Subject Root Tag

A study released by the Securities and Exchange Commission Saturday has recommended that a single fiduciary standard be created for brokers and investment advisers.

Umpqua Bank wanted to offer trust services, but like many banks, it was wary of the expense of a major new initiative.

Fewer wealthy Americans are using mutual funds, and among those investors who continue to use these investment products, allocations are down significantly.

The fund combines hedge and private equity approaches.

Volatility and speculation about defaults and bankruptcies in the municipal market continue to spook issuers and investors, affecting volume in the primary market.

Investors established a new record for withdrawals from municipal bond mutual funds last week as headline risk continued to chase people from state and local government debt funds.

Regulators also closed banks in the Carolinas and Georgia in a busy night that also saw a shelf charter and a deposit insurance national bank utilized.

The latest nixed deal, between Florida Bank Group Inc. in Tampa and Anderen Financial Inc. in Palm Harbor, brought the issue to the fore when the companies said last week that regulators are hesitant to approve "expansionary" deals.

Absent from BofA chief Brian Moynihan's comments on his company's disappointing performance in 2010 was a convincing case that 2011 won't be yet another such year.

The much-anticipated study found that many investors are confused about the roles of brokers and advisors and are unsure of their protections when they receive advice. The study recommended a new standard would simplify the client experience.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has reorganized its personal retirement solutions business.

Is this really no big deal for bank advisors?

“High-risk” allocations fell to 15% from 24% in 2006.

The number of securities lawsuits filed in 2010 increased, despite a drop in new suits related to the credit crisis, according to a new report.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. rose 1% in December to 112.4, following a 1.1% gain in November and a 0.4% rise in October.

Frost Investment Advisors has launched the Frost Diversified Strategies Fund, a mutual fund that combines hedge and private equity approaches. The fund seeks to reduce downside volatility while providing upside investment opportunities.

The latest report from LoanPerformance, released this week, showed another notable decline in November, with prices down 5% from the recent peak in May.

Public speaking is a skill that every advisor must master to be successful in a media-rich society.

According to an internal memo released late Thursday, the company is restructuring the unit into five areas.

The Bank of America unit increased its total client assets 6% to $1.58 trillion as revenue rose 13% to $3.55 billion from a year earlier as the country’s second largest U.S. brokerage company added to its advisor force.