Investments

According to a Fundstrat Global Advisors survey of 3,265 funds, more than half posted gains that exceeded benchmark indexes in 2015 through March 6, for their best start to a year since 2012.

Help make sure your clients aren't among those who say they wish they had saved more, or started at an earlier age. Plus, questions over the proposed revamp of Medicare payments to long-term-care hospitals.

Big names in the bond industry have lent their names to actively-managed ETFs, betting their reputations will translate into investor interest. But active management's recent record against index funds makes it a tough sell for some.

The total amount of outstanding municipal securities and loans in the market rose 0.6% to $3.65 trillion in the fourth quarter of last year, as U.S. bank muni holdings increased 2.5% and mutual fund muni holdings rose to a record high $658 billion.

Instead of a broad stock index, should advisors consider ETFs weighted by dividend payments?

Even after defaults, high-yield bonds have earned above-market returns.

As the Federal Reserve prepares to raise interest rates, exchange-traded funds designed to protect bond portfolios from the fallout are likely to see big inflows.

This week's highlights includes how competition is forcing ETF providers to cut fees on products; research on how corporate bond ETFs can help institutional investors manage investment flows; and Chinese demand for portfolio managers.

WisdomTree Investments has gained 33% this year, driven by the success of two exchange-traded funds that let investors buy European and Japanese stocks while avoiding the decline in the currencies.

How taxes should affect an investor’s asset allocation; Plus, how changes to IRA and 401(k) plan rules can help clients to save on taxes.

Why Congress needs to stop Medicare from lowering the fees paid to physicians; Plus, a study that says that many workers could see cuts in pension benefits.

For the third consecutive year in 2014, JPMorgan attracted more net new money to its actively managed equity funds than any of its U.S. mutual fund competitors. In a year in which larger rivals such as Fidelity and American Funds suffered redemptions from active stock funds, it gained $18.3 billion.

Silicon Valley idealists, Robinhood's founders insist that users come first and that their startup will focus on generating a profit later. But, when pressed, they say they make money by gleaning some of the interest on cash held in customer accounts and soon will charge users to borrow to make trades.

One sector flips a truism for dividend investing. See some of the ETFs that let you invest in it.

Clients need to know the facts when offered a lump-sum payment for trading in their pensions; Plus, seven questions to ask before buying a qualified longevity annuity contract.

MainStay Marketfield was supplanted as the largest alternative mutual fund after assets dropped to $7.3 billion as of Feb. 28 from more than $21 billion a year earlier, according to data from Chicago-based Morningstar Inc. The $8.1 billion Gateway Fund now holds the distinction.

Client behaviors, preferences and expectations have undergone some big changes. Old ways of engaging with prospects and clients fall flat in this new world. That's why reinventing their client engagement models - and the supporting business processes - must be a high priority for asset management and wealth advisory firms.

Why companies should have to offer low-cost funds in 401(k)s; Plus three secrets to maximizing Social Security spousal benefits.

Many investors traditionally bought high and sold low, losing out on market averages. But a new Morningstar report shows that the typical investor now is posting returns that are closer to those of mutual funds.

The client redemptions that plagued Bill Gross at his old job have followed him to his new one as well. Gross’s Janus Global Unconstrained Bond Fund suffered its first month of net withdrawals since he joined, with clients pulling $18.5 million from the fund in February, Morningstar estimated.