Willette Francis

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  Fed’s QE2 Generates Pension Plan Uncertainty, Mercer Says

  By Willette Francis  |  November 12, 2010

  After the midterm elections, the Federal Reserve passed a quantitative easing program (QE2) that could potentially cause further deterioration in U.S. pension plan funding, a Mercer study finds.

• Principal Report: Tips for Advisors to Keep Clients’ Retirement Savings on Track

  By Willette Francis  |  October 29, 2010

  Principal Financial Group has released to advisors the Savings-to Employment Income Ratio, a quick litmus test for estimating the health of investor's retirement savings, according...

• Top 5 Fund Providers for Advisor Loyalty in Mutual Funds, ETFs, VAs

  By Willette Francis  |  October 22, 2010

  Based on a national survey of more than 1,500 registered advisors, the report found that American Funds, iShares and Prudential Financial have strong connections with individual advisors.

• Facebook, Twitter Are Capitalist Tools of Banks and Credit Card Issuers

  By Willette Francis  |  September 24, 2010

  Banks and credit cards issuers are using social media to connect with their customers and reinforce their brands.

• Altegris Advisors Introduces Managed Futures Strategy Funds

  By Willette Francis  |  September 17, 2010

  Altegris Advisors has launched the Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund for investors to participate in managed futures with an actively managed mutual fund.

• GOP, Offering Plan, Rejects Obama's Call to End Bush-Era Tax Cuts

  By Willette Francis  |  September 10, 2010

  House Republican leader John Boehner proposed a two-part plan that he said would stimulate the economy and stop the tax hikes suggested by President Barack Obama during his speech about the nation's economy on Wednesday, September 8.

• NYSE Euronext Joint Venture Focuses on Sustainable Energy Market

  By Willette Francis  |  September 10, 2010

  NYSE Euronext (NYX) is expanding its focus on environmental and sustainable energy initiatives through a joint venture, NYSE Blue, with APX, Inc., the company announced Tuesday, September 7.

• Olivia Mitchell to Get RIIA Award at Annual Meeting

  By Willette Francis  |  September 3, 2010

  Mitchell will receive the Achievement in Applied Retirement Research Award.

• FaithShares Advisors Launches Its First SMA

  By Willette Francis  |  September 3, 2010

  FaithShares Advisors is expanding its investment portfolio with a highly customizable separately managed account (SMA), the firm announced Wednesday, September 1.

• Schwab IMPACT Conference Registration Outpacing 2009

  By Willette Francis  |  August 27, 2010

  Charles Schwab IMPACT 2010 Conference will focus on technology at the annual conference from October 26-29, as advisor registration has already outpaced last year's numbers, according to Schwab on Thursday.