Research Magazine August 2009
Cover Story
Portrait of a Branch Manager
David A. Tufts' Park Avenue branch office in the soaring MetLife Building is right behind Grand Central Terminal, that bustling train station of perpetual coming...
Features
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Annuity Analytics: What is a Guaranteed Rate Really Worth?
The sales pitch sounds too good to be true, and should instantly set off financial alarm bells. Here's how it goes: "Give us your money...
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Super-Focused on Risk
David Wisehaupt used to joke that if he were cut, little bulls would run out -- that's how loyal he was to Merrill Lynch, his...
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Financial Escape Artist
Here's the gospel according to cerebral quant Mebane T. Faber: Risk management equals market timing. Buy-and-hold? To this 31-year-old contrarian, it's nothing more than "buy...
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Crisis Coaching
Nearly a year into the current economic crisis, many in the advisory profession continue to grapple with plunging incomes, unsettled clients and poor credibility. Worse yet,...
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When Florida Sizzled
During the winter of 1925, visitors to the new Florida town of Coral Gables were treated to a curious spectacle. There was former Secretary of...
Editor's Note
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Waiting for Wall Street
As Congress considers a national health-care overhaul partly financed through a millionaire's tax, combined rates on New York's wealthiest citizens could reach an astonishing 57...
News
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Will Active ETFs Dominate?
During the late 1980s, "The Future's So Bright I Gotta Were Shades" soared to become a hit pop song for its optimistic outlook. A similar...
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ProShares Expands Leveraged Lineup
ProShares has been one of this summer's busiest ETF providers. The company has introduced 10 more ETFs built to deliver daily magnified returns. Four of the...
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PIMCO Jumps into ETF Market
The ETF market has a new face and it's Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO). The Newport Beach, Calif.-based firm is well-known for its diverse menu of...
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Emerging Markets Spur ETF Surge
Don't look now, but emerging markets have rediscovered their mojo. After declining more than 50 percent last year and leading global stocks into a freefall,...
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Direxion Reverse Splits Funds
On July 8, the Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3x Shares (FAS) had a 1-for-5 reverse split and the Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3x Shares (FAZ)...
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Strong Q2'09 For Emerging Markets, Bond Funds
During the second quarter, $137.5 billion flowed out of money-market funds and about $7.6 billion left U.S., Europe and Japan equity funds, as the combined...
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Top Fund Brands for Advisors
Financial advisors associate positive branding with American Funds, iShares and Ivy Funds, according to a recent study done by Kasina and Horsesmouth, which included responses...
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Putnam Finds More Momentum
Putnam Investments has announced that Charles E. "Ed" Haldeman Jr., has stepped down from his position as president of the Putnam Funds. Robert L. Reynolds,...
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Vanguard's Wellington Fund Celebrates
The Vanguard Wellington Fund (VWELX), which now has about $40 billion in assets, has turned 80. "The Wellington Fund is a compelling case for the...
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MS-SB Makes Push for More Female FAs
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney says it has launched the Women Financial Advisors Forum online for women interested in becoming financial advisors at Morgan Stanley Smith...
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RJFS Advisor Shares Advice With Community During Hard Times
There's lots of talk these days about how advisors can best reach out and strengthen their reputations and businesses during the economic turmoil. Mitch Kauffman,...
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Merrill Lynch/Capgemini '09 Report: Time for FAs to 'Demonstrate Value'
According to the "2009 World Wealth Report" issued recently by Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management and Capgemini, a global consulting services firm, the economic downturn...
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Retirement: A Field in Flux
The Retirement Income Industry Association's "View Across the Silos" means that members call looking for advice and examples that go beyond what they usually see...
Voices/Columnists
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Mastering Cold Calling
In recent columns, I've discussed how to cold call and I've analyzed calling scripts sent to me by readers. You can pick up your copy...
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How To Measure Risk Tolerance
By now we all know that clients are not behaving in the familiar ways that we have grown accustomed to. Losing boatloads of money can...
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Valuable Lessons
For months now, serious troubles with the American auto industry have been front page news. This gives us reason to pause and ask, "What went...
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The High Cost of Going Bankrupt
Who: Martha Solinger, Co-General Counsel, Lehman Brothers Holdings Where: Bombay Palace, 30 West 52nd Street, New York When: June 25, 2009 On the Menu: Chicken curry and financial...
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The Obama Bubble
The Obama Bubble The late 1990s were marked by a stock market bubble, when "irrational exuberance" boosted the value of technology shares in stock portfolios and...
Investment Spotlight
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A Disciplined Approach: Dividend Achievers
Research Dividend Achiever's Index As tracked by Mergent Inc., these companies have increased annual regular dividends for at least the past 10 consecutive years while meeting certain...
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A Time to Shine
Frank Holmes U.S. Global Investors 800-873-8637 shsvc@usfunds.com Conditions have improved for gold equities, and economic policy decisions being made in Washington could further increase the investment appeal of these...
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Event Spotlight
Think Retirement Income
October 10-11, 2013
Hyatt Regency, Boston, MA
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