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Ever since the Great Depression of the 1930s, Social Security has been a major source of retirement income, and will most likely continue being so for generations to come.

More than four years after the financial crisis, individual investors remain wary about investing because of market volatility and past portfolio losses. David L. Giunta of Natixis says it is also clear how difficult it will be for advisors and other financial professionals to help these clients take steps to act in their own best interests. But, now is the perfect time for advisors to re-engage.

Investors who trade frequently are upbeat about recent results, and that enthusiasm may translate into opportunities for advisors.

The three-year-old Tampa-based broker-dealer and RIA has opened a new office in Sebring, Fla., bringing on 17-year Merrill Lynch veteran Kelly Connelly as a financial advisor and first vice president of investments.

Mutual funds continued their inflow streak yet again the week ended Feb. 27, but domestic equity funds saw their first outflows since the week ended Dec. 31, 2012. 

Flows into tax-exempt money market funds were positive by $17 million in the week ended March 4 as total net assets only increased to $278.79 billion, according to The Money Fund Report, a service of iMoneyNet.com.

For the first time in nine weeks, muni bond funds that report flows weekly recorded outflows for the week of March 6, at $97 million.

Survey respondents estimate they will need on average about $66,000 in annual income, significantly less than their current average income of $115,000.

More than a third (35%) plan to spend all or part of the refund, while only 16% will save it. Nearly a quarter (22%) will use the refund to pay down debt and 4% will invest their returns.

Zinder notes that there are 200,000 financial advisors, but that only about 1,000 or so are producing $1 million a year. What are they doing that you’re not?

OppenheimerFunds has launched the Diversified Alternatives Fund (ODAAX), a fund of funds that has exposure to the firm’s alternative mutual funds.

Total money market mutual fund assets dropped by $16.70 billion to $2.646 trillion for the week ended Wednesday, March 6, according to the Investment Company Institute.

The United States is far from the best country worldwide when it comes to retirement savings, according to an index based on data from sources including the World Bank and the United Nations.

Morningstar has handed out some extra gold stars.

The SEC and the IRS have met to discuss tax implications if money-market mutual funds were to adopt a floating share price, two people familiar with the talks said.

The Touchstone Global Real Estate Fund is getting a new sub-advisor.

Jeffrey Rubin, a Florida broker, was barred from the securities industry after more than 30 National Football League players including Terrell Owens lost at least $40 million on an Alabama casino project that went bankrupt.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management today launched the 2013 edition of its Guide to Retirement to help advisors with their retirement practices.

The most common tip we’ve heard from social media experts and power users -- by a wide margin -- was this: Use social media as a way to listen.

When advisors move their practice, many things can go wrong – and they can go wrong very quickly. Fortunately, many of these mistakes can be avoided.