Kylie Hennagin

Wealth managers are making alternative investments more of a priority to meet the expectations of their clients and help grow total assets under management.

Despite a global economic slump, investor confidence in June rose to its highest level of the year, according to the State Street Global Investor Confidence Index.

“The past few years of market volatility have demonstrated the importance of guaranteed income in retirement,” said Alison Salka, LIMRA corporate vice president and director of retirement research,

Brandon Williams will focus on leading and expanding the TD Wealth business in the U.S. franchises as well as come up with new strategies and platforms to meet U.S. high net worth clients’ needs.

To expand its advisory trust services, BOK Financial announced it hired Rosemary Hueser as vice president, manager of advisory trust services.

Pyxis Capital, a Dallas RIA, named J. Bradley Ross president. He replaces Joe Dougherty.

Peak, the country’s largest financial advisor coaching and resource program, hired Paul West as a managing director.­

Tax-deferred investment solution firm Jefferson National Partners has announced a partnership with CAPTRUST and the launch of five new asset allocation models.

Asset management firm Curian Capital has added two new executives, Bill Thomas and Bret Young, to its distribution team.

More than 20% of male baby boomers surveyed have postponed their retirement, 27% don’t know when they will retire, and 20% haven’t even saved for retirement at all.

Affluent investors in three of Europe’s most prosperous nations have decidedly different levels of sophistication when it comes to investment knowledge and how they interact with their online trading and advisory firms. Knowing and appreciating these differences, according to a new Dow Jones survey, can make all the difference for American firms and advisors looking to expand their international client base.

The three former Morgan Stanley Smith Barney advisors will work out of the hybrid RIA’s new Utah offices and oversee more than $350 million in assets under management.

Genworth Financial Wealth Management has added 20-year industry veteran Rico Casares to its practice management consulting team.

Financial advisors Robert Powell, Walter Urban and Tyler Mercer of Alpha Capital Partners have announced a partnership with Raymond James & Associates.

Over the course of a 30-year career, Steven Stahlberg worked for Wachovia, R.W. Baird and Morgan Stanley.

The 2012 John Hancock Trust Survey found that 84% of investors surveyd strongly trust their financial advisor, while primary doctors were “strongly trusted” by 79% of those surveyed and accountants by 74%.

Ninety-eight percent of advisers expressed concern that the estimated SRO membership fees would have a financial impact on their ability to run their firm. Of the 98%, 69% said the impact would be categorized as “severe.”

Ultra-high-net-worth investors have decreased their allocation to hedge funds in the past year and instead favor real estate and commodities, according to the Institute for Private Investors annual Family Performance Tracking Survey.

Estateplanning.com provides consumers with information on a range of planning topics such as elderly care, inheritance, asset protection and disability. It features a legal glossary and an interactive search function that allows users to connect with estate planners in their area.

61% of LGBT individuals surveyed believe they will have enough saved by the time they retire to live comfortably, while only 53% of non-LGBT members surveyed believe the same, according to a Wells Fargo survey.