Archive for February, 2010
Geller Group confirms Labor Department probe
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin.
The Geller Group LLC, a New York retirement plan administrator and registered investment adviser, has confirmed in internal memoranda that it is being investigated by the Labor Department. “The Department of Labor began an investigation of Geller Advisory Group in December to examine our third-party plan administrator and registered investment advisory business,” James English, head [...]
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Fund companies are prepping bond investors for rising rates
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin.
Fearing a backlash from investors who are still piling into bond funds, mutual fund companies are rolling out sales and marketing campaigns to encourage investors to shift assets into other products. Rising interest rates are likely to cause a decline in bond fund values. But fund companies are afraid that investors will blame them for [...]
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B-Ds fight back against litigation on Reg D offerings
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin.
Two broker-dealers are coming out swinging against investors and securities regulators who are looking for redress over the sale of private placements that went belly up last year. Capital Financial Services Inc. and Securities America Inc. have been named in mass investor arbitration complaints over the sale of private placements, including Medical Capital Holdings Inc., [...]
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Life insurers sue B-Ds over third-party VA sales
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin.
Two life insurers are suing a trio of broker-dealers, accusing them of fraudulently selling to third parties variable annuities with lucrative death benefits on terminally ill individuals. The broker-dealers, LifeMark Securities Corp., Fortune Financial Services Inc. and The Leaders Group Inc., are accused of fraud, unjust enrichment and negligence for processing variable annuities that investors [...]
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Senate bill stirs retirement plan lobby
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin.
As the Senate convenes this week to debate its version of a financial services reform bill, financial advisers and service providers working with retirement plans are trying to avert the possibility of coming under greater regulation by an existing or new government agency. In the reform bill passed by the House in December, a last-minute [...]
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Variable annuities asset leaders
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin.
About Us | Contact Us | Search | Editorial Calendar | Advertise Subscriber Services: Subscribe | Renew | Subscription Status | Pay an Invoice | Change Mail Address Reprints | List Rental | Issue Index | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Crain Financial Group: Pensions & Investments | FinancialWeek | Workforce Management Copyright (C) [...]
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Variable annuities sales leaders
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin.
About Us | Contact Us | Search | Editorial Calendar | Advertise Subscriber Services: Subscribe | Renew | Subscription Status | Pay an Invoice | Change Mail Address Reprints | List Rental | Issue Index | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Crain Financial Group: Pensions & Investments | FinancialWeek | Workforce Management Copyright (C) [...]
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Advisers weigh benefits of new VA products
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin.
Now that the days of generous variable annuities are behind them, some advisers are finding ways to fit the revamped, slimmed-down versions into clients’ portfolios. The latest incarnations of variable annuities are attempting to balance advisers’ desires with insurers’ imperative to reduce risk and tamp down hedging costs. After designing living-benefit sweeteners in the early [...]
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The last laugh
Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by admin.
For most investors, not having access to their money is a drawback. But to Nancy Tipton, that’s precisely what made a variable annuity so attractive. In 2003, when she invested $94,000 in an annuity with a living benefit, she was guaranteed a 7% annual rate as long as no withdrawals were made over a 10-year [...]
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What a difference a year makes
Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by admin.
As 2009 wound to a close, it was hard not to look back at the global financial markets just 12 months ago and realize how far and how quickly the recovery had come. To quote our Outlook from one year ago in this same Market Review: However, just as a strong April and May disguised [...]
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Outlook
Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by admin.
The U.S., and indeed most of the global economies, faces a transition period in 2010, one that must be carefully handled. While the equity and fixed income markets have generally recovered structurally from the crisis of 2008, the recovery has been accomplished through government support and subsidy. But this support system is tenable only in [...]
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International markets
Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by admin.
The international developed markets (see forex trader) were muted during the fourth quarter with the Russell Developed Large Cap ex-North America Index up just 2.3%.The returns were further muted by the dollar reversing its most recent trend in the fourth quarter, strengthening against most of the major currencies with the notable exception of the British [...]
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Fixed income
Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by admin.
After a relatively sleepy start to the quarter, the taxable fixed income markets went on a quick rollercoaster ride for the final 60 days of the year. The Treasury yield curve dipped in November, sharply in the case of the 2-10 year portion of the curve, and then jumped in December wiping out any gains [...]
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Domestic equity markets
Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by admin.
The fourth quarter of 2009 started out on shaky ground with the domestic equity indexes falling sharply in October. However, a solid November and December wiped out the early losses and put all of the Russell style indexes firmly in the black. Returns for the quarter ranged from 7.9% for the Russell 1000 Growth Index [...]
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Debt relief is the partial or total forgiveness of debt, or the slowing or stopping of debt growth, owed by individuals, corporations, or nations. Traditionally, from antiquity through the 19th century, it refers to domestic debts, particularly agricultural debts and freeing of debt slaves. In the late 20th century it came to refer primarily to Third World debt, which started exploding with the Latin American debt crisis (Mexico 1982, etc.). In the early 21st century, it is of increased applicability to individuals in developed countries, due to credit bubbles and housing bubbles. Debt relief services are financial solution that is worth checking out.Real Estate Investment
If the property or properties you own happen to be located in Brisbane, Australia, you will need to take a great deal of care when hiring an expert to manage the property for you. Real estate is a big business and everyone seems to want to invest in real estate. You keep hearing a lot of stories about how people made a quick buck by investing in real estate.