by Brian Harris, Senior Editor, Dimensional Fund Advisors In recent years, structured products have gained favor among retail investors in Europe and the US. Investment banks promote these securities as sophisticated tools to help investors manage downside risk, enhance returns, or achieve other investment objectives. Sales have grown briskly since 2006, and despite a decline [...]

Average Joe smacked by contango, pre-rolling, and Wall Street sharpies; profiting off ‘the dumb money’ The following article from Investor’s News is an eye opener. It is so easy to think investing is easy – think again. And, enjoy reading this article and take heed. Like so many investors in the spring of 2009, Gordon [...]

As the stock market has improved, more investors have shifted their concern from weathering the financial crisis to anticipating the inflationary effects of rising federal spending and debt. Many folks are asking how they can prepare for potentially higher inflation. This article explores two basic ways to address inflation uncertainty and highlights asset groups that [...]

Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. of Minneapolis has agreed to pay $17.3 million to settle charges that it received nearly $31 million in undisclosed compensation for selling its brokerage customers real estate investment trusts between 2000 and 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced today… “Few things are more important to investors than getting unbiased advice [...]

Scrutiny of the due diligence performed by independent financial advisors and broker-dealers on alternative investments has increased dramatically, according to experts. Regulators and arbitration panels expect member firms and their registered representatives to conduct significant due diligence and to communicate their findings to investors, said Derek C. Anderson, Esq., an attorney with the law firm [...]