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LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES APR 06, 2009
Lincoln digs deep to repay $500M debt

Shares of Lincoln National Corp. fell today as the insurer prepared to pay down $500 million in debt.

By Darla Mercado
ALTERNATIVES APR 06, 2009
Private equity shop Quadrangle halts fundraising

Quadrangle Group has confirmed that it has halted fundraising for its third planned fund, which has stalled since last fall when the financial crisis squeezed credit markets in earnest.

By Hilary Potkewitz
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES APR 06, 2009
Stifel moves into insurance with new hires

Stifel Nicolaus & Co. Inc. has hired two executives from KeyBanc to fill newly created positions in the Financial Institutions Group.

By Jamie Burns
ETFS APR 05, 2009
ETF providers hope funds will be used to absorb toxic assets

Some providers of exchange traded funds hold out hope that the government will still turn to ETFs to purchase toxic assets — illiquid real estate loans and securities backed by loan portfolios — from banks.

By David Hoffman
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES APR 05, 2009
Insurers slow production of fixed-index annuities

Insurers, concerned about conserving capital, have put the brakes on their fixed-index-annuity production, a move that advisers say could put a crimp in their business.

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES APR 03, 2009
House again floats federal insurance regulator

In the latest iteration of a plan that’s been steadily gaining support from both Democrats and Republicans on the Hill, legislation was introduced yesterday that would create a federal insurance regulator.

By Bloomberg
ALTERNATIVES APR 03, 2009
Carried-interest tax bill in the House once more

Legislation to tax carried-interest compensation at ordinary income tax rates instead of lower capital gains rates was reintroduced today by Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich.

By Sara Hansard
MUTUAL FUNDS APR 03, 2009
American Funds to eliminate Class B shares

American Funds will no longer sell Class B and 529-B shares of its mutual funds, effective April 21, the firm said today.

By David Hoffman
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES APR 03, 2009
Gen Re ex-finance chief prison-bound in fraud case

Elizabeth A. Monrad, the former finance chief of General Re Corp., is heading to prison for her part in a scheme that inflated American International Group Inc.’s financial statements.

By Darla Mercado
MUTUAL FUNDS APR 03, 2009
Labor Dept., SEC to probe target date funds

The Department of Labor will begin an "immediate review" of target date funds — one that could lead to new regulations placed on the all-in-one investment strategies — according to a letter sent to a key Senate committee.

By Bloomberg
ALTERNATIVES APR 02, 2009
Madoff's home in Florida lost almost $2M in value

Even Bernie Madoff isn't exempt from the real estate slump.

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES APR 02, 2009
Bank backs out of Protective Life deal, dooming TARP dreams

Protective Life Corp.’s quest to acquire a Florida bank holding company abruptly ended yesterday because of the insurer’s inability to participate in the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES APR 02, 2009
Florida annuity-sales fraud bill advances

A Florida Senate bill that would levy heavy penalties on agents and financial advisers who make fraudulent annuity sales has moved closer to becoming law — though not without a few insurance industry-friendly changes.

By Darla Mercado
FIXED INCOME APR 01, 2009
Muni bond funds lead the pack after rocky 2008

Eight out of the 10 best-performing bond funds during the three-month period ended March 30 were municipal bond funds, according Lipper Inc. of New York.

By Sue Asci
ALTERNATIVES APR 01, 2009
Firms colluded with Madoff, Galvin charges

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin today charged Fairfield Greenwich Advisors LLC and Fairfield Greenwich (Bermuda) Ltd. with fraud in connection with the Bernard Madoff investment scandal.

By Sue Asci
MUTUAL FUNDS APR 01, 2009
Treasury extends guarantees for money market funds

The Treasury Department on Tuesday extended a temporary guarantee of money market mutual fund assets initially put in place during the height of the financial crisis.

By Bloomberg
ALTERNATIVES APR 01, 2009
Pending home rise 2.1 percent in Feb. from Jan.

An index that tracks signed contracts to purchase previously occupied homes rose in February from a record low a month earlier as buyers took advantage of deeply discounted prices and low interest rates.

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES APR 01, 2009
MetLife CEO compensation fell 13% in 2008

MetLife Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive C. Robert Henrikson received compensation of $12.4 million in 2008, down 13 percent from the previous year, according to an Associated Press calculation of figures disclosed in a regulatory filing Tuesday.

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MAR 31, 2009
Advisers seek to skirt VA roadblocks

Advisers are being pelted with a dizzying array of new insurance products. But as quickly as products develop, so, too, do the challenges, which include evaluating carriers’ financial health and deciding which product might be favorable in a given economic environment.

By Darla Mercado
ALTERNATIVES MAR 31, 2009
Salvation for seniors seen in alternative investments

Even though retired clients have been hobbled by tanking investments, opportunities still await those who dare to try alternative investments, according to experts.

By Darla Mercado