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With a number of new Securities and Exchange Commission regulations either recently implemented or looming on the horizon, an enormous administrative burden has been placed on the mutual fund industry.

Fidelity Names Lange Magellan Fund Skipper

Saving for retirement is essential for maintaining a standard of living upon reaching old age. However, not everyone participates in their employment-based retirement plans, and according to a new report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute of Washington, the probability of participation is affected by demographic factors like gender, race, class, firm size, education and geographic differences.

In a story in the 10/31/05 edition, a paraphrase from Jonathan Bennett, senior vice president, personal lines at The Hartford Financial Services Group, may not have accurately captured the spirit of the relationship between his firm and the AARP. He said: "We share a set of values as organizations. We are focused on their customers, to deliver services that make a difference in their lives." MME regrets any confusion this may have caused.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has been investigating the Dallas-based hedge fund Gryphon Partners for allegations of manipulative trading in the $14 billion-a-year market for private investment in public equity (PIPEs), and for misusing nonpublic information, according TheStreet.com.

Putnam Investments, one of the first companies to be mixed up in the mutual fund trading scandal, continues to pay the price for its involvement, as investors yanked another $1.8 billion in September, bringing its net outflows year to date to out $15 billion, Financial News reports. Putnam is now the ninth-largest U.S. mutual fund firm.

As Baby Boomers set up to retire, a battle is waged in the financial industry. Financial advisers, even bankers, insurance agents and brokers at securities companies, are trying to win over as many clients as possible. Now more then ever, long-term financial planning is needed to secure retirement money for the retiring generation, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Exchange-traded fund assets increased by 3.1% or $7.87 billion to $259.36 from August through the end of September, according to DowJones.

Eaton Vance Corp. announced that Eaton Vance Equity Research Fund is available to the public. Thus far, the four-year-old fund has only been available to the company and its employees.

T & M Protection Services, which, since 1991 has protected corporate assets, including vital facilities and business operations, recently decided to market its protective services to hedge fund managers seeking protection against kidnappings and corporate sabotage, Hedge Fund Alert reports.

Experts predict that emerging-market economies will increase 6% in 2006, as opposed to a GDP growth of 3% in developed markets. Such a lofty prediction could entice more investors to plow their money into emerging-market stock funds, particularly in light of their stellar returns of 56% in 2003, 24% in 2004 and 16% year-to-date, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Vanguard is raising the minimum amounts needed to open individual retirement accounts and custodial accounts for minors for the first time in 10 years.

Waddell & Reed Financial reported a 5% increase in third-quarter earnings, earning $24.5 million ($.30 per share), compared to $23.4 million ($.29) one year earlier.

Israel Englander, owner of the $5 billion Millennium Partners hedge fund, is in the process of settlement talks with New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Fortune reports.

John Hancock launched five lifestyle portfolios Tuesday, with $15 billion in assets being shifted from existing lifestyle assets.

Though the third quarter was a strong one for hedge and arbitrage funds, both suffered tremendous losses in October due to drops in energy stocks, merger and acquisition deals that fell apart, exposure to the credit markets and a difficult environment for stock and bonds, CNN/Money reports.

MSCI Barra, a provider of benchmark indices and risk analytics software, has announced that ETFs tracking MSCI equity indices have exceeded $50 billion in assets. There are over 70 ETFs based on MSCI equity indices, and they are traded in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Putnam Investments' assets under management slipped to $195 billion in the third quarter, a 6.7% decline from $209 billion the year before, parent company Marsh & McLennan indicated in an earnings report, Reuters reports.

When their time comes and their track record is impressive, a mutual fund manager typically leaves their current firm to start a hedge fund. But contrary to the prevailing trend, David Winters, the former chairman and CEO of Franklin Mutual Series Funds in Short Hills, N.J., decided to start a mutual fund.

In the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan on Friday, AQR Capital Management sued a the broker/dealer unit of Refco demanding that it repay $2.7 million that was used as collateral for commodity futures transactions, according to a report form Dow Jones.