RIA News

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RIA NEWS FEB 15, 2011
Advisers mull effect of McWhinney’s exit

Many financial advisers, stunned by Deborah D. McWhinney’s abrupt departure from Schwab Institutional, are wondering just what caused it. Schwab offered little explanation as to why the 52-year-old executive left after more than six years or why there was no warning.

By Bloomberg
MUTUAL FUNDS FEB 14, 2011
Two ways to play the growing middle class: Philip Tasho

Agricultural commodities represents a creative way to invest in the world's emerging middle class, according to Philip Tasho, founder and chief investment officer at Tamro Capital Partners, which manages $1.4 billion in asset management.

By Jeff Benjamin
Obama budget would exempt IRA distributions for small accounts
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 14, 2011
Obama budget would exempt IRA distributions for small accounts

Retirees with less than $50,000 in their individual retirement accounts may not have to take required withdrawals under President Barack Obama's proposed budget.

By Mark Bruno
RIA NEWS FEB 14, 2011
The GMWB and why it's so popular

In the world of variable annuities, 2010 may have been the year of the guaranteed-minimum-withdrawal benefit

By Darla Mercado
Skimpier living benefits could kill interest in VAs, advisers warn
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 14, 2011
Skimpier living benefits could kill interest in VAs, advisers warn

Lack of investment choices also slammed; fee-based variable annuities the next step?

By Darla Mercado
EQUITIES FEB 14, 2011
Pimco's retail push includes expense ratio cuts

As Pimco takes over the distribution of all its funds and expands its equity fund lineup, it plans to cut expense ratios and arm financial advisers with more research and access to its investment managers

By Jessica Toonkel
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 14, 2011
Investors staged last-minute rush to Roth IRAs

Affluent clients of two large financial services companies converted billions of dollars held in conventional IRAs to Roth IRAs in 2010, particularly at the end of the year

By Darla Mercado
IRA ALERT FEB 14, 2011
A valuable late-year IRA extension

The Tax Relief Act of 2010 includes an extension of the qualified-charitable-distribution provision retroactive from Jan. 1, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2011

By Ed Slott
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 13, 2011
All-ETF variable annuity gives W&S a hedge edge: Moody's

Western & Southern Financial Group Inc.'s decision to base its variable annuity investment options on exchange-traded funds is a positive for the insurer, allowing it to better manage market risk tied to the products, according to Moody's Investors Service.

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 13, 2011
Special report: Variable annuities

To make their variable annuities more attractive, insurers revved up living-benefit features last year. This year, some top VA sellers are hitting the brakes and trimming benefits.

By Mark Bruno
RIA NEWS FEB 13, 2011
Hard times keep us together

The recession that stripped many Americans of their financial security may also have saved a few marriages

By Liz Skinner
RIA NEWS FEB 13, 2011
Advisers look toward the next generation

Here is a way for financial advisers to keep abreast of ways to engage the next generation: an entertaining website to share with parents or grandparents, who can in turn share it with their young ones

By Davis Janowski
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 13, 2011
Another insurer bows out of LTC insurance sales

Does anyone want to write long-term-care insurance policies anymore?

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 13, 2011
Taking off the glitz

To make their variable annuities more attractive, insurers revved up living-benefit features last year

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 13, 2011
Hard to understand

Summary prospectuses for variable annuities are supposed to help consumers make informed decisions about buying these complicated investments

By Liz Skinner
RIA NEWS FEB 10, 2011
Advisers, clients are steering clear of Egypt

Egypt's political future may be uncertain, but U.S. financial advisers are sure of one thing — it's best to observe Middle Eastern developments carefully but to avoid the region for now

By Liz Skinner
RIA NEWS FEB 10, 2011
Is Schwab booting custody clients that hire its brokers?

Like other brokerage firms, The Charles Schwab Corp. is known to be self-protective about its discount brokerage customers. And like other firms, it has sued former brokers whom it suspects of violating prohibitions against soliciting clients.

By Dan Jamieson
Schwab's stance on an SRO: Just say no
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE FEB 10, 2011
Schwab's stance on an SRO: Just say no

The Charles Schwab Corp. has come out against the idea of creating a self-regulatory organization for advisers.

By Bloomberg
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 10, 2011
A different approach to high-tech planning

Providing scalable high-tech, high-touch financial advice to the mass affluent has been a goal of adviser entrepreneurs since the days of MS-DOS. While the technology and knowledge certainly exist to make it happen, doing so successfully and profitably thus far has been elusive.

By Davis Janowski
FINTECH FEB 10, 2011
Streetscape Fee-Based Tools launched by National Financial

National Financial Services Corp., Fidelity Investments' clearing arm, today announced some substantial enhancements to its Streetscape web-based brokerage workstation.

By Davis Janowski