News
September 9, 2007
FPA Kicks Off Annual Meeting
Fresh from Senate testimony, Nicolette stresses fiduciary duty
By James J. Green
Only days after he testified at the Senate Special Committee on Aging on the duties of financial advice givers, Financial Planning Association President Nicholas Nicolette drew spontaneous ...
September 7, 2007
Pershing Advisor Solutions Names Mark Tibergien CEO
Leading advisor consultant to head advisor custody unit
By James J. Green
Pershing LLC announced September 6 that it has named Mark Tibergien as CEO of Pershing Advisor Solutions (PAS), and as a member of Pershing’s executive committee. ...
A Brave Nanotech World
Nanotechnology sounds like science fiction... but it's becoming a reality.
By Palash R. Ghosh, S&P; Global Editorial Operations
This broadly defined emerging technology essentially relates to the control of matter on a molecular level where the rules of quantum physics reign. ...
New Tool for Advisors
Fidelity to roll out retirement income tool for affiliated advisors
By James J. Green
Fidelity Investments will be rolling out a Web-based retirement income planning tool during the month of September through its three advisor-servicing units: Fidelity Investments Institutional ...
September 6, 2007
Protecting the Elderly
Congress, SEC, and states vow greater scrutiny of senior fraud
By Melanie Waddell
Lawmakers, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state regulators are bent on making sure advisors with designations touting expertise when it comes to helping seniors are closely scrutinized.
Lower Prices at Vanguard for Larger Clients
Shareholder gain could be a pain for planners
By Kathleen M. McBride
For investors who have $100,000 to $1 million-plus at Vanguard, the news is good: reduced costs for brokerage and planning, broader services, and for the highest bracket, access to some mutual ...
September 4, 2007
August Shows Value of Prudent Diversification
Banks and hedge funds still act differently—Searching for Alpha, the monthly index newsletter for September
By Ben Warwick
August was a study in contrasts. Domestic equity and high-grade fixed income weathered the storm of global volatility to close mostly higher, but the loan market fell apart. ...
August 31, 2007
College Board Stops Student Lending Program
Move is latest fallout from college lending scandal
By Kara P. Stapleton
The College Board announced that it is ending its role as a lender in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and will not accept new loan applications after October 15, 2007.
Another Fixed Income Vehicle
Muni Bond ETFs offer transparency and lower fees than bond mutual funds
By Palash R. Ghosh, S&P; Global Editorial Operations, and Alec Young, S&P; International Equity Strategist
In the current climate of high volatility in the equity markets and possible credit loosening by the Federal Reserve, consider ETFs that focus on municipal bonds.
August 29, 2007
Standing Up for Shareholders
Faith-based and socially responsible investing groups oppose SEC proposals
By Robert F. Keane
A new Web site intended to help organize thousands of individual shareholders in opposition to controversial SEC proposals has been launched as part of a joint effort by The Social Investment ...
Guaranteed Income Gap Growing
Report finds a disconnect between retirement savings and expected longevity
By James J. Green
A new study on retirement readiness suggests that most pre-retirees seriously underestimate the number of years they will be retired and thus the amount of savings they will need to last them ...
August 27, 2007
Advisor Gloom Matches Clients’ Pessimism
Rydex ACI mirrors decline in UBS/Gallup investor index
By James J. Green
The market volatility of August 2007 prompted by the subprime mortgage crisis predictably led to major decreases in optimism among investors and their advisors, two new surveys show.
Campos to Join D.C. Law Firm
Will represent firms in SEC enforcement issues, internal investigations
By Melanie Waddell
SEC Commissioner Roel Campos will join the law firm of Cooley Godward Kronish in early September, at which time he will leave his SEC post. ...
August 24, 2007
Spreading Financial Literacy
Junior Achievement/FPA partnership develops programs for kids
By Kara P. Stapleton
The Financial Planning Association and Junior Achievement Worldwide have joined forces to provide educational programs that help improve the financial literacy of America’s youth.
