Brodeski says advisers should advise; Carson insists that it's possible to generate alpha.
President Obama's voluntary '"myRA" proposal, with no option to invest in stocks, could be doomed to failure, advisers say. The plan "isn't going to go anywhere," according to one skeptic. <i>(Don't miss these <a href="http://www.investmentnews.com/gallery/20140123/FREE/123009998/PH" target="_blank">tips for a worry-free IRA rollover</a>.)</i>
Taking benefits early means permanent reduction &ndash; but sometimes that's OK.
After $1.2B yanked in June, $2.1B, the most ever, pulled in September.
Technological and regulatory advances are turning once-speculative plays into viable businesses.
2014 is likely to be bumpier than 2013, with clients likely to need more hand-holding from advisers, meaning it isn't too early to begin.
President Obama made halting the growth of income inequality a key part of his State of the Union message, and while financial planners and advisers can do little to fix the drivers of the problem, they can take steps to ameliorate its effects at the margin.
Advisers must know whether clients who have worked for federal, state or city governments may be affected by pension rules that can reduce or even eliminate certain Social Security benefits.
The SEC and Finra are getting tough on broker-dealers, putting intense focus on those recommending and selling alternative investments, including nontraded REITs. <b><i>Don't Miss: <a href="http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20140110/FREE/140119991">Our full look at the SEC's 2014 priorities</a></b></i>
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> January was rough, and though Seattle winning the Super Bowl is a good omen for stocks, it's going to be a bumpy ride. Also: How defined contribution assets surged, celebrating 25 years as a top PM, who to thank (or blame) for 401(k)s, finding gems in the emerging markets and who won the Super Bowl of advertising?
One investor draws criticism after comparing treatment of wealthy to Nazi Germany, plus other must-reads from wealth manager and CNBC commentator Josh Brown
Proposal would enable investors to open accounts with as little as $25. But would it turn us into a "nation of savers?"
On today's menu: The bad omen of Amazon's earnings miss; lots of people are eating burritos; the Microsoft CEO search nears an end ... and the new guy has a big job ahead; Super Bowl ads and what you need to know about the Year of the Horse.
Two companies filed this week, seeking funds that don't report daily.
MetLife Inc., the insurer reducing variable annuity sales by more than half, said rivals that are expanding are probably retaining less funds to back the retirement products.
Fixed-annuity sales in the third quarter reached their highest level since 2009, topping $22 billion. That number represents a 31% rise from the previous quarter and more than a 35% increase from the same period last year.
