Industry News

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NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 31, 2009
Advisers tap into HSAs to fund long term care

As retirement looms for baby boomers, financial advisers are finding additional uses for their clients' health savings accounts, including covering the cost of long term care insurance.

By Darla Mercado
NEWS BROKER DEALERS MAY 31, 2009
Raymond James buys Lane Berry investment bank

Raymond James Financial Inc. has acquired a boutique investment bank to expand its reach in that business, following through on plans to scoop up acquisitions in the troubled market.

By Bruce Kelly
NEWS RIAS MAY 31, 2009
Independent advisory firms' outreach pays off for some

Independent advisory firms have stepped up their outreach efforts, and the largest firms continue to open accounts even though their assets under management have dropped.

By Sue Asci
NEWS MUTUAL FUNDS MAY 31, 2009
529 plans seen benefiting from expected fee cuts

The expected reduction in front-end sales charges by large mutual fund companies may help stimulate sagging sales for Section 529 college savings plans.

By Charles Paikert
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 31, 2009
Managers seek best bets amid dividend cuts

In an era of unprecedented dividend cuts, money managers and financial advisers are stepping up their due diligence when searching for income.

By Jeff Benjamin
NEWS RIAS MAY 31, 2009
Wealthier women sit in driver's seat

Household financial decisions are being made increasingly by affluent women, creating opportunities for financial advisers, according to two industry surveys.

By Charles Paikert
NEWS RIAS MAY 31, 2009
Insurance industry needs systemic-risk check

Congress should pass, as quickly as possible, a bill to establish an Office of Insurance Information.

By MFXFeeder
IRS seeks business hardship changes to 401(k) rules
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 31, 2009
IRS seeks business hardship changes to 401(k) rules

Proposed IRS rules would allow employers that made automatic 401(k) plan contributions under a safe-harbor provision to suspend or reduce those contributions if they incurred a substantial business hardship.

By Jerry Geisel
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 29, 2009
Stock market soars, ending month on a high note

A late day shot of adrenaline has sent stock prices soaring and given the big market indexes their third straight monthly gain.

By Associated Press
NEWS RETIREMENT PLANNING MAY 29, 2009
Target date funds shouldn’t stand alone, most investors believe

Two-thirds of investors believe that target date funds need to be combined with other funds to achieve a proper mix for their retirement portfolios, a white paper released yesterday by Janus Capital Group Inc. of Denver suggests.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 29, 2009
Foundation giving reached record highs in ’08, but drop feared in ’09

Giving by community foundations reached a record level last year, but is expected to decline in 2009, according to a report released yesterday by the Foundation Center, a New York-based non-profit service research organization focused on philanthropy.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 29, 2009
Variable annuity net sales rise but assets fall in first quarter, NAVA reports

Variable annuity net sales rose nearly $1 billion from the fourth quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009, according to a report released today by NAVA Inc., a Reston, Va.-based VA trade group.

By Sue Asci
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 29, 2009
Dinallo resigns as New York insurance superintendent

Eric R. Dinallo is resigning as superintendent of the New York state Insurance Department, effective July 3, to become the Henry Kaufman visiting professor of finance at New York University’s Stern School of Business.

By Staff Report
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 29, 2009
U.S. economy sinks at a 5.7% pace in 1Q

The U.S. economy sank at a 5.7 percent pace in the first quarter as the brute force of the recession carried over into this year. However, many analysts believe activity isn't shrinking nearly as much now as the downturn flashes signs of letting up.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 28, 2009
GunnAllen buying Florida indie Pointe Capital Inc.

As it grapples with major changes, GunnAllen Holdings Inc. has bought an independent broker-dealer.

By Bloomberg
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 28, 2009
Samberg to close Pequot Capital

Arthur J. Samberg, founder, chairman and CEO of hedge fund manager Pequot Capital Management, today told clients he will shutter the firm, close its core funds and spin out two funds into separate businesses, according to a client letter obtained by Crain's Pensions & Investments.

By Christine Williamson
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 28, 2009
Initial jobless claims drop unexpectedly

The government says the tally of newly laid-off people seeking jobless benefits fell last week, a sign that companies are cutting fewer workers.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 28, 2009
The uninsured costs covered families $1,000 a year, report concludes

Private coverage for the average individual costs an extra $370 a year because of the cost-shifting, which happens when someone without medical insurance gets care at an emergency room or elsewhere and then doesn't pay.

By Associated Press
NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS MAY 28, 2009
Pat Robertson aims to answer investors' prayers

Pat Robertson — the controversial founder of The Christian Broadcast Network — is attempting to answer the prayers of investors who are fast losing faith in their advisers.

By Bloomberg
NEWS LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAY 28, 2009
Fixed annuities again surpass VAs in sales

Fixed annuities continued to outsell their variable counterparts in the first quarter, according to data from LIMRA International Inc. of Windsor, Conn.

By Darla Mercado