Portfolio

The Securities and Exchange Commission has upheld an administrative judge’s ruling that a mutual fund trader must pay more than $200,000 in penalties for accepting gifts from broker-dealers to steer trades their way.

As a new market reality sets in, Bank of America Merrill Lynch is urging investors not to make rash moves with their current investments, and to also consider asset classes poised to profit in current conditions.

Market volatility and an uneven path for the economic recovery are set to continue for years, according to Towers Watson. What’s more, all asset classes will face higher-than-average volatility, Towers Watson said.

Rather than offer the complete lineup of a target-date series in their 401(k) plan, sponsors are selecting only those funds that fit the age and demographics of their employees. This could result in under-funded target-date funds that could put the entire lineup in jeopardy, according to a new report, “Trends in Date-Date Portfolios on Recordkeeper Platforms,” from Financial Research Corp.

The August reading of the Consumer Reports Index fell to 43.3, its lowest level since December 2009. Falling 5.1 points from 48.5 in July, the index registered its sharpest drop in two years.

Uncertainty and fear are driving affluent investors into cash at record levels, according to the MFS Investing Sentiment Survey. While investors of all ages are moving into cash, they are being led by Generation Y.

One of the challenges that we have as professionals is motivating our clients to do their estate planning. Our new television special titled "Trial & Heirs: Protect Your Family Fortune!" debuts tonight and we think it will help motivate your clients to take the necessary estate planning steps that many have put off for far too long.

The opening morning of focus11, LPL Financial's national conference, got off to a rocky start Monday as the market took an immediate downturn with news of the Standard and Poor’s downgrade. LPL’s regular research morning call was scheduled onsite, which was perfect, as the advisors got to hear firsthand what LPL’s take was.

With its eye on the small and midsized defined contribution markets, BlackRock, Inc., has broadened its lineup of index mutual funds for defined contribution plans.

BlackRock has added 10 index funds to its retirement platform, nine of them the target-date BlackRock LifePath Index Portfolios and the 10ths the All Country World Index ex-U.S. Fund. The new LifePath Index Portfolios extend the investment horizon out by 44 years, with the funds having target dates of 2020, 2025, 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045, 2050 and 2055.