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Among working Americans making at least $30,000 a year, paying bills and reducing debt are greater concerns than saving for retirement, a “Financial Wellness” survey of 1,610 adults by PwC found.

Nearly half, 48%, of chief financial officers and senior comptrollers expect the economy to improve over the next six months, a marked improvement from the 30% who thought so in October, a survey of 318 executives by accounting and audit firm Grant Thornton found.

Advisors are struggling to come up with a better retirement income portfolio solution, which we believe we have found. This is not just about dividends. Inflation is a major concern long term that advisors not only need to be aware of when building retirement portfolios but must have an effective portfolio management solution.

According to the FINRA survey, in addition to these worries, fewer than half of current retirees said they were working with a financial professional to handle their retirement assets. Only one in five reported having a written plan for retirement.

The popularity of hedge funds, particularly among institutional investors, propelled total assets under management to a record $2 trillion in the first quarter, according the latest report from Chicago-based Hedge Fund Research Inc.

Last year, total annuity sales through banks declined 25% from the prior year, which itself was down 18% from the year before that, according to Kehrer-LIMRA. Yet newly release data from the Michael White-ABIA Bank Annuity Fee Income Report shows that income from annuities was down just 1.8%.

Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., plans to soon introduce a bill that would require all new munis to be taxable direct-pay bonds with a 25% federal subsidy rate — a proposal drawing a frosty reception from issuers and underwriters.

Richard Davis, the top executive at U.S. Bancorp, said he has no intention of making customers feel as though they, or their debit relationships, are being held hostage.

A decade after its launch, Bank of America Merrill Lynch's 401(k) platform for small businesses is approaching 1 million participants — and it's expanding beyond its signature 401(k) focus.

Two straight quarters in the black is not good enough for Grayson Hall, the chief executive of Regions Financial Corp., to proclaim "mission accomplished."

The combination of extortion and the use of threats to air an alleged extramarital affair against a state official is probably not the best way to win an investment contract at the New York State Common Retirement Fund.

After years of incredible growth in sales, earnings and market cap, Google's first-quarter earnings miss and spike in operating expenses has unnerved some analysts and investors.

Investors and advisors are concerned about IRAs and Ed Slott provides the answers.

State Street’s top executive says the Boston-based company wants to continue to “fortify the foundation” without losing sight of opportunities for further growth.“I look back over the last couple of years, and in spite of what looks like a recovered market there is still a lot of instability,” Jay Hooley, State Street’s chief executive officer said in an interview on Tuesday. “We want to be sure our foundation is solid in terms of capital and risk management and make sure we have returned to basics in terms of our core asset servicing and asset management businesses, but also we want to be sure we are investing in enhancing our product capabilities. Our focus is really the whole package.”

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney has revamped the leadership structure for its wealth management business, according to an internal memo sent by the firm’s global wealth management President Greg Fleming.The moves come as MSSB approaches its two-year anniversary of the inception of its business after Smith Barney was purchased from Citigroup, Fleming notes in his letter. It also comes after Fleming was named to his role in January, replacing Charlie Johnston.

The combination of a robust U.S. equity market and the proliferation of company-sponsored retirement plans helped push total assets in 401(k) pans over the $3 trillion threshold at close of last year, up 13% from 2009.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority announced Tuesday it suspended indefinitely Pinnacle Partners Financial Corp., of San Antonio, Texas, and its president, Brian K. Alfaro, for failing to comply with a FINRA temporary cease and desist order “prohibiting their fraudulent misrepresentations.”The suspension resulted from FINRA’s notice of suspension that alleged that Pinnacle and Alfaro continued to make fraudulent oral and written misrepresentations and omissions in connection with their offer and sale of certain oil and gas joint interests. The temporary order was issued on Jan. 21.

Sometimes, advisors can build a better business by avoiding discussing business altogether.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority announced Tuesday it suspended indefinitely Pinnacle Partners Financial Corp., of San Antonio, Texas, and its president, Brian K. Alfaro, for failing to comply with a FINRA temporary cease and desist order “prohibiting their fraudulent misrepresentations.”