Investment products

A 60/40 mix won't offer full diversification. Seeing the historical performance of various asset allocation models can help advisors make better choices for clients.

Over the past 50 years, dividends of the S&P 500 have grown an average of 5.7% a year, outpacing the average inflation rate of 4.1%; Plus, how Social Security could be used by the government to address retirement inequality.

Clients give up access to their money with annuities, so they are advised to use only a portion of their savings in these products; Plus, they should activate a fraud alert if they think their Social Security number has been compromised.

Mutual funds and ETFs with overlapping holdings cloud the waters for rules aimed at tax-loss harvesting in individual securities. Be sure you're not putting clients at risk.

A review of year-to-date trading activity of U.S. diversified equity mutual funds spots trends that advisors and clients can use to identify the biggest sector movements.

To help clients envision their long-term needs, show them how much more they can receive from the government if they wait longer to file for benefits; Plus, reverse mortgage can help in the right situations.

Clients who are considering taking student loans should compare the interest rates with their investment returns before making a decision; Plus, how Americans are missing out on $24 billion a year.

Values-based investing has gained traction in the fund industry. One fund provider brings a faith-based layer to that approach, and has found market and success doing so.

Commentary: There are certain areas of an asset allocation where there is real danger to blindly investing in passive investments.

For advisors whose clients want some of their assets in real property, the current rebound creates both opportunities and challenges. Want to understand these clients a little better? A recent survey took a deep look at investment real estate buyers and identified several characteristics that set them apart.

Default rates are far higher for corporates than for munis with the same ratings, a discrepancy regulators are hoping to address with a rule that takes effect June 15.

If managers who invest in their funds tend to outperform their peers, which ones are the best? Ranked by their respective funds' five-year performance, here are the top managers with $1 million of their own money invested in their funds.

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. and John Hoeven, R-N.D., introduced legislation that would create Move America Bonds, which would generally be treated as exempt-facility, private-activity bonds but would have fewer restrictions and separate state volume caps that could be converted into tax credit allocations.

More than half of global employers surveyed by Vanguard say they intend to boost company contributions to 401(k) plans in the next five years; Plus, almost half of American workers (45%) are not saving for retirement.

Given the unpredictability in forecasting, betting on rates rising can be just as risky as taking the opposite stance.

Instead of shifting all their assets to bonds and other safe investments, retired clients should keep some in high-quality dividend stocks; Also, clients should be self-centered when planning for retirement.

For clients who want retirement income with minimal equity risk, advisors should recognize the 'mortality credit' advantage that the pooled funds in an immediate annuity can offer.

A recent rule change has enhanced the appeal of these products. Here's what advisors need to know.

After years of low interest rates and rising stock markets, once-conservative strategies might actually be putting investors in risky situations. Here's where some income investors are going wrong.

Striking a balance between the emerging and traditional realms of investing is where Motif Investing sees its niche, says its co-founder and CEO Hardeep Walia.