Life Planning Strategies
Life planning strategies, with ideas about how to use life insurance and related products to help people and businesses get things done.
(Mis)understanding SIVs in the boomer market
By Staff WriterStructured investment vehicles have had some bad press recently thanks to their association with sub-prime securities. But, according to Morningstar's Rachel Barnard, SIVs are not...
May 28, 2008
Why you need a succession strategyCerrulli Associates estimates that more than 56 percent of broker/dealer affiliated advisors are over 50, and the average age is 52. With 40 percent of...
May 28, 2008
Pity the lay journalistWe journalists aren't known for our analytical skills; we're a decidedly right-brained bunch. As subjects go, we're heavy on english and history - math and...
May 28, 2008
Boomer advisor BRIC alertIf your clients are invested in the so-called BRIC countries, pay attention. Thanks to a surge in recent weeks, the Yuan ended 2007 up nearly 7...
May 28, 2008
Morgan Stanley to make cutsAnd on it goes. The Wall Street Journal reports Morgan Stanley will cut its U.S. residential mortgage operations and close its U.K.-based residential mortgage lending...
May 28, 2008
Behavioral finance turned on its headFinancial Times columnist John Authers recently apologized to U.K. mutual fund investors for regularly haranguing his Brit compatriots for acting dumb; they buy into funds...
May 28, 2008
The folly of accountabalismOur Trend of the Week reminds me of one of Harvard Business Review's Breakthrough Ideas for 2007. Marketing consultant David Weinberger warned that accountability at...
May 28, 2008
Invincible American Funds takes a hitAfter successfully dodging the bond-market storm earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reports, several big mutual funds thought the worst was over. It was...