The last of the big Wall Street banks' efforts to repay TARP funds met with mixed results in the stock market last week — a cautionary tale for investors who are looking to dabble in the financial services sector.
“Headline risk” associated with municipal bonds went up today when the U.S. Census Bureau released data that state government tax collections totaled $715.2 billion in fiscal year 2009. That's a decrease of nearly $67 billion (8.6%) from fiscal 2008.
Exchange-traded funds potentially make it easier for financial advisers to build a well-diversified portfolio that limits volatility by spreading risk. But the proliferation of more exotic ETFs — particularly leveraged and inverse ETFs — could blunt their diversification potential.
David Ruder, founder of the Mutual Fund Directors Forum, is retiring as its chairman but will continue as chairman emeritus of the organization.
A Supreme Court ruling expected this year on the standards that courts use to determine when mutual fund fees are excessive, and a renewed focus by the SEC on 12(b)-1 fees, guarantee that the mutual fund industry will spend a good deal of time debating fees in 2010.
Sen. Christopher Dodd has his own reasons for pushing hard for financial services reform next year.
The mutual fund industry's Holy Grail is a fund that can provide investors with a guaranteed stream of income without tying up the client's money in an annuity.
Morningstar Inc. last week launched ratings and research reports for 20 of the largest target date mutual funds — and identified The Vanguard Group Inc. as the best target date provider for investors, based on such criteria as management, fees and performance.
