Portfolio

The SPDR Nuveen Barclays Build America Bond ETF proved the best choice during a record-setting year for muni exchange- traded funds. Its 20.6 % gain through Dec. 23 was highest among the 26 muni ETFs tracked by Bloomberg.

Gold advanced as prices near the lowest level in three weeks encouraged purchases. Silver jumped the most in a week and palladium rose to the highest since Dec. 12.

Mutual conversions soared this year as mutual thrift executives sought to raise capital at the behest of investment bankers and others. With many of the biggest mutuals having converted this year, there may be a drop-off in conversions in 2015.

If your client is retiring due to boredom on the job or because it just feels like the right time, they may not be prepared; Plus, clients have two options in claiming lump-sum payments from Social Security.

Digital tools are one thing, Dave Grant says -- but he has grave doubts about the future of totally remote financial planning relationships.

"He called for the male clients, I called for the females," says ex-assistant, who says she knew phone calls to liquidate client assets after a B-D change were wrong.

As part of clients' retirement planning, make sure they understand terms like "sustainable withdrawal rate," as just one example; Plus, encourage clients to increase their savings rate to 15%.

Municipals delivered solid performance overall thanks to the strength of the long duration and high-yield segments.

Investors in the world’s biggest ETP backed by bullion sold the most gold in 18 months as the U.S. economic recovery cut demand for a haven.

Manulife Financial, Canada’s largest life insurer, agreed to buy New York Life Insurance’s retirement plan services business in a deal that will boost assets under administration by about $50 billion.