Demographics

The ranks of the mass affluent are much bigger in number and in greater need of financial guidance than high-net-worth investors.

Affluent investors looking for market cues to invest more toward their retirement this year are most watching stock market volatility and improvement in the job market, according to preliminary results from a Merrill Lynch semiannual survey.

As an advisor, your ability to engage in clients’ goal-setting conversations may well prove the difference between them staying with you or going elsewhere.

Bank of America Corp.'s relatively new wealth-management unit for mass-affluent consumers is on target to meet growth goals, despite recent shakeups at the company's broader retail bank.

Many mass affluent investors have not seen their financial situations improve in the past year and list not saving more toward their 401(k) plans and children’s college funds as top regrets, according to a new report released by Bank of America.

Even before the events surrounding the U.S. debt ceiling deal and downgrade, affluent investors’ concerns about how long their retirement assets will last was rising, according to a new Bank of America Merrill Lynch survey conducted in June.

Research Affiliates sees high inflation, low growth in the developed world. BlackRock looks for companies with strong cash flow. Gold prices rise.

Northern Trust has hired R. Peter Sanchez to serve as chief executive officer of Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services, upon the closing of Northern Trust’s acquisition of hedge fund administrator Omnium.

While some experts say that clients need to brace for a market without the Fed's help by adding cash to their portfolios, others are worried that the rush for cash is already being overdone.

One-third cites protecting principal as their primary goal.

51% of pre-retirees and retirees with incomes between $25,000 and $75,000 had not been contacted by any kind of retirement professional in the past 12 months.

While half of U.S. banks are aware of the opportunity with mass affluent investors and are busy enhancing their online capabilities, the other half believe they distinguish themselves from the Charles Schwabs of the world with in-person advice.

Last month's sudden departure of Citi exec Deborah McWhinney raises questions for brokers, advisors, customers and the firm's executive management team as the company seeks to fill the void.

A new research report from Aite Group found that banks should look to provide better multi-channel offerings to compete with online brokerage firms for mass affluent clients.

Bank of America officially announced Monday the launch of Merrill Edge, a platform geared to the mass-affluent customer segment.

Forty percent say they are likely to invest in cash over the next 12 months, while 23% plan to buy equities, according to survey.

BofA Merrill Lynch advisors amass $244 billion in cash deposits as clients try to circle their financial wagons.

Some parts of the fixed-income market are hard to track with a traditional ETF.

A closer examination of why (and why not) annuities belong in a 401(k) plan.

While blacks were still concerned about rising health care costs and tax rates, that concern dropped by 15% since the last study.