struggling to gather meaningful assets.

While some advisors complain a fiduciary standard would be an unnecessary compliance expense, others say being able to raise client expectations is a plus.

Providers are ramping up products to tap into investors’ lust both for global diversification and fixed income. Are you ready?

Long-short investing lost a lot less money than equity investments, Credit Suisse says. But is it right for your clients?

Hedge funds finally make it back into the black, returning 0.35% year to date in July, Morningstar says.

Indicators suggested bank-based advisors’ revenue would slip in June, but average production went up.

Ameriprise eliminates redundancies in mutual fund coverage following its acquisition of Columbia and subsequent merger with it RiverSource investment unit.

Consistency is key to a successful outreach strategy, consultant says.

While broker-dealers want to manage client assets at the home-office level, advisors want more control of clients’ asset allocation.

Fixed annuities drag the overall numbers down, but variable annuity sales are growing at a healthy clip.

It hasn’t been an easy market, but these two insurance giants succeed on stable pricing and selling the right product at the right time.

As advisor headcount continues to shrink, Cerulli suggests a strategy that might attract newcomers to an industry that’s tough to crack.

P&C leads bank-holding-company insurance sales upward in a soft market’s sixth year.

Lingering concerns over economy, market conditions, keep advisors inert.

JP Morgan Chase taps former wirehouse leader to refocus its branch-based brokers on clients’ untapped wealth.

Improving market conditions pay off in fees and commissions for the German giant’s retail investment arm

Many advisors base their product choices on the quality of information asset managers provide online.

Kerzner will retain that position for another five years.