Portfolio

U.S. exchange-traded fund assets rose $2.49 billion to $1.408 trillion in February, according to Investment Company Institute.

Plan sponsors are increasingly turning to outsourced or discretionary investment solutions for their funds post the global financial crisis, according to Tim Barron, chief investment officer for consulting firm Segal Rogerscasey.

With a new survey by Legg Mason showing that U.S. investors have high hopes that equities have a bright outlook, skeptics say advisors must be cautious.

“Interest rates are having a large impact on overall annuity sales,” says Catherine Theroux, director of Public Relations at LIMRA. “For fixed annuities, people are less inclined to lock in rates at this level.”

FUSE Research is getting wise on Europe.

Financial advisors vary greatly in their approach and use of written investment policy statements with their clients, including some who don’t use these statements at all, according to Russell Investments’ latest quarterly survey of U.S. advisors.

Sentinel Investments has promoted three of its portfolio managers.

In 2012, banks sold $29.6 billion in annuities, down 20% from 2011. Fixed annuities fell 33% to $11.9 billion, while variable annuities slipped 10% to $17.7 billion.

Overriding client emotions and persuading them to do what they ought to do can be tricky. According to a new study, only 39% of advisors say they work with all clients to develop a written investment policy statement, which can guide clients' strategy in times of flux.

Regulators and academics are starting to look at low volatility as an integral part of the buildup toward financial meltdowns.