Economy & Markets
The important economic and stock market news that advisors need to know.
Monthly vs. Quarterly vs. Annual: Does Frequency Matter?
By Moshe A. MilevskyRecently, when I’ve had the chance to listen to insurance company annuity wholesalers pitch their variable annuity riders, I’ve been hearing…
March 01, 2011
Senate Democrats Agree to GOP Spending Cuts, Avert Shutdown Through March 18The House was poised Tuesday to pass legislation cutting federal spending by $4 billion and averting a government shutdown for two weeks--Senate Democrats, yielding to the inevitable, said they would go along.
March 01, 2011
Last Week’s Market Slide a Dress Rehearsal: Searching for Alpha for March 2011As I mentioned in last week's blog on AdvisorOne, the Libyan-inspired pullback in stock prices in the last full week of February is an event that needs to be strategically considered.
March 01, 2011
EU Court Says Gender Can’t Be Factor in InsuranceThe European Union’s top court ruled Tuesday that insurance companies cannot consider gender as a factor when determining premiums and payouts on such products as annuities, retirement savings and coverage for accidents.
February 28, 2011
GLWBs add flexibility to VAs and FIAsAs 60,000 baby boomers retire each week, financial advisors struggle to indentify which guaranteed retirement income solutions will most effectively address their clients' retirement fears.
February 28, 2011
Tax Cut Has Little Impact on Economy in JanuaryA Social Security tax cut is off to a slow start. Consumers increased their spending last month at the weakest pace since June.
February 28, 2011
New Irish Government Seeks Bailout Changes; EU Considers Lower RatesThe two parties that emerged victorious in Ireland’s election were to launch talks on Monday to work on renegotiation of terms for the country's EU-IMF bailout package.
February 28, 2011
Top Oil Importers to U.S. by Country: Where We Get ItEven though Libya is the 15th largest exporter of oil and provides 2% of the world’s daily output, those in the U.S. worried about a direct effect on the availability of oil from Libya can rest easy.