Mutual funds

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.

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.

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.

Securities and Exchange Commissioner Elisse Walter told fund executives gathered at the ICI Mutual Funds conference to stop discussing the reform of money market mutual funds through “a public volley of slogans.’’

Commissioner Elisse Walter told fund industry executives Monday to re-engage with the Securities and Exchange Commission on a new round of reform of money market mutual funds – and end its “unconstructive disengagement’’ on the subject.

The SEC might just kill the patient it is trying to cure, according to Karrie McMillan, general counsel of the Investment Company Institute.

Mutual funds may soon report not just to the Securities and Exchange Commission but the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as well, in some circumstances.

The liquidity of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, as well as their operating costs, could be collateral damage, depending on how the Volcker Rule precluding proprietary trading by banks gets implemented, Investment Company Institute general counsel Karrie McMillan will argue Monday at the 2012 ICI Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference in Phoenix.

The liquidity of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, as well as their operating costs, could be collateral damage, depending on how the Volcker Rule precluding proprietary trading by banks gets implemented, ICI general counsel Karrie McMillan will argue Monday at the 2012 ICI Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference in Phoenix.

Securities and Exchange Commission proposals to require capital buffers and embargoes on withdrawals or to let the net asset value of money market funds float could destroy the gains made by reforms enacted in 2010 , ICI general counsel Karrie McMillan will proclaim Monday at the 2012 ICI Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference in Phoenix.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission will introduce duplicative and inconsistent regulation if it persists in bringing mutual funds under its purview, ICI general counsel Karrie McMillan will assert Monday at the 2012 ICI Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference in Phoenix.

Fenimore Asset Management has promoted 20-year veteran Debra Perez to senior vice president, responsible for long-term strategic planning and growth of investment vehicles and services.