Portfolio

It seems more and more common lately that when you turn on the T.V. or open your Internet browser there is breaking news of some sort of disaster. From direct financial disasters such as market volatilities to weather related disasters like floods, tornados and fires, to even more large-scale disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear crisis; disasters are unavoidable. But how prepared are you to deal with a major disaster, or other unexpected events that can trigger change? Here are 10 steps that should help you and your firm build a disaster recovery plan so you can be prepared should the unimaginable arise:

Muni market participants say the rule in its current form could affect about half of municipal securities and reduce liquidity in the muni bond market. The Volcker Rule was part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that became law in 2010.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange Group and the Osaka Securities Exchange said they plan to merge. The two exchange operators said their combination will “establish an unchallenged position” in domestic stocks and derivatives trading, as well as “enhance global competitiveness” of their platforms.

Eight in 10 advisors who sell annuities report that they are having more client discussions about retirement income planning than they did five years ago. And those discussions are becoming more emotional, according to a new report, “The Evolution of the Annuity Industry," released by the Insured Retirement Institute and Cogent Research.

Asset management firms recorded average profitability of 28% through 2010 and the first half of 2011, according to a new McKinsey report, and independent asset managers will control two-thirds of all assets under management by 2015. Here are five business imperatives successful wealth management firms will need to heed over the next three years:

The volatility that has gripped the markets in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis has changed the investment management game forever.

Governments are falling, bond yields are zigzagging by whole percentage points and markets around the world are locking up. The eurozone turmoil risks turning into a global crisis.

"Emerging markets are just a niche asset class" persistently remains as one of the five biggest myths about investing in emerging markets, said John Flint, chief executive officer of HSBC Global Asset Management.

Direct Edge plans to launch an all-electronic platform for the trading of Brazilian equities. The exchange will be headquartered in Rio de Janeiro and launch, if all goes according to plan, by the end of 2012.

A majority of finance professionals are cautiously optimistic about growth in 2012, a survey by Accounting Principals, a finance and accounting staffing company, found.