What's the Best Sector for Investors Right Now?

Lee Conrad
April 7, 2011

Lots of strong returns, but many investors are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Are All These Retirement Products Necessary?

Lee Conrad
March 31, 2011

There are more choices than ever, but are these new products largely unnecessary?

Volatility Brings New Options For Investing—And New Challenges For Advisors

Lee Conrad
March 24, 2011

Diversification is the best way to hedge against volatility, but now there are more ways to invest in volatility itself.

New Wave of Fixed-Income ETFs Brings Fresh Possibilities for Clients

Lee Conrad
March 17, 2011

Nearly every day, I get a notice touting the launch of some new ETF. And at this point, most of them represent some fringe aspect of the investment world. Small-cap stocks from one certain country in the Middle East, say, or a fund from Africa that deals with water infrastructure. Sometimes, they are sliced so thinly that there are just a handful of companies in the underlying index. Useful perhaps, but probably only for a…

New Research Tool Helps Refine Stock Valuation

Lee Conrad
March 4, 2011

Even if you outsource stock picking, or buy only mutual funds, somebody somewhere has to select stocks.

Simplify with ETFs, But First Know What Clients Want

Lee Conrad
February 24, 2011

I’m all for the notion of having options, but if you look at just the ETF universe there are more than 1,000 on offer

With Hefty Demands for Retirement, Are Advisors Filling the Need?

Lee Conrad
February 17, 2011

Planning for retirement isn’t just about hitting the “magic number.”

M&A Funds Have More to Choose From in 2011

Lee Conrad
February 10, 2011

Last year saw a 22% increase in M&A worldwide, and another 36% increase is expected this year, according to Thomson Reuters.

Are Soaring Stocks a Cause for Concern?

Lee Conrad
January 27, 2011

The herd is moving in one direction again, and I’m getting offers from experts to talk about the joyous event.

What’s Pushing Global Stocks Higher?

Lee Conrad
January 20, 2011

Stock markets around the world are on the rise and investor sentiment is, not surprisingly, riding along.

Golden Years or Fool’s Gold?

Lee Conrad
January 6, 2011

A new survey concludes that nearly half of boomers have no financial plans in place in case they live longer than expected.

Investors (Finally) Worried

Lee Conrad
December 23, 2010

Many advisors have remained bullish over the past two years, telling investors to put money to work in this hot market.

Market Rises, Confidence Rises, Financial Literacy Plummets

Lee Conrad
December 16, 2010

Who exactly is feeling so confident about the markets? Are they the same people who aren’t saving anything and failed a (very easy) financial literacy test?

A Mixed Bag of Investor Confidence

Lee Conrad
November 18, 2010

How are market conditions? Where are things headed? It all depends on who you listen to and whose surveys you trust.

Advisors Optimistic, but Clients Haven’t Learned Much

Lee Conrad
November 11, 2010

A couple of interesting surveys were released this week—and when mixed with some anecdotal evidence, they offer advisors some food for thought.