News

Displaying 41746 results
INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 21, 2007
Americans earning, spending more

Customers opened their wallets in November, as personal income and prices jumped, according to the Commerce Department.

LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES DEC 20, 2007
Group moves to bridge insurance GAP

America’s Health Insurance Plans today unveiled a proposal to provide health insurance coverage to more people.

REGULATION AND LEGISLATION DEC 20, 2007
'AMT patch' passed by Congress

About 21 million taxpayers will be spared the AMT for 2007 after the House approved an "AMT patch."

INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 20, 2007
Morgan feels subprime pain in Q4

Mortgage-related losses took a $9.4 billion bite out of Morgan Stanley’s fourth-quarter report, the bank said yesterday.

INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 20, 2007
Economy expands in third quarter

The gross domestic product increased 4.9% in the July-to-September quarter, unrevised from its previous estimate.

INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 20, 2007
Japan holds interest rate at par

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady at 0.5%, indicating that the Japanese economy is expected to grow at a slower pace.

INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 20, 2007
Bear takes $859 million 4Q hit

The Bear Stearns Cos. Inc. posted its first quarterly loss in the company's 84-year history.

LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES DEC 19, 2007
Insurers prescribe broader health care

America’s Health Insurance Plans has unveiled a proposal to provide health insurance coverage to more people.

INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 19, 2007
Bill Gross: 'Mild' recession on horizon

The economic contraction will be ``a mild one based upon housing and its ultimate handoff ... to the consumer.''

LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES DEC 19, 2007
VA assets grew $1.5 trillion in 4Q

That’s a 15.3% gain from the same period last year, when net assets for variable annuities were $1.3 trillion.

LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES DEC 19, 2007
ING announces fixed index annuities

The products give “windows of opportunity” to withdraw from the policy without incurring surrender charges.

INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 18, 2007
Goldman reports 2% fourth-quarter hike

Amidst one of the worst quarters to befall Wall Street in years, Goldman Sachs reported record earnings.

INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 18, 2007
Gov't: Accounting method changes deficit

The Government Accountability Office declined to comment on the reliability of the new report due to its “serious material weaknesses."

RETIREMENT PLANNING DEC 18, 2007
Plans to be fined on disclosure issues

Defined contribution plan administrators may be fined $1,000 a day if they fail to disclose documents to participants.

INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 18, 2007
Housing starts drop 3.7% in November

Ground breakings for new U.S. homes decreased in November, while the number of issued building permits slid to its lowest levels in nearly 15 years.

LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES DEC 17, 2007
Aon spins off two units for $2.78 billion

Aon's Combined Insurance will be sold to ACE for $2.4 billion and Munich Re is buying its Sterling unit for $352 million.

INDUSTRY NEWS DEC 17, 2007
Jobs market seen strong in '08

Despite the credit crisis, the job market at large financial advisory firms is expected to be strong in 2008, according to a recent Claymore Partners LLC survey.

LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES DEC 17, 2007
More states may clamp down on improper asset transfers

Elder-law attorneys are concerned that the new year will bring new rules in a number of states regarding how — and if — immediate annuities can work with Medicaid eligibility and planning.

OPINION DEC 17, 2007
Dear Santa: Fix the AMT and subprime mess

We have a few items we would like to request from Santa Claus for Christmas — not this Christmas, mind you — we would be happy to receive them by Christmas 2008.

LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES DEC 17, 2007
Client frame of mind plays role in purchase of annuities

The mind-set of clients presents a significant stumbling block to advisers who recommend annuities as a retirement-planning tool.