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- Advisers embrace a range of investment strategies amid uncertainty
Financial advisers are working to devise investment strategies that will manage the risks associated with the looming "fiscal cliff," high domestic and foreign debt, and other challenges. They are employing a combination of approaches including traditional fixed-income, absolute-return-oriented and multi-asset income strategies, said Michael Abelson of Genworth Financial Wealth Management. "We're seeing a lot more of that really active thinking around fixed income. And you have to be pretty active right now because it's pretty tenuous," he said. The Wall Street Journal
(11/12)     
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- Survey: Boomers are counting on Social Security, but have doubts
More than one-third of baby boomers expect that a significant part of their retirement income will be provided by Social Security, but about 40% lack confidence the program will be able to deliver, according to an MFS Investment Management survey. Other major concerns about retirement include rising health care costs and fears of a recession. "The survey findings point out a big disconnect between what investors say they plan to live on in retirement and what they actually can count on for that income," said William Finnegan of MFS Investment Management. OnWallStreet.com
(11/12)
- Short-term-care coverage: A financial lifeline for clients
The open-enrollment period for Medicare Advantage plans is an ideal time to talk to clients about short-term care, writes Barbara Stahlecker of Premier LTC Brokerage. Such coverage, which is not available in all states, ranges from 30 to 360 days, and policies can be issued in less than two weeks, Stahlecker writes. The coverage is essential for short-term recovery once patients leave the hospital, and it bridges gaps in Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage and long-term-care policies, she writes. National Underwriter Life & Health
(11/6)
| Investment Trends | | |
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- Measuring the impact of financial planning on retirement income
A Morningstar research paper concludes that retirees can boost their income by 29% if they employ effective financial-planning strategies, Michael Kitces writes. The paper examines the income impact of five strategies, including "total wealth asset allocation" and "dynamic withdrawal." The paper also found that advisers charging a 1% annual management fee "have a huge net positive effect on generating retirement income," Kitces writes. Nerd's Eye View blog
(11/12)
- Target-date funds' growth will continue, study says
Target-date funds are expected to account for 80% of defined-contribution plans by 2016, a BrightScope study says. That compares with 76% last year. Still, just half of plans pick target-date funds as the default for investors, another report found. AdvisorOne
(11/12)
| Policy Watch | | |
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| Building Your Business | | |
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- Financial-advising careers are a good fit for military veterans
 Military veterans transition well to financial-advising careers, says Lewis Runnion of Merrill Lynch, who previously served in the Army. "I think it's important for a broker to exhibit leadership. Certainly the military gives you that," Runnion said. He also cited the integrity, adaptability and teamwork that veterans bring to the job. "Clients particularly today view service to country as one of the key indicators of someone's character, and it's a very important part of building that relationship," he said.  The Wall Street Journal
(11/12)
| NAIFA News | | |
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How tax reform could hit life insurance and annuities
Lawmakers from both parties and in both chambers are telling constituents and Washington representatives that they agree that it would be bad tax policy to tax permanent life insurance and annuities. But even if this initial reaction holds during the heat of a hard-fought tax reform debate, there may be tax changes that could indirectly but just as adversely impact permanent life insurance and annuities. Read more at The NAIFA Blog.
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NAIFA member Dennis Pascarella joins Futurity First as sales VP, Eastern Region
Futurity First Insurance Group has announced the appointment of Dennis E. Pascarella, ChFC, as sales vice president of the firm's Eastern Region. In this position, Pascarella is responsible for supporting the growth and development of Futurity First's branch network overseeing operations east of the Mississippi River. Read more on the Advisor Today blog.
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