Investment insights

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Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner asked the Financial Stability Oversight Council to take up structural reforms to the $2.6 trillion money market mutual fund industry, citing the Securities and Exchange Commission's failure to act.

Three-quarters of institutional investors nationally have changed their approach to risk management over the last five years, and say alternative investments are critical to spreading portfolio risk, according to a survey from Natixis Global Asset Management.

All indicators are pointing to a slow progress for the U.S. economy following the November election, while the stock market should continue to reap 8% to 9% returns over the course of this decade, one portfolio manager predicted Wednesday.

Jeffrey Gundlach, the chief executive officer of DoubleLine Capital whose home was burglarized earlier this month, has offered some $1.7 million for information leading to the recovery of stolen artwork.

Investors are less aggressive than their advisors' risk profile assumes them to be, according to Cerulli. In fact, "many investors simply have no desire to endure ongoing market volatility," the report said.

Business owners below the age of 45 are more bullish on their growth prospects compared to their elder counterparts, according to the Western Union Small Business Barometer.

What are mainstream media publications writing about the wealth management industry? How can investors retire rich, the elements to a perfect financial advisory team, a fresh look at end of life plans, and more.

Investor confidence in North America continued to weaken in September, according to State Street's Investor Confidence Index. The index fell by 3.2 points in September to 81.1 from a month earlier.

Even with a forecast for modestly stronger growth for the rest of the year, Barclays still sees a looming fiscal cliff negatively hitting U.S. gross domestic product into 2013.

After rallying 16% this year, the S&P 500 Index closed last year at its highest point since 2007, as investors celebrated news that central bankers were riding to the world's rescue with yet more stimulus. But is it too far too fast?

As interest rates look to remain low for the foreseeable future, investors are searching for income, and rediscovering an old instrument: closed end funds. But why so much enthusiasm now?

Even as a new video has brought negative attention to Mitt Romney's campaign, a new poll finds financial advisors still think he's the best pick to lead the country.

In 2013, asset managers will face the challenges of volatile markets, ramped up regulations, increased need for capital preservation, and a general tendency towards risk aversion. Yet even in a globally compressed economy, there are pockets of underlying opportunities and under-served investors. From our friends at Ceruilli, here are trends for advisors (and their clients) to watch in 2013.

A greater number of Americans believe that their personal finances and the economy are in better shape than they were a year ago, according to a new survey from a unit of JPMorgan Chase.

What are mainstream media publications writing about the wealth management industry: A look at tax hikes (and tax cuts); college savings; the Fed's attempt to boost the economy; what should entrepreneurs know about estate planning; and how good are your planner's credentials?

Even as increased liquidity in Europe and the United States has boosted investors' outlook, sending stocks to four-year highs, the U.S. dollar has suffered. All the sectors of the S&P 500 have become much more sensitive to fluctuations in the value of the dollar over the last three years, but by looking at correlations, investors can see which sectors are most likely to benefit, according to Sam Stovall, chief equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ.

The Federal Open Market Committee's actions today were designed to "quicken recovery," and will be removed before the nation reaches full employments, according to Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Pacific Investment Management Co., which manages the world's biggest bond fund, predicted the global economy will slow next year.

Oceans of ink have already been spilled handicapping the presidential candidates' chances, based on how the stock market is doing. Now, let's take a peek at the crystal ball to see how the stock market's sectors will do if President Obama gets another four years, or the country gives the nod to Republican challenger Mitt Romney.