April 1, 2010 by Bob Veres Economic forecasters sometimes describe the investment markets as a leading indicator, which means that they believe returns can anticipate good or bad economic news.  Share prices fall when investors expect a recession, and rise when a recovery is expected–and last year’s stock market growth seems to fit that pattern.  [...]

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 [...]

A significant point for investors is whether or not your advisor is a fiduciary. This story is one indicator of what can happen when your advisor is not a fiduciary but simply required to meet a “suitability” standard. Ameriprise Financial has agreed to pay $17.3 million to settle charges that it received millions of dollars [...]