Practice

After years on the back burner, the Securities and Exchange Commission's rule governing mutual fund marketing fees is in store for a "complete overhaul," according to commission chairman Christopher Cox.

A new study from Tiburon Strategic Advisors takes a broad look at consumer wealth, the pending baby boomer savings crisis and boomers' likely liquefaction of assets. Consumer Wealth, Liquefaction and the Retirement Income Challenge addresses the financial concerns and savings goals of consumers and consumer households in the U.S. today.

One of the nation’s largest student loan operations announced this week that it will suspend making federal-guarantee loans starting next month, according to the New York Times.

WASHINGTON – House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank is preparing a $35 billion housing package that would expand the government's role in combating the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

Oppenheimer & Co. has been ordered to pay $250,000 for failing to supervise the improper market timing of mutual fund shares from January through September 2003, according to FINRA. The firm has also been ordered to pay $4.25 million in restitution to more than 60 mutual fund companies.

The Supreme Court has ruled that participants in 401(k) retirement plans can sue their providers for losses if their instructions are ignored or their account is mismanaged.

MIAMI - As the burden of responsibility for retirement planning continues to shift toward the individual, investors should be cautious about "fast analysis" investment advice, a top financial executive said Tuesday.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said it wants to require investment advisers to provide clients with online brochures describing their services, fees and conflicts of interest in a reader-friendly format.

Investors holding municipal bonds directly or through mutual funds could see their returns diminished by ratings agencies' recent downgrades of troubled bond insurers, according to a report prepared for Congress.

The credit crunch is crunching another corner of the market: securities tied to student loans, according to the Wall Street Journal.