Research Magazine July 2012

A Seasoned Guide for Uncertain Times

By Jane Wollman Rusoff

Allen D. Rutledge is a financial advisor for our uncertain times: the struggling economy, the high market volatility, the European debt crisis—everything holding back the post-global financial meltdown’s comeback.

Branch Manager’s Cowboy Call: ‘Can You Ride for the Brand?’

By Jane Wollman Rusoff

Hard-driving, competitive, goal-focused, Keith A. Vanderveen, president of the home region of Wells Fargo Advisors’ Private Client Group, does not mince words.

Seeking Social Media’s Payoff

By Ellen Uzelac

In less than one year, advisor Elle Kaplan’s “online tribe,” as she calls it, has surged from 10 to more than 2,400 Twitter followers. Not coincidentally, a dozen of them have signed on as clients.

Good Questions

By Gil Weinreich, AdvisorOne

Two years after the passage of Dodd-Frank, I think it is fair to say the landmark financial reform legislation has not inspired a lot of love.

Aiming High—6 Strategies for Success

By Bill Good

Let’s say you are bringing home $250,000 a year, certainly a good living. But you want to go to the top. How do you get there? UBS's Ira Walker lays out a plan.

What to Expect

By Kenneth Silber, Research

Traditionally, presidential races slip into a relatively quiet July doldrums, before the late-summer party conventions kick the race into a higher gear

Voter Discontent

By Alexei Bayer

Several recent elections in Europe were seen as a referendum on fiscal austerity (and fiscal discipline) and their results were presented as a mood shift in favor of more government spending and economic stimulus.

Advisor Camp

By Bill Miller

Remember going away to summer camp as a kid?

Retirement in a Yield-Free World

By Michael Finke

Estimating a retirement income strategy requires a few assumptions including the expected return on invested assets.

Averitt Retires as CEO at RJFS Conference

By Janet Levaux, AdvisorOne

Dick Averitt retired as CEO of Raymond James’ independent-advisor channel in late May.

LPL, Wells’ FiNet Tap New Execs

By Janet Levaux, AdvisorOne

LPL FINANCIAL SAID IN EARLY JUNE THAT Dan Arnold, currently head of strategy for the largest independent broker-dealer, had been named chief financial officer of the company, the latest step in a management reorganization that has played out over the last few months.

Clinton, Other Speakers Headline Insite

By James J. Green & Joyce Hanson

Insite 2012, Pershing’s 14th-annual conference, attracted more than 2,000 attendees, many of whom are broker-dealer home office personnel and BD reps who work through Pershing’s clearing business and use its technology.

Is Gold in Trouble?

By Ronald Delegge, ETFguide.com

Goldbugs are nervous, and rightly so. Their beloved metal—the “currency of last resort”—has been acting more like a basket case than a bastion of safety.

Targeting Covered Bonds

By Ronald Delegge, ETFguide.com

The ProShares USD Covered Bond (COBO) made its trading debut in late May.

A Play for High Yield

Van Eck Global introduced a new fund called the Market Vectors Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF (HYEM), which is linked to high yield emerging market corporate bonds.

ETP Assets Hit $1.2 Trillion

By Ronald Delegge, ETFguide.com

The assets invested in exchange-traded products (ETPs) including both ETFs and ETNs rose by 6% at the end of April 2012 from the previous year to $1.2 trillion, according to the ETF Industry Association.

Regulators Fueled Facebook Flop

By Ronald Delegge, ETFguide.com

The fiasco surrounding the IPO of Facebook (FB) was a classic comedy of errors, with stock underwriters, exchange operators and the company’s insiders denying everything and blaming everyone but themselves.

Direxion Adjusts Risk Controls

By Ronald Delegge, ETFguide.com

Boston-based Direxion Shares made changes to the investment strategy for the Direxion S&P 1500 RC Volatility Response Shares (VSPR), Direxion S&P 500 RC Volatility Response Shares (VSPY) and Direxion S&P Latin America 40 RC Volatility Response Shares (VLAT).

Alternatives Stay on Growth Path

By Janet Levaux, AdvisorOne

Advisors, asset managers and institutions are increasingly turning to alternative investments to help clients boost returns while supporting the growth of assets under management.

Putnam Opens Office in China

By Janet Levaux, AdvisorOne

Putnam Investments said in early June that it has opened an office in Beijing, representing the firm’s first foothold in China.

MLPs Come into Sharp Focus

By Jane Wollman Rusoff

The young, tax-advantaged asset class of master limited partnerships, with its unique structure and method of return, has been picking up steam for the past several years.

MLPs, Taxes, the K-1 & More: Frequently Asked Questions

How are MLPs structured? MLPs have two classes of ownership, which are general partners (GPs) and limited partners (LPs).

Portfolio Fix: MLPs and Positive Returns

By Jane Wollman Rusoff

Savvy financial advisors know that these days of high market volatility and low interest rates demand strategic thinking to help clients reap fruitful investment returns.

Steady Returns for a Wealth of Investment Strategies

By Ed McCarthy, CFP

I’s been a year of contrasts in the U.S. energy business.