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In first public speech as CEO, he also makes case for mega banks

William Dudley wasn't the first regulator to endorse the idea of allowing banks to convert debt into equity if they need capital in a pinch, but the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has gone further than any other policymaker in making the case that "contingent capital" is key to averting another banking crisis.

She has yet to cause a run on any of the money-center banks, but political-pundit-turned-digital-entrepreneur Arianna Huffington has lit up the blogosphere with a campaign targeting customers of the largest financial institutions.

After years of adding innumerable bells and whistles to annuities to attract investors, insurance carriers have begun to prune their offerings—not just to simplify them but to reduce their indemnification, The Wall Street Journal reports.

A number of executives at Saturna Capital donated their holiday bonuses to charities, the second year in a row they did so.

Dennis Delafield and Vincent Sellacchia, managers of the Delafield Fund, which soared 55% in 2009, will continue to take a cautious approach in 2010, seeking out small- and mid-cap companies that are clearly poised for growth, keeping 20% of assets, a record amount, in cash, and paying keen attention to companies’ debt covenants.

While investors have continued to steadily contribute to their 401(k)s throughout the two-year-long financial crisis and have kept 401(k) loans, hardship withdrawals and cash-outs to a minimum, there was, after all, a sudden surge in withdrawals last year, according to Vanguard.

Brokers are continuing to rush for the exits of large brokerage firms to join independent firms, putting as much as $5 trillion in Americans’ retirement savings in play and prompting brokerage giants such as Schwab, Fidelity and TD Ameritrade to offer technological and business enticements.

Besides emerging markets mutual funds, which delivered an average return of 72% in 2009, technology, gold and commodities funds were also winners, according to Lipper.

Emerging markets funds, particularly those focused on the BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China, were the top gainers in 2009, soaring an average of 72%, according to Morningstar data.

Forefront Advisory, an independent asset management firm, is using the financial crisis as an opportunity to scoop up laid-off and unhappy Wall Street talent, giving them a chance to strike out on their own.

Responding to a spate of scams, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has issued an investor alert regarding "green energy" investments.

An optimistic start to a New Year and decade, from JP Morgan, T. Rowe and others. Plus: the week’s reports.

Two hedge fund categories outperformed the rest.

TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund will be managed by two portfolio managers with 39 years of combined experience investing in emerging markets.

A small RIA hopes a personalized service for retirement plans will attract more clients.

The tortoise strategy seems to be working.

RS had strong inflows into its fixed income sector in 2009.

Since the recession hit two years ago, 80% of mutual fund firms have laid off tens of thousands of people, as total assets under management dropped from $11.999 trillion at the end of 2007 to $10.688 trillion as of October. In line with this 11% decline in assets, fees have undoubtedly plummeted by at least $1 billion a year.

The House Ways and Means Committee has introduced a bill that would streamline and modernize the tax code for mutual funds and their shareholders. For the past 50 years, the code has been adjusted piecemeal, and an entire review of the rules hasn't occurred for more than 20 years.