Investments

The "do it yourself" investor crowd is not exactly new. But now it has a newfound source of power. A new tool on the market from Motif Investing makes it easier than ever for individual investors to create their own ETF-like investment funds.

Morningstar today published its inaugural issue of Financial Services Observer, a research report examining the competitive shifts in the U.S. wealth management industry, companies responses to industry changes following the financial crisis, and which companies Morningstar equity analysts think are poised to be a boon for shareholders.

First Financial Northwest in Washington ousted a longtime CEO, while HopFed Bancorp in Kentucky seated an outsider on its board and canceled an acquisition, under pressure from activist shareholders. More banks can expect similar fights.

Bloomberg -- Bank of America Corp. is seeking approval of a $160 million settlement from a judge who thrice rejected requests by black financial advisers at its Merrill Lynch unit to sue as a group over alleged racial discrimination.

These 20-somethings are just beginning their saving and investing journey and there's no time like the present to get them on the right track.

Impulsive investors have migrated from one asset class to another, resulting in a series of asset bubbles. If you zig when they zag, you can find buying opportunities.

With caregivers and family the most common culprits, advisors have become a first line of defense.

The modern version of balanced funds, these portfolios continue to make inroads with investors.

Predictions of a hard landing for this nation's economy are overblown.

Many planning metrics, used forever to craft retirement portfolios, are no longer valid. Here are the new numbers and strategies you'll need when planning for your clients' tomorrows.

A run-down of the stories in this issue, which includes discussions of the new crop of metrics that will influence your clients' retirement portfolios and the challenges of traditional long-term care insurance.

The index reverses its fall, led by shifts in client behavior and market performance.

Commonwealth Financial Network already stands out for its revenue mix. Now it has a new model for RIAs.

A passion for indexing has helped Mark Hebner build Index Fund Advisors into a $1.8 billion financial planning firm.

When a portfolio of mutual funds vies against a portfolio of ETFs, which one comes out on top?

Use these concepts to frame conversations with your clients.

Amid ownership shifts, Hennessy Focus is still looking for a few (very few) reasonably priced stocks that it can hold for years.

Advisors should be leery of the fads in mutual fund strategies, warns a top Morningstar analyst.

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that three whistleblowers have been awarded a combined total of $25,000 for tips they provided to help the SEC and Justice Department to thwart a sham hedge fund.

Huntington announced today that Gregory A. Smith was named president of Cincinnati-based Haberer Registered Investment Advisor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Huntington National Bank. Smith will report to Steven Short, executive vice president and director of Huntington Wealth Advisors.