Portfolio

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The United States' economy has "in absolute and relative terms been a better bet" than other economies around the globe -- and the death of Osama Bin Laden may well change how the rest of the world looks at America's prospects, CNBC Analyst and Commentator Ron Insana said Monday morning.

According to data compiled for IRI by Morningstar, Inc., new sales were $136.6 billion in 2010, up 10.3% from 2009, when new sales totaled $123.9 billion. What’s more, assets reached an all-time high of $1.5 trillion, finally lifting the variable annuity industry above the pre-crisis levels of the third quarter of 2007.

While exchange-traded funds are soaring in popularity and investor cash continues to flow liberally into retirement accounts, closed-end funds have all but been forgotten by a large swath of the advisor community even though they offer some pretty compelling and unique benefits.

Carson Wealth Management Group announced Monday it will become an independent RIA in July, but will further expand by added a broker-dealer arm later this year.

Pioneer seeks to meet demand for innovative fixed income funds.

A federal cap on tax-exempt bonds could gradually wean investors and issuers off the muni market and toward a permanent, expanded Build America Bond market that has a flexible subsidy rate, a new report from the Center for American Progress argues.

It was widely hoped that at least one silver lining in the recession of December 2007 through June 2009 would be chastened investors with a newfound respect for living within their means, saving and preparing for retirement.

Adding a care manager to your estate planning team can benefit both you and your client.

Under the new tax law, married couples have a $10 million estate-tax exclusion-no planning necessary.

For those investors who still feel like they've been punished by the market in recent years, one advisor has found the carrot to lure them back.