Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Institutional investors' investment philosophy is changing with the times. The products they're asking for are becoming more and more in-line with larger social and macro-economic trends, according to a report from Boston-based consulting firm Cerulli Associates and the Institutional Investor Institute.

So much research comes out this time of year with many major firms cautiously offering their predictions for the new year that we wondered how they would stack up on the major issues. We’ve parsed through some of the larger reports from Barclays, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, UBS, ING and Wells Fargo to track the top themes and condense it down. Here are some of their more interesting recommendations on global themes as well as some more local, unique investment ideas that they had to offer.

Who is poised to influence the financial advisory industry this year? Check out who made the list, in alphabetical order, and who will set the agenda on everything from the next generation of advisors to the latest set of regulatory rules.

The Women Advisors Forum convened for its last 2012 event on Dec. 17 in Boston. Among the topics discussed include tips to facilitate the recruitment process, how to use technology to improve communication with clients, sustainable investing as a long-term strategy and new approaches to practice management. Check out these photos for some of the highlights from that day.

From social media’s growing influence in wealth management firms, to a look at the top 40 advisors under 40, Wall Street has undergone some rapid changes in 2012.

In On Wall Street's sixth annual ranking, the young hotshots of The Street talk clients and strategy. Here's how this year's top 40 advisors under 40 conquered a tough market.

In On Wall Street's sixth annual ranking, the young hotshots of The Street talk clients and strategy. Here's how this year's top 40 advisors under 40 conquered a tough market. And check out the other top young advisors in the industry.

The Women Advisors Forum traveled to Newport Beach, Calif., on Nov. 15 for a gathering that featured new practice management ideas, strategies for success and market updates. Check out these photos for the day's highlights, and look out for more news from our upcoming forum in Boston on Dec. 17.

Which banks shelled out the most for this election? Among the big name firms, here's a list of the top five donors based on data compiled by opensecrets.org, a nonprofit watchdog group that follows campaign donations. Click through to see where Wall Street's money has gone: