Investment insights

Many Americans are in the dark about stock market performance in 2012, according to an Edward Jones survey.

In January, the fabled 3.8% surtax on investment income becomes law. This surtax, included in health care legislation to bolster Medicare’s finances, is based on two key numbers. The IRS has just issued proposed regulations on one of those numbers: net investment income.

Investors cut bullish commodity bets for the first time in three weeks as U.S. lawmakers appeared no closer to an agreement to avert more than $600 billion in automatic tax increases and spending cuts and Europe cut its growth outlook.

Americans 55 and older are far more likely to favor peace of mind over a high-reward/high-risk investment strategy.

“[A] segment of wealth managers appear to live in denial, clinging to investment methodologies that have patently failed twice over the past decade and are likely to fall short again,” the authors of a white paper accompanying the survey results wrote.

The investment landscape next year will put a new twist on an old expression: It's boring but it beats the alternative.

With the threat of the fiscal cliff and other uncertainties, wealthy investors are speeding up recognition of gains and taking other defensive measures.

With the fiscal cliff approaching, it might be time to accelerate income into the remainder of this year.

With the proliferation of exchange-traded funds, the products have become more complicated, suggesting possible pitfalls for the average investor.

Longer-term fundamental reform will redress underlying differences within Europe.

Although a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff is expected by early next year, a recovery in the housing market could be the big story of 2013.

The head of Global and International Equities at Schroders discusses the global economy and why China's new leadership could be great for investors, and which nations could be troublesome.

Concierge services help advisors strengthen existing client relationships and attract new ones.

Flexibility with rollovers, investments cited as key advantages of HSAs

“I don’t believe you’re going to get some sort of an early warning,” Gundlach said. “You should be moving now.”

High-yield dividend stocks may have entered a bubble, and clients and advisors should be aware.

Married millionaire women are more risk averse, more interested in holistic financial planning and they may be better candidates for financial advice than their male counterparts according to research released by Fidelity on Thursday.

For the week ended Nov. 20, investors yanked an estimated $7.51 billion from U.S. stock funds, bringing total outflows to more than $131 billion for the year.

After a decade filled with significant market declines and an increasing amount of volatility, it is safe to assume that many investors would like to find the best performing investment managers with the least amount of volatility. Today, if investing were compared to a roller coaster, it would be the scariest roller coaster that Great Adventure has to offer. However, many investors would be more comfortable with an investment experience more akin to the teacups at the county fair.

More than seven in 10 advisors believe a deal will be reached that includes both higher marginal tax rates for wealthy Americans as well as curbs on deductions.