Portfolio

Financial advisors across the spectrum-at registered investment advisors, wirehouses and independent broker-dealers-are at a loss when it comes to understanding liquidity of exchange-traded funds, according to new research from Cerulli Associates.

INTECH Investment Management, an independently managed subsidiary of Janus Capital Group, has hired Phillip Leonardi to head of the firm's consultant relations team.

TrimTabs Investment Research reported today that U.S. equity mutual funds and exchange-traded funds gathered $34.4 billion in July through Wednesday, July 17, which is the second-highest inflow on record, according to the Sausalito, Calif.-based research shop.

In the most recent expansion of its planning services, Raleigh, N.C.-based Capital Investment is adding five new financial advisors.

Northstar Wealth Partners, the largest LPL Financial-affiliated wealth management firm in Connecticut, has nearly doubled its assets under management to just under $2 billion -- by recruiting two advisors formerly with Essex Financial Services in Essex, Conn.

Principal Financial Group Inc. hired Maureen Hays as managing director of consultant relationships as the insurer seeks more business at a unit overseeing $292.4 billion for retirement plans and institutional clients.

Crisis and business continuity planning have been given a renewed focus in recent years as man-made and natural disasters have increased in both frequency and severity.

One service provider is looking to take advantage of the migration of hedge funds into the mutual funds space by offering its hedge fund clients its Investment Company Compliance Services offering.

Neuberger Berman Group has launched the Neuberger Berman Greater China Equity Fund (NCEAX, NCECX, NCEIX), a mutual fund for U.S. investors investing primarily in equity securities of issuers based in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.

Money market mutual fund assets increased by $8.53 billion to $2.632 trillion for the week ended July 17, according to the Investment Company Institute.