Portfolio

Fixed and variable annuities sold in through banks each changed course, the former rising and the latter falling in January, according to the Kehrer-Jackson Monthly Bank Annuity Sales Survey.

Five experts offer smart strategies to use in these uncertain times.

If your clients want to know the best way to buy gold, the answer may depend on whether they are acting as collectors or investors.

Putnam Investments announced Thursday that the Lifetime Income Analysis Tool it developed for 401(k) plans to show investors how much monthly income their savings will deliver, has motivated investors to increase their retirement savings rate by an average of 23%. Participants can use the tool to change their retirement date, portfolio mix and contribution rate to immediately see the impact.

There are more choices than ever, but are these new products largely unnecessary?

Firm continues to roll out multi-asset class funds to meet demand for diversification.

A former municipal derivatives trading desk manager at Banc of America Securities LLC has pleaded guilty to one criminal count of engaging in a conspiracy to falsify bank records in connection with a scheme to rig bids and pay kickbacks for investment agreements and other financial contracts in the muni market.

March is Women’s History Month, which seems like the perfect time to highlight leading women who put their money behind women's causes. With 61% of wealth now in the hands of women, and the majority of the world’s poor being women, it makes sense that wealthy women are giving powerfully. Some of the women on our list are big names, while others are rising stars.

"Investors, while maintaining a core exposure to BRIC countries, should not close their eyes to other growth areas in the emerging world," Chris Laine, portfolio manager for active emerging market equities at State Street Global Advisors, said in the report. "Many of the smaller emerging and frontier economies have quietly been making investor-friendly reforms and deserve the attention of international investors."

MFS Investment Management has rolled out the MFS Global Multi-Asset and MFS Absolute Return funds in response to growing demand for greater portfolio diversification and lower volatility through multi-asset class funds.