Financial planning

Beefing up its presence in Sacramento and Newport Beach, Calif. Beverly Hills Wealth Management has lured the Sullivan Wealth Management Group from Morgan Stanley.

Over the past two decades, investors have paid less and less to own shares of mutual funds. That's because investors demand low-cost funds, and because the fund industry is one characterized by competition, innovation, and economies of scale.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch launched Monday an analytics dashboard aimed at helping treasurers handle their cash.

Increased demand for due diligence on hedge funds -- if not for the funds themselves -- may be the initial impact of the SEC's recent ruling lifting an 80-year-old ban on advertising for private offerings.

Detroit’s bankruptcy filing means it’s time for advisors to reassess their holdings, says Warren Pierson, lead manager of Baird’s intermediate-term municipal bond fund, but not to over-react to what is sure to be a panicked client base.

It’s a tricky act, being both big and personal. But organizers of LPL’s 23rd annual conference are aiming to strike this balance, according to one of its organizers.

Heavy outflows, at $1.56 billion, endure for municipal bond mutual funds as investor demand for tax-exempts continues to flag.

Cambridge Investment Research founder Eric Schwartz has put together a highly structured several-year plan aimed at sharing company ownership and allowing it to remain independent. Here are the main pillars of the plan.

Founder Eric Schwartz is making big plans to preserve the firm’s independence and viability for the long term -- by giving away control now.

In the most recent expansion of its planning services, Raleigh, N.C.-based Capital Investment is adding five new financial advisors.

Northstar Wealth Partners, the largest LPL Financial-affiliated wealth management firm in Connecticut, has nearly doubled its assets under management to just under $2 billion -- by recruiting two advisors formerly with Essex Financial Services in Essex, Conn.

One service provider is looking to take advantage of the migration of hedge funds into the mutual funds space by offering its hedge fund clients its Investment Company Compliance Services offering.

Money market mutual fund assets increased by $8.53 billion to $2.632 trillion for the week ended July 17, according to the Investment Company Institute.

The Senate Banking Committee unanimously agreed to recommend the full Senate confirm Kara Stein and Michael Piwowar as Securities and Exchange Commission members and approve chairman Mary Jo White to serve a full term.

Municipal bond mutual funds continue to hemorrhage money as investor demand remains low.

Raymond James Financial, Inc. has partnered with social media sales platform provider Hearsay Social to help its advisors connect with clients and expand their practices.

Securities America has ramped up the fierce competition for independent advisors, launching a new RIA targeting advisors with between $50 million and $250 million assets under management.

“People are starting to think more strategically about giving,” says Schwab Charitable President Kim Laughton. “It really started last fall. What’s nice is it’s continuing this year.”

BlackRock Inc., the world’s biggest money manager, said second-quarter profit climbed 32% as rising stock markets boosted fees.

Inflows to long-term mutual funds were $1.28 billion for the eight-day period ending Wednesday, July 10, according to the Investment Company Institute.