Portfolio

As mutual funds lose steam, exchange-traded funds continue to gain popularity and proportional share of retail investor assets, according to a study by Cogent Research.

Indexed annuities and CDs are growing in popularity as alternatives to CDs and fixed annuities. They give investors some upside with downside protection.

REITs staged a major comeback in 2010 after two bad years. What's in store for the sector this year?

High-net-worth families can leverage the $5 million exemption.

Looking at the most probable future reduces uncertainties to a more manageable level while not concealing risks.

Boston Advisors on Monday launched the Broad Allocation Strategy Fund, based on a separately managed account strategy the investment advisor has run for the past two years.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board plans to seek public comment on a series of new rules and interpretive guidance in the next four to six weeks, most of which stem from its new oversight of muni advisors

The Hartford has launched a new marketing campaign,” Two for Tomorrow,” advising Americans to take the 2% reduction in Social Security payroll taxes and use the money to boost their retirement savings.

Investors established a new record for withdrawals from municipal bond mutual funds in the week ended Jan. 19 as headline risk continued to chase people from state and local government debt funds.

Investors in tax-exempt debt should be cautious about heeding recent reports about the possibility of widespread bankruptcy and default in the municipal market, and stop running away from solid, safe investments because of distorted opinions in the media. That was the advice from top portfolio managers and traders at DWS Investments. Phil Condon, head of muni portfolio management. and Ashton Goodfield, head of trading, recognized the financial hurdles faced by local governments, but stressed that because of the fundamental changes in the municipal landscape, the muni market should not be considered as "homogenous" as it once was. But for analysts to "sensationalize the stress that municipalities are under" sends the wrong message to investors.