Portfolio

Given the opportunity to approach their retirement savings again, 51% of affluent Americans who have retired said they would have preferred to have focused on life goals rather than a retirement number, Merrill Lynch found in a survey. However, the remaining 49% still believe in zeroing in on the numbers.

DST Systems and Blue Frog Solutions have partnered on an annuity order management compliance solution for independent intermediaries, through DST Vision.

Last year was a record year for breakaway brokers and this year could be even stronger, according to an executive at Fidelity Investments.

New York Life Insurance has committed $100,000 in donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for Haiti and has pledged $150,000 in matching contributions to this and other charities serving Haiti made by both employees and agents, for a potential total donation of $400,000.

BrightScope is offering a Personal 401(k) Fee Report that will permit investors to sign up for free to see fees on 30,000 plans, how they compare to fees on comparable funds and how much money they would gain or give up over the remaining course of their working years.

After investing conservatively for the past four years, investors are beginning to put their cash reserves to work in equity investments, according to the Bank of America Merrill Lynch survey of fund managers in January.

Fidelity Investments said it helped a record 191 broker teams go independent last year and one of its executives expects an even stronger 2010.

As earnings season gets into full swing, the market hits a wall of worry … comments from JP Morgan, Gluskin Sheff, T. Rowe Price. Plus: the week’s most important numbers.

The company attracted $9 billion in net new assets in its fiscal first quarter as both retail investors and registered investment advisors increased their investments.

Despite the fact investors are more conservative after getting slammed by the recession, advisers and their clients are optimistic about the year ahead, with advisers looking to grow their business and improve their use of technology.