Investments

The financial advisor industry has expanded its share of bond deals advised over the last 13 years. Simultaneously, the top-10 firms’ share of the FA business has gone up and down and up again, but in the long term seems generally to be increasing.

A former Morgan Keegan registered rep agreed to be barred permanently from the industry for putting 10 of his middle-class clients into “unsuitable” investments –- highly leveraged ETFs, regulators said.

Because of its increasing complexity and impacts on financial firms beyond banks, firms that run registered investment funds are suggesting that the Volcker Rule gets ‘re-proposed’ before it goes into effect in July.

Because of its increasing complexity and impacts on financial firms beyond banks, firms that run registered investment funds are hopeful that the Volcker Rule gets ‘re-proposed’ before it goes into effect in July.

PIMCO and the Vanguard Group received the highest favorable ratings from prospective institutional investors amidst leading asset managers, according to a new study released by Cogent Research.

The March survey of fund managers found that 23% of investors expect a stronger global economy during the next 12 months.

Most investment fund clients have no idea how much their investments are costing them in terms of management fees, commissions and other hidden costs, according to money manager Greg Phelps of Redrock Wealth Management.

Mutual fund research companies Access Data and Strategic Insight have entered into a partnership pooling together their resources for financial data gathering.

What exactly makes an alternative mutual fund “alternative”? According to Cindy Erickson Zarker, director at research firm Cerulli Associates, the definition of what constitutes an alternative investment fund has changed markedly since 2008.

Mutual funds may have been an American innovation, but asset managers will now go to China, Brazil, India or wherever returns can be found, said Alan Reid, founder of Forward Fund Management, at the Investment Company Institute’s Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference.

The Altman Group, an affiliate of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, has rebranded to AST Fund Solutions, LLC and formally launched its new brand at the 2012 Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference held this week in Scottsdale, Arizona.

What exactly makes an alternative mutual fund “alternative”?

Mutual funds may have been an American innovation. But asset managers will now go to China, Brazil, India or wherever returns can be found, said Alan Reid, founder of Forward Fund Management, at the Investment Company Institute’s Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference.

ICI general counsel Karrie McMillan said it is “very interesting” that commissioner Elisse Walter indicates the SEC is ‘open to ideas’ on how to reform the money market fund industry.

What is “really lacking” in the cost-benefit analysis required of SEC rule-making by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act? Michael Downer has an idea. Cost-benefit analysis.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 6.51 points to finish at 13,239.13 Monday while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 added 23.06 points and 5.58 points, respectively.

Most investment fund clients have no idea how much their investments are costing them in terms of management fees, commissions and other hidden costs, according to money manager Greg Phelps of Redrock Wealth Management.

FINRA slammed Citi International Financial Services with a $600,000 fine for charging excessive markups and markdowns on corporate and agency bond transactions.

Mutual fund research companies Access Data and Strategic Insight have entered into a partnership pooling together their resources for financial data gathering.

State Street Corporation today unveiled the State Street Fund InsightsSM Valuation Toolkit to provide timely industry insights for fund managers and directors and help them better manage data.