Money Management Executive Latest News

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. of Boston is practicing diversification, but not just the investment diversification generally associated with a mutual fund.

Can fund companies influence investors' perceptions of fund performance by building brand recognition through marketing, advertising and favorable media coverage? The answer is yes, according to a recently released survey by Financial Research Corp. of Boston.

It has not taken the SEC long to make sure the mutual fund industry is following the practices outlined in a letter the agency issued in December.

Increased competition within the fund industry prompted Van Kampen Funds of Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., to launch its first ad campaign focused on firmly establishing its name in the market rather than promoting particular funds, according to Frank Wheeler, vice president and director of brand marketing.

Shareholders of the closed-end Central European Value Fund can expect to see major changes over the next few months.

ATLANTA - When selecting an asset manager for an annuity sub-account, insurance companies need to look beyond performance figures and brand recognition if they want to offer a unique product line that is highly marketable, according to fund and insurance executives.

Janus of Denver, Colo. is creating a new line of funds to expand its sales through plan sponsors, broker/dealer wrap programs and bank trust departments.

The Securities and Exchange Commission March 28 charged Monetta Financial Services of Wheaton, Ill. with failure to disclose initial public offering holdings in two of its funds in their quarterly statements.

PALM DESERT, Calif. - The SEC expects to complete its assessment of trends in mutual fund fees and expenses by early this summer, said Paul Roye, director of the SEC's division of investment management. The SEC has completed compiling data for the study and now is working on how it will report the results, Roye said.

The Vanguard Group of Malvern, Pa. is adding a fifth asset manager to its Explorer Fund because of an increase in investor interest in the fund, said John Demming, a company spokesperson.