Investment products

While many of the fundamentals of bank programs haven't changed much, the products, technology and sophistication of advisors and clients alike have increased exponentially.

Advisors should advise clients to avoid buying a one-size-fits-all product and to check offerings by as many carriers as possible before making a decision; Plus, how to counsel pre-retirees who want to give financial assistance to their adult children.

Pension plans grew 89% over the last 10 years, while GDP increased just 42%; Plus, provision in budget proposal that would prevent high-income workers from contributing to their 401(k) plans.

Deutsche Bank said it’s working to boost its investment in green bonds to 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion), joining competitors including Citigroup and Barclays in tapping profit from the quickly growing market.

Experts recommend that employers be more flexible with workers who borrow money from their 401(k) plans, such as giving more time for repayment or allowing loans to be rolled over to the next employer's plan.

Gold extended a rebound from the lowest level in six weeks after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January meeting signaled many officials were inclined to keep interest rates near record lows for longer.

Charles Schwab and New York agreed to settle a 2009 lawsuit in which the state accused the firm of promoting auction-rate securities as safe while failing to disclose the risks before the market for them froze.

Clients who have the option of receiving a sizable lump-sum payment of their pension or life-long payments need to consider the advantages each has in certain situations.

Local investing opportunity networks can bring in a healthy income stream -- but advisors need to make sure compliance is squarely on their side.

While auto-enrollment features on a retirement plan are better than nothing, some experts still worry that workers are not saving enough for retirement.

President Obama has proposed payroll taxes be reshuffled so the portion that pays for the disability fund would be increased by nine-tenths of a percentage point, but Republican lawmakers want changes to address Social Security's overall financial health.

The SEC barred an RIA from the industry after the firm was charged with misleading investors -- including falsely claiming that its fund was "SEC approved."

The market isn't as drop-dead gorgeous as it used to be, but it's still attractive.

Investors in their 20s and 30s are advised to reduce their stock allocations since they are likely to change jobs and subsequently cash out a part of their accounts.

"[W]e made a carefully thought-through decision to remain a private company and to retain our independence," said Eric Clarke, CEO of Orion Advisor Services, one of NorthStar's subsidiaries.

Retirement savers lose up to 25% of their savings from "leakages," or pre-retirement withdrawals that erode the assets a client will have at retirement, according to a new report.

Janus Global Unconstrained Bond Fund attracted an estimated $85.6 million in net new money in January, the lowest amount since Pacific Investment Management’s former investment chief Bill Gross took over as manager in October.

Less than half of U.S. workers last year had saved even as much as $10,000 for retirement, according to a study, but catching up is still a realistic goal.

Trusts, a standard tool in the anti-estate tax arsenal, can range from simple to extremely complex. Here are a few options to work with.

Many clients think their workplace retirement plan is not worth it if there is no employer match contribution; Plus, how retirement plans can underestimate inflation