Special Program Root Tag

ING is now offering the Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b) to its clients. In addition, the firm has also created two education kits for employers and employees to ensure investors' full understanding of the Roth option.

In spite of the fact that Fidelity and Putnam defended their records of opposing large payment packages for high-level corporate executives this Tuesday, a new study has found that fund companies have become "enablers of excess," according to the Boston Herald.

The SEC expects to take action before the end of this year to finally battle late trading in mutual funds through the long-debated redemption fee rule and decide whether or not it is necessary to propose rules forcing firms to use interactive data for financial reports, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Data showing strong performance of actively managed mutual funds, compared to indexes, may need another look, according to a study released Thursday by Savant Capital Management and the Zero Alpha Group.

Primarily driven by their familiarity with the company that they work for, many investors in 401(k) plans are loaded up on company stock. Apparently the lessons of Enron and WorldCom have been lost on a large number of investors, the Associated Press reports.

In an effort to encourage those who typically don't participate in the investment world to get involved, the National Association of Securities Dealers Investor Education Foundation awarded grants to six organizations to increase awareness.

State Street Global Advisors has registered 17 new exchange-traded funds with the SEC, Dow Jones reports. This would expand its current roster of 25 ETFs, 12 of which it has rolled out since November.

Mutual fund companies are key enablers in the runaway compensation packages that corporate executive enjoy, according to a new study.

A number of large institutional investors are asking their brokerage houses to strip out the cost of research from trading commissions, Dow Jones reports. They are apparently following the lead of Fidelity Investments, which struck deals with Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank late last year to separate the cost of trading from research.

In early 2002, executives at Dreyfus gave written permission for the hedge fund Millennium Partners to engage in market timing in its mutual funds, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Knowing what to buy is important, but knowing when to sell is critical if money managers want their gains to stick, according to financial columnist Randy Reynolds.

News last week of the theft of a laptop computer from Fidelity Investments that reportedly contained confidential client information is perhaps the final straw for many companies and individuals, who in increasing numbers have recently sought out precautions ranging from old-fashioned locks to sophisticated software protection.

In the wake of the scandal, Chicago researcher Morningstar introduced its first-ever "Stewardship Grade" to underscore the fact that there's more for investors to consider when choosing a mutual fund than just past performance. This year's results are in and one-fourth of domestic stock funds received excellent Stewardship Grades.

With generally lower expenses, opportunities to hedge, and the potential to be traded throughout the day, exchange-traded funds have enjoyed great popularity recently, but the very elements that make them attractive to investors may also result in lackluster returns, according to The New York Times.

The Board of Directors at Legg Mason Inc. has elected James W. Hirschmann as the new president, effective May 1. Raymond A. "Chip" Mason, who is the president, CEO and chairman, will continue in his role as chairman when Hirschmann takes on his role.

NASD's James S. Shorris has been promoted from senior vice president and deputy head of enforcement to executive vice president and head of enforcement, replacing Barry Goldsmith, who after 10 years with the organization, has decided to return to private practice.

Columbia Management, Bank of America's investment management division, has launched the Columbia Management Retirement Learning Center to educate Columbia's wholesalers and internal sales staff, as well as financial advisers who work with the company, on how to better serve clients with respect to their retirement and rollover plans.

In a move that would certainly further delineate access to hedge funds, Britain's securities regulator announced that it is considering allowing everyday retail investors to buy hedge funds-of-funds, The Wall Street Journal reports.

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Not unlike the buzz that has accompanied legions of other Internet-based opportunities, XBRL has everyone in the corporate world marveling at its potential to drive efficiencies and perhaps attract more customers. Well, almost everyone.

Top-performing stocks have historically rotated between various sectors and investment styles, and as a result, investors have become indoctrinated in using style boxes as key criteria for selecting mutual funds and planning their portfolio.