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INDUSTRY NEWS OCT 18, 2009
We're repeating the mistakes of 1930

The U.S. stock market and economy are in much the same place now as they were in 1930.

By Bloomberg
INDUSTRY NEWS OCT 18, 2009
"Auction' e-mails don't rate with Finra

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. is warning investors to be on the lookout for scam e-mails that promise refunds of $1.5 million to auction rate security investors.

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES OCT 18, 2009
Lawmakers blast John Hancock's long-term-care rate hike

Members of Congress took to task John Hancock Life and Health Insurance Co. and the federal Office of Personnel Management in a hearing last week, blasting them for an unexpected rate hike in long-term-care insurance that would hit federal employees.

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES OCT 18, 2009
Moore, Ferrell stir up insurers

Hollywood and the insurance industry continue to trade blows as celebrities attack companies' business practices.

By Bloomberg
RETIREMENT PLANNING OCT 18, 2009
Bid to regulate planning industry will soon run into opposition, leaders predict

The industry effort to regulate financial planning as a profession has support from within, but it won't escape opposition from other sectors of the financial services community, several industry leaders said last week.

By Dan Jamieson
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES OCT 18, 2009
Jury: Allianz used deceptive materials to market its two-tiered EIAs

A federal jury in Minnesota ruled last week that Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America used deceptive materials to market its two-tiered equity-indexed annuities, but declined to assess damages against the company, saying that the plaintiffs suffered no harm.

By Darla Mercado
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION OCT 18, 2009
GRAT tax edge may be dulled by new rules

Spurred by low interest rates and a White House proposal that would reduce the benefits of a popular estate-planning vehicle, financial advisers are encouraging wealthy clients to take advantage of that vehicle before it's too late.

By Sara Hansard
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION OCT 18, 2009
Advisers face "slew' of new lawsuits from small-business clients

Financial advisers who have sold certain types of retirement and other benefit plans to small businesses might soon face a wave of lawsuits unless Congress takes action.

By Bloomberg
RETIREMENT PLANNING OCT 18, 2009
Convert to a Roth? Decision depends on many unknowns

To deal with the “Roth revolution” that starts next year, advisers' best tool may be a crystal ball.

By Jeff Benjamin
ALTERNATIVES OCT 18, 2009
Inland Western struggles to pay down debt

One REIT sponsor attracting attention recently from independent broker-dealers is The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies Inc., which sponsors five publicly traded and non-traded REITs.

By Bruce Kelly
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES OCT 18, 2009
Penn Treaty LTC policyholder in limbo amid liquidation

When fee-only financial adviser Martha Schilling discovered that an elderly client needed to augment an old long-term-care insurance policy, she was shocked to find that the client's carrier is teetering on the brink of insolvency.

By Darla Mercado
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION OCT 18, 2009
Merrill avoids arbitration in loan cases

Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. is pursuing a legal strategy that could give it a leg up in collecting from brokers who owe the firm money on retention packages.

By Dan Jamieson
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES OCT 18, 2009
Firms eye embedded guarantees to lure advisers

Many firms, including Pimco, Russell Investments and John Hancock, are planning or discussing the addition of guarantees to their mutual funds to provide scared investors with a floor on their investments, but advisers are skeptical about such promises.

By Jessica Toonkel Marquez
INDUSTRY NEWS OCT 16, 2009
Oil up to near $78 as weeklong rally continues

Oil prices were up to near $78 a barrel Friday, continuing a weeklong rally amid an unexpected drop in U.S. gasoline inventories.

By Bloomberg
INDUSTRY NEWS OCT 16, 2009
Federal deficit hits all-time high $1.42 trillion

The federal budget deficit has surged to an all-time high of $1.42 trillion as the recession caused tax revenues to plunge while the government was spending massive amounts to stabilize the U.S. financial system and jump-start the economy.

By Bloomberg
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION OCT 16, 2009
Wall Street has spent $224M to influence financial reforms

$224 million. It's a lot less than $16.7 billion but it could pack far more punch. That's the amount the financial industry spent in the first half of this year to lobby Congress to water down regulations aimed at preventing another financial meltdown. And more money is expected to be on the way.

By Associated Press
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION OCT 16, 2009
SEC, CFTC propose fiduciary standard for commodities advisers

The SEC and the CFTC today proposed requiring advisers who recommend commodities to adhere to a fiduciary standard as part of a 20-point plan to improve regulation.

By Sara Hansard
INDUSTRY NEWS OCT 15, 2009
Schwab's 3Q earnings drop 34%, but adviser business a bright spot

While The Charles Schwab Corp. reported a 34% drop in overall earnings for the third quarter, its adviser services business proved to be a bright spot.

By Staff Report
INDUSTRY NEWS OCT 15, 2009
New US jobless claims drop unexpectedly to 514,000, continuing claims fall below 6 million

New US jobless claims drop unexpectedly to 514,000, continuing claims fall below 6 million

By Bloomberg
RIAS OCT 15, 2009
Mass affluent leaving brokers, making indie advisers their top choice, Spectrem finds

After a year in which many investors lost substantial chunks of their wealth, mass affluent individuals are ditching their full-service brokers in favor of independent financial planners at a significant clip, according to a report released today.

By Staff Report