Special Program Root Tag

The global economy is in the middle of a scary macroeconomic environment, with fiscal imbalances in Europe, Japan and the U.S. and increased regulation, which is confusing companies as well as individuals, according to T. Rowe Price’s director of global equity.

Broadridge has acquired financial services client communications firm Forefield for $19.5 million.

The average 401(k) participant needs to work until age 73 to be able to afford retirement, according to an analysis of 10,000 accounts by employee benefits consulting firm Nyhart.

Charles Schwab Corp. announced Wednesday evening that it named Marie A. Chandoha president and chief executive officer of Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc., which is the investment advisor to Schwab and Laudus Funds.

Registered investment advisors became slightly more optimistic about the economy in November, as measured by Rydex/SGI’s Advsor Confidence Index.

Northern Trust bought Waterline Partners LLC, a Los Angeles investment advisory firm serving affluent individuals and families.The price of the deal, which closed Wednesday, was not disclosed.

J.P. Morgan Treasury Services, one of the largest administrators of health savings accounts nationally, announced it is expanding its nationwide sales drive by launching an HSA broker program.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has set the timetable and ground rules for when and how some mid-sized investment advisors can deregister with the federal regulatory agency and be overseen by state regulators.

Some mutual fund industry analysts are questioning the timing of three new bond funds from American Funds, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Morningstar is offering a free mobile application for smartphones and other devices running on Google’s Android platform.

The formula employers use for their matching contributions in their 401(k) plans serves as a strong cue to workers for how much to contribute, analysis by The Principal finds.

In an effort to bring more content to advisers, Putnam Investments announced Tuesday it launched an online wealth management center.

October saw inflows into equity funds for the first time since April, according to new data from the Investment Company Institute (ICI), increasing 3.7% from September to $5.3 trillion.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch introduced a cross-market measure of risks to financial markets that it is calling the Global Financial Stress Index.

Putnam Investments has significantly reduced the expense ratios on its four absolute return funds since they now have more than $2.6 billion in assets, Putnam announced Monday.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration on Monday proposed disclosures on target-date funds offered in 401(k) plans.

AllianceBernstein has partnered with three leading insurers—AXA Equitable, Lincoln Financial Group and Nationwide Financial—to provide guaranteed income for target-date funds in large 401(k) plans.

Retirees will be rolling over $303 billion a year over the next few years, according to Pershing, and with this tremendous opportunity at hand, the company has issued a report for financial advisers called, “The Secret Knock: Unlocking the Retirement Opportunity.”

J.P. Morgan Funds is making its J.P. Morgan Insights podcasts available to iTunes visitors through any computer that hosts iTunes, or via Apple TV or portable devices iPod, iPhone or iPad.

The stock market is on a roll, according to TD Waterhouse’s 2011 Investment Outlook.