Retirement planning

The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of this year, will results in a combined retirement businesses with approximately $120 billion in assets under management and 3 million participants.

The Hartford today is taking another step towards focusing on its mutual fund business by agreeing to sell its retirement plans business to rival Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) for a cash ceding commission of $400 million.

Vincent Leon has joined 3D Asset Management as a National Sales Manager, responsible for overseeing the firm’s sales and marketing efforts to the wirehouse, RIA, retirement/DCIO and sub-advisory channels.

Many people are not gaining the full benefit they could from Social Security. And in many cases, financial advisors don't know enough about how the program works to help their clients. Yet it will continue to be a key part of many clients' retirement income.

A run-down of the stories in this issue, beginning with the cover story, which details how to offer wealth management with a personal touch.

As the baby boomer generation closes in on retirement, many are preparing to give a substantial portion of their wealth on charitable causes.

Advisors look to 401(k) plans as fertile ground for business.

Political wrangling over the so-called "fiscal cliff," the potential expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts coupled with sharp reductions in federal spending, has stimulated many a conversation about the resulting financial planning implications.

One expert argues that dividend-paying stocks, not growth stocks, should be the building blocks of retirement portfolios

A program agenda that's designed to inspire

Initial reading of 48.7% shows a modest contraction in business activity

FP's new Retirement Advisor Confidence Index will help planners gauge industry business conditions

Ask Ed Slott: Your IRA Expert answers readers' questions about the five-year rule for Roth IRAs.

Stephen Barbaro, co-portfolio manager of the Columbia Small Cap Value Fund I, is retiring at the end of the year, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Investment advisory shop Arnerich Massena has promoted Scott Dunbar to managing director of advisory services.

IRAs must be valued, for tax purposes, and imprecise valuations can be costly.

Fidelity Investments today named Abigail Johnson president of Fidelity Financial Services, consolidating all of the company’s core businesses under her leadership.

More than 75% feel confident they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, even though nearly 40% of Baby Boomers and about two-thirds of Gen Xers have less than $100,000 in retirement savings.

TD Ameritrade survey finds that 60 percent of Generation X and Generation Y make regular, automatic contributions to their retirement savings compared to just 46% of non-retired baby boomers.

T. Rowe. Price has opened a newly relocated investor center in downtown Washington, D.C., the Washington Business Journal reports.