It was May 11, 2007 and the SEC was one day away from the deadline to appeal the March 30 decision to strike down its controversial Rule 202, known officially as the “broker/dealer exemption” and unofficially as “The Merrill Lynch Rule.” The Merrill Lynch Rule’s purpose…
By Jonathan Burton, MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — When choosing mutual funds, few aspects are within investors’ control. Future performance isn’t one of them. But expenses, risk, manager tenure and tax-efficiency are qualities that can be judged before you buy. “Look beyond performance,” said Jim…
By VICTORIA KNIGHT August 15, 2006; Page D2 Many financial firms increasingly are turning to technology to deliver the “high-touch” personal services that their well-heeled clients crave. “There’s a huge amount of talk about how advisors can deliver a quality experience and build their book of business….
The results are in from the Chu-Wall Money Makeover. And they’re nothing to bank on. Over the past few months, Jonathan and I have made far fewer changes to our financial lives than most of the five couples I’ve profiled for this series have. We’ve…
Morningstar Influence Grows; Some Concerns Remain By Arden Dale Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES NEW YORK — Morningstar Inc. (MORN) casts a long shadow over the mutual-fund industry. Founded in 1984, the Chicago investment-research firm went public in May and has been growing by leaps and…
By ARDEN DALE Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Exchange-traded funds have exploded in popularity, but for many investors these investments remain something of a mystery. Like traditional funds, ETFs hold baskets of securities and other investments. Rather than get priced once-a-day like a…
By BARBARA KIVIAT While folks financing a house or carrying loads of credit-card debt are mourning the end of the lowest interest rates in 46 years, savers who have been stressing over paltry yields on cash investments are partying in response to the Fed’s quarter-point…
By ELIZABETH HARRIS HEN you need financial help and have limited means, paying for advice may seem beyond reach. But getting professional guidance doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Clearly, many financial advisers won’t take on clients who aren’t already rich. In a recent survey,…
By ELEANOR LAISE March 28, 2004 If anyone can make longevity sound like an affliction, it’s a financial planner. Many will tell you that you run the risk of outliving your retirement nest egg. Assuming you retire at 65, “there’s a good chance your assets will have…
By ELIZABETH HARRIS SMARTMONEY Got $50? Then do yourself a favor, mutual-fund investors. Sign up for an automatic investment plan. These plans force you to save money before you spend it. And they create another good habit, because they use a tried-and-true investing strategy known…