Money Management Executive Latest News

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index rose to -46.9 in the week ended March 27, its first increase in five weeks. The index is based on telephone interviews with 1,000 consumers aged 18 and over.

Eighteen funds from USAA Investment Management are now on the Fidelity individual investor and retirement plan sponsor platform.

Although 68% of asset managers have a social media strategy, that number should be far higher to meet consumer and financial intermediary interest, according to a new report from kasina. Only 34% have a budget dedicated to social media and 46% have firm management commitment to execute the strategy.

Lazard Asset Management has launched the Lazard Emerging Markets Multi-Strategy Portfolio, a mutual fund that will employ both emerging markets equity and debt strategies

Chief executive officers’ outlook for their company and economy improved markedly in the first quarter from the end of 2010, the Business Roundtable First Quarter 2011 CEO Economic Outlook Survey shows.

Putnam Investments announced Thursday that the Lifetime Income Analysis Tool it developed for 401(k) plans to show investors how much monthly income their savings will deliver, has motivated investors to increase their retirement savings rate by an average of 23%. Participants can use the tool to change their retirement date, portfolio mix and contribution rate to immediately see the impact.

While healthcare costs are inevitably going to rise in the future, a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2011 will likely spend $230,000 on healthcare throughout their retirement, Fidelity estimates. This is an 8% decline from the $250,000 retiring couples in 2010 will need, due to recent changes in Medicare, Fidelity said.

Long-term mutual funds saw inflows of $2.18 billion for the week ended March 23, the Investment Company Institute said.

MFS Investment Management has rolled out the MFS Global Multi-Asset and MFS Absolute Return funds in response to growing demand for greater portfolio diversification and lower volatility through multi-asset class funds.

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- At the start of 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission established a specialized unit within its Enforcement Division devoted to the looking for fraud and other perfidies in the $40 trillion field of asset management.