In the News

Wealth managers believe human touch will limit the rise of robo-advisers

2016-06-29T14:26:35+00:00

When Mark Simmons was in college, he asked one of his teachers, a bank president, whether the growing prevalence of online banking might make jobs in banking obsolete. The answer: Absolutely not. In fact, people might even need bankers even more.

Now a financial planner and portfolio manager in Baton Rouge, Simmons recalls that conversation when asked if computerized investment services, also known as robo-advisers, are a threat to his industry. Most investors will prefer working with a human, he says.

“Money is such an emotional thing that most people have trouble trusting to a computer-generated plan,”…

Investors should consider higher interest rates very carefully in 2016

2016-01-07T15:53:21+00:00

On Dec. 4, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that the economy had added some 211,000 jobs in November, more than analysts had predicted. The government also revised previous numbers to show that more jobs were created in September and October than originally estimated.

So it seemed almost inevitable that the Federal Reserve finally would feel confident enough about the economy to begin…

Ken Fisher: ‘Fool’s game’ to time this market

2015-09-01T23:20:24+00:00

Recent erratic trading resembles the emerging market driven correction in 1997, but it may not spell an end to the bull market, noted investor Ken Fisher said Tuesday. "The likelihood is that we have more pain ahead and that it's over just as fast as it began. But trying to time that is a fool's game," said Fisher, CEO of Fisher Investments, in a CNBC "Closing Bell" interview.

Work keeps people physically active, socially connected and mentally challenged.

By Marilynn Marchione

BOSTON — New research boosts the "use it or lose it" theory about brainpower and staying mentally sharp. People who delay retirement have less risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, a study of nearly half a million people in France found.

It's by far the largest study to look at this, and researchers say the conclusion makes sense. Working tends to keep people physically active, socially connected and mentally challenged – all things known to help prevent mental…

Emerging Markets Are Down, Not Out, Says BlackRock

2013-07-30T16:24:46+00:00

By Chiara Albanese

Emerging market assets have been walloped of late, and some analysts and investors reckon they have further to fall. But they do have some friends in high places.

“Emerging markets are far from bulletproof. But they are better equipped than ever to counter the challenges [they will have to face] in the second half of the year,” said portfolio managers at BlackRock, a $3.8 trillion asset manager, in its mid-year investment update Thursday.

Since the U.S. Federal Reserve first hinted at a possible reduction in its easing program at the end of May,…

Blackrock Sees Outflow From Bond Funds

2013-07-30T16:19:19+00:00

By KIRSTEN GRIND

The world's largest money-manager isn't immune to fear in the bond market.

Investors pulled a net $1.5 billion from BlackRock Inc.'s BLK +0.31% fixed-income exchange-traded funds during the second quarter, the company reported as part of its earnings release Thursday. The ETF business, branded iShares, saw total net outflows of $963 million, including outflows from bond funds, according to the company. BlackRock is the country's largest provider of ETFs, which typically track an index and trade on an exchange.

Institutional investors—pension funds and endowments—pulled a net $1.3 billion from active fixed-income products…

To Handle Hard Times, Plan for the Long Term

2012-12-26T15:59:03+00:00

Want to be more prepared next time there is market turmoil and general panic sets in among investors? Try writing a financial plan.

Research published this month by Advisor Impact Inc. shows that people who write a plan of how they will react when the going gets tough are more likely to deal better with market upheaval, says Michael Finke, professor of personal financial planning at Texas Tech University who is analyzing the survey data in conjunction with Advisor Impact.

"Many individual investors tend to time the market badly," says Mr. Finke. "They feel more comfortable investing…

Income Isn’t Everything

2012-12-26T15:55:42+00:00

Most people should invest for total return

It is common these days for investors who call Vanguard Group to ask, "What mutual funds do you have that produce income?"

The calls show many people only think of income as cash flow—such as the money generated by bond interest payments or stock dividends, says John Ameriks, who heads Vanguard's Investment Counseling and Research Group.

But with interest rates low and bond yields falling, "it's unlikely that your portfolio can generate as much pure income now as it did five or 10 years ago," says Mr. Ameriks. Most…