Portfolio

From social media’s growing influence in wealth management firms, to a look at the top 40 advisors under 40, Wall Street has undergone some rapid changes in 2012.

The U.S. News & World Report today named its mutual fund winners for 2012, including a once-fallen star manager and a mutual fund trade group.

From the Top 50 bank advisors of the year to major acquisitions in the banking space, 2012 has been a roller-coaster ride for advisors in the the bank channel.

The combined assets of the nation’s exchange-traded funds rose in November by $26.06 billion, or 2.1%, to $1.295 trillion.in November, according to data from the Investment Company Institute.

Legg Mason Global Asset Management last month teamed up with Brandywine Global Investment Management to launch the Legg Mason BW Global High Yield Fund.

Investors redeemed $6.57 billion from mutual funds for the week ended Wednesday, December 12, according to data from the Investment Company Institute.

While the bloom is still on the alternative mutual fund rose, 2012 hasn't been as kind to alternatives as in years past.

"We are likely to end 2012 with a record level of assets'' in exchange-traded funds and other exchange-traded products, said Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner at ETFGI, the London consulting firm that compiles the numbers. This should also reflect "a record level of net new assets invested into the products during the year.''

Exchange-traded funds have had a banner year, reaching a new peak of $1.7 trillion in assets held, at the end of November.

While the bloom is still on the alternative mutual fund rose, 2012 hasn't been as kind to alternatives as in years past.