A Death in the Family, Part II
Forget "death panels." Loving, decisive words from a doctor helped this dying pianist decide to let go of her life. The conclusion of a two-part story.
A Death in the Family, Part I
For the very old and their families, preservation of life often competes with preservation of finances. Here's how one California family coped with an elderly mother's death. (The first of two parts.)
Genworth Exits the VA Race
“They’re editing their lineup,” said Eric Berg, an analyst at Barclays Capital. “They’re getting out of the businesses where they lack meaningful size." (Above, Genworth CEO Mike Fraizer.)
Why We Retired Our Pensions, and How to Revive Them
An ambitious new book, The Decline of the Traditional Pension, captures the state of public, private, domestic and global pensions with scholarly rigor.
Featured
The New Madoff Windfall
Our occasional columnist explains why hedge funds are scooping up discounted claims against jailed Ponzi artist Bernard Madoff.
SEC Staff Recommends Uniform Fiduciary Standard
All those who give “personalized investment advice about securities to retail customers” should put the clients' interest above their own, the SEC staff recommends.
News
Prudential updates ‘Highest Daily’ living benefit
Prudential is reducing the size of the roll-up guaranteed by its top-selling Highest Daily Lifetime variable annuity rider to 5% per year until the first withdrawal from 6% per year.
Annuity income drops at five of top 10 bank holding companies
Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America led bank holding companies in annuity commission income through Sept. 30, 2010, combining for almost 60% of the year's income.
Morningstar VA bulletin looks back at 2010, ahead to 2011
"More generous benefits" anticipated in 2011, according to Morningstar vice president Kevin Loffredi.
Poland’s pension makeover offers a cautionary tale
In the 1990s, Poland reformed its Social Security-type system and introduced personal accounts. Now they’ve got chaos.
BMO ‘Lifetime Cash Flow’ Product Critiqued
Garth Bernard responds to last week's RIJ article on the Bank of Montreal's Lifetime Cash Flow product, saying the product has 'room for improvement.'
The Bucket
Late-breaking items from the Diversified Services Group, Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, ING, Wealth2k, Fidelity, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Nataxis.
