Industry News

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NEWS REGULATION AND LEGISLATION MAR 10, 2010
FSC Securities sued by former branch manager after alleged buyout attempt

A former branch manager who headed one of the largest groups of reps at FSC Securities Corp. is suing the broker-dealer after what he claims was a thwarted and contentious attempt to buy the business from parent AIG Advisor Group earlier last year.

By Bruce Kelly
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 10, 2010
Two top financial advisers flee AIG's Royal Alliance

Two long-established advisers have left Royal Alliance Associates Inc., one of the broker-dealers in the AIG Advisor Group, citing mistrust of management after AIG's top executive elected to hold onto — rather than sell — the broker-dealer network.

By Bruce Kelly
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 10, 2010
AIG Advisor Group is cutting 62 back-office jobs

The AIG Advisor Group Inc. said last week it is making more widespread changes by cutting staff and consolidating operations among the back offices of its three broker-dealers.

By Bruce Kelly
NEWS REGULATION AND LEGISLATION MAR 10, 2010
Ex-AIG adviser who practiced voodoo on victims gets 12 years for fraud

A Tennessee representative formerly affiliated with AIG Financial Advisors Inc. spent time making voodoo dolls of his victims to ward off their damaging testimony, prosecutors said.

By Bruce Kelly
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 10, 2010
Bonus plan stirs pot at AIG's adviser unit

AIG Advisor Group Inc.'s move to dole out retention bonuses to assuage the 6,000 or so brokers who have remained loyal through the tumult of the past year appears to be too little, too late, or simply too binding for some advisers.

By Bruce Kelly
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 09, 2010
S&P picks: Why the biotech sector looks healthy

Steven Silver, S&P's biotechnology equity analyst, thinks the industry is positioned for renewed investor interest in 2010.

By lkoueiter
Ex-Magellan manager Vinik ices deal for NHL's Lightning
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 09, 2010
Ex-Magellan manager Vinik ices deal for NHL's Lightning

The former fund manager — and current Boston Red Sox minority owner — acquires the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning for a reported $110M. That's about half what the previous owners paid for the team.

By Associated Press
Fidelity: Job cuts hiked our earnings
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 09, 2010
Fidelity: Job cuts hiked our earnings

Fidelity Investments said Thursday its operating profit rose 5 percent last year, boosted in part by job cuts, as revenue continued to lag after two years of unusual volatility in financial markets.

By Associated Press
NEWS RIAS MAR 09, 2010
Schwab to RIA clients: Did you authorize this wire transfer?

The Charles Schwab Corp. has begun calling clients of some registered investment advisers to verify that they have authorized wire transfers of funds from accounts held in custody at the broker-dealer.

By Jed Horowitz
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAR 09, 2010
Banks' annuity fee income rose, FA sales fell in "09 3Q

Fee income from annuity sales climbed at bank holding companies during the first three quarters of 2009, but sales of fixed annuities in the bank channel slipped, according to two separate studies released last week.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 09, 2010
Schwab announces 47% drop in net income – and a stock offering

The stock price of The Charles Schwab Corp. fell 2.5% to $18.81 in after-hours trading after the company announced plans to sell more than 26 million shares of common stock. The discount broker and leading custodian for registered investment advisers also reported that its fourth-quarter net income fell 47% from the year-earlier period to $164 million. Schwab last month signaled that it would report weaker results.

By Bloomberg
NEWS RIAS MAR 09, 2010
American Funds top choice for marketing materials

Financial advisers and branch managers chose American Funds as the firm which best meets their needs for marketing materials, according to a study released today by Financial Research Corp.

By David Hoffman
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 08, 2010
Titanium Metals: Investing in aviation growth

By John Goff
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 08, 2010
Skip the gold medal, go for gold stocks, says Midas Fund's Thomas Winmill

Why one PM says the price of gold will double to more than $2,500 an ounce over the next 10 years.

By Jeff Benjamin
AIG throws in a clunker, reports surprise $8.8B loss in 4Q
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAR 08, 2010
AIG throws in a clunker, reports surprise $8.8B loss in 4Q

After two successive profitable quarters, the besieged insurer reports a loss of nearly $9B in the fourth quarter.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAR 08, 2010
CFP Board strips credentials from admitted Ponzi-schemer

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc on Friday placed Oren Eugene Sullivan Jr. under interim suspension, keeping the ex-broker from using its credentials.

By Darla Mercado
NEWS BROKER DEALERS MAR 08, 2010
'Disrespected' Regal Financial bolts from AIG's SagePoint

In a huge blow to SagePoint Financial Inc., one of three broker-dealers that make up the AIG Advisor Group Inc., its largest branch of reps and advisers is walking out the door following a bitter dispute over the latter's role and future at SagePoint.

By Bruce Kelly
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAR 08, 2010
Buffett's S&P 500-bound Berkshire could get late boost from index funds

For investors holding shares in Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Friday might be a very lucrative day. Today marks the last trading day before Warren Buffet's investment vehicle gets added to the S&P 500. Berkshire's listing in the benchmark index commences Tuesday, the next trading day for U.S. markets.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAR 08, 2010
Are you a 4? AIG said to be rolling out rating system for incentive comp

American International Group Inc. is launching a plan to revamp how it arrives at incentive pay for its workers, according to the NY Times.

By InvestmentNews Staff
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAR 08, 2010
MetLife near deal to buy AIG unit

MetLife Inc. is in the final stages of talks with American International Group Inc. about a deal to buy AIG subsidiary American Life Insurance Co. for about $8 billion in stock and access a bridge loan, according to published reports.

By Darla Mercado