Investment insights

While some financial advisors can be intentionally vague when detailing embedded risks to clients, others do not fully understand the risks themselves, says the author of a new book that looks at the "incestuous" relationship between Wall Street, Washington and regulatory agencies.

Selling high is a dicey proposition. But this simple mental trick can help you nail the other half of the investing equation.

Clients misunderstand a lot of factors regarding the impact of property ownership on their tax obligations. Here's how to make sure they stay one step ahead.

Have your clients started talking about adding oils to the portfolio? Here are a few guidelines to remember.

As lifespans lengthen and the housing market rebounds, some advisors are reconsidering real estate as a long-term investment for their older clients.

The mutual fund and ETF industries are creating new products that could offer the benefits of hedge funds without the high fees and minimums.

Client investments in emerging markets, China and Japan should be watched closely by financial advisors, according to global markets experts speaking at TD Ameritrade Institutional's national conference.

Wealthy investors remain bullish on the investing environment in 2014 and see the U.S. as the best place to put their money, according to a survey released today by Morgan Stanley.

The financial crisis has had an enormous impact on millennials' attitudes towards investing, saving and success, presenting both opportunities and challenges for financial advisors.

What's to be done for people who have plenty of money, but just can't seem to enjoy it?

U.S. stocks sank the most since June, capping the worst week for benchmark indexes since 2012, as a selloff in developing-nation currencies spurred concern global markets will become more volatile.

Fears of defaults and worries about the fallout from the Fed's tapering program are overblown, says Vanguard's tax-exempt bond boss.

When yields on long-term government securities are below nominal growth rates for a prolonged period, trouble may be brewing, according to Citigroup analysts.

Citigroup, the U.S. bank that cut unwanted assets 25% last year, should no longer be expected to offer clients unlimited financial services, Chief Executive Officer Michael Corbat said.

To avoid common traps like groupthink, firms' investment committees need to start by examining how they think.

In another sign of the improving tenor of the municipal bond market, muni mutual funds recorded their first inflows in 34 weeks, Lipper FMI numbers showed.

Bond dealers expect 2014 to be the second-worst year for municipal issuance in a decade, and some predict the lowest volume since 2000, as the Federal Reserve's tapering program pushes interest rates higher.

Gold climbed to the highest level in a month on speculation that the Federal Reserve will slow the pace of cuts to stimulus after U.S. payrolls increased less than analysts forecast. Silver, platinum and palladium rose.

Municipal bonds remain attractive even after their divergence from Treasuries this past week, industry watchers say, suggesting the recent signs of strength in the market may carry into the new year.

Month after month, JPMorgan Chase endures negative headlines — this week came the announcement that the bank is paying $2.6 billion to settle allegations related to Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme — yet investment analysts remain bullish on its stock.