Assets in 529 plan accounts reached an all-time high of $328 billion in December before shrinking to $293 billion as of March as a result of the market downturn during the first quarter, according to research from Morningstar Inc.
Assets in the college savings accounts totaled nearly $286 billion at the end of 2018.
Plans sold directly to college savers continued to gain market share, Morningstar said, growing at more than double the rate of plans sold exclusively through financial advisers over the past three years.
Fees fell again in 2019, with the average direct-sold age-based portfolio's expense ratio declining to 0.35% in 2019 from 0.39% in 2018, and the expense ratio of the average adviser-sold age-based portfolio down 0.04 percentage points to 0.89% as of March 2020.
A Texas-based bank selects Raymond James for a $605 million program, while an OSJ with Osaic lures a storied institution in Ohio from LPL.
The Treasury Secretary's suggestion that Trump Savings Accounts could be used as a "backdoor" drew sharp criticisms from AARP and Democratic lawmakers.
Changes in legislation or additional laws historically have created opportunities for the alternative investment marketplace to expand.
Wealth managers highlight strategies for clients trying to retire before 65 without running out of money.
Shares of the online brokerage jumped as it reported a surge in trading, counting crypto transactions, though analysts remained largely unmoved.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
