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February 1, 2010

 Past Issues

Mutual Funds

Week In Review

Bill Would Require Funds to Reveal Proxies, Schwab E-Mail Could Bolster Case Against YieldPlus, Affluent View Vanguard As Top Mutual Fund Brand, 425 Funds Closed in 2009, Lord Abbett Lowers Fees On Two International Funds, Experts Scrutinize Retirement Savings Woes, Wien Sees GDP Growth Surpassing 5% in 2010, and a Citigroup Strategist Warns That Bond Mania Could Bust

Alternative Investments

The Future Goes to the Alternatives

After the recent massive meltdown, it's no surprise that 81% of registered investment advisory firms and 79% of brokers and advisers now believe that traditional asset allocation relying on stocks, bonds and cash provides insufficient portfolio diversification.

In a survey released Wednesday by Rydex/SGI, a majority of respondents used alternatives or were interested in them for portfolio diversification. The Rydex survey, conducted in November and December, polled 291 professionals-including RIAs and advisers from independent and wirehouse shops.

401(k)s

Putnam Calculator Directs 401(k) Investors to Retirement Income

NEW YORK -- Online retirement calculators are usually so confusing or overwhelming that the average plan participant logs in, checks their account balance and then logs off without making any changes. Putnam Investments has developed a new retirement income twist it hopes will resonate with investors, plan sponsors and financial advisers. "Complexity leads to inactivity," said Edmund Murphy, managing director and head of defined contribution at Putnam, at a presentation at the Four Seasons Hotel last week. "Participants find it hard to see how their balance turns into retirement income. They are told they need to save millions, and they just give up and turn off instead."

Regulation & Compliance

SEC Tightens Money Fund Rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission last Wednesday adopted several amendments to Rule 2a-7 governing money market funds that aim to reduce risks by increasing credit quality, improving liquidity, shortening maturity limits and requiring the disclosure of a fund’s “shadow” net asset value.

The Commission fell short of requiring a floating NAV, but said it may still consider such a move in the future, as well as eliminating the disclosure delay on holdings and the use of credit ratings agencies.

Sales & Marketing

Merrill Runs $20 Million 'help2retire___' Campaign

Bank of America's Merrill Lynch Wealth Management has launched a new U.S. marketing campaign, "help2retire___," to illustrate individuals' evolving retirement priorities and personal aspirations. Budgeted at $20 million, it launched last Monday and is scheduled to run through the end of April on broadcast network and national cable TV, as well as print and online consumer and trade magazines, including sister publication Financial Planning.

Executive Moves

Executive Moves

Russell Hires Polisson To Head Global ETFs, Retirement Income Assn. Announces New Directors, Goldman to Part Ways With Fidelity Institutional