Portfolio

States Offer Savings Accounts for 529 Investors

Morningstar Gives Three Funds 'F' Grades

Senators Reintroduce 401(k) Fee Disclosure Bill

BOSTON - For decades, annuities were shunned by money managers for their high cost and lack of liquidity.

BOSTON - Like gambling addicts who just need one more big win before they cash out, millions of Baby Boomers on the verge of retirement took extremely risky bets with their life savings, hoping to score that big jackpot that would make up for all their past mistakes.

Hedge funds were dogged by steep, albeit somewhat smaller, redemptions in January, HedgeFund.net reported. At positive 0.2%, performance also improved somewhat. Meanwhile, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 8% in January.

Fidelity Investments continues to do a smart job of marketing in this tough economy with the recommendations in the February edition of its Investor’s Quarterly magazine.

FINRA has fined two Wachovia units $4.5 million for failing to pass along breakpoint and rollover discounts for mutual fund and unit investment trust purchases, as well as for suitability violations and inadequate supervisory procedures.

PIMCO has launched the PIMCO Unconstrainted Tax Managed Bond Fund, an actively managed fixed income fund that will invest across all investment classes.

Genworth Financial Wealth Management has selected State Street Global Advisors to run six of its tactical asset allocation portfolios using exchange-traded funds.