Wealth management

Americans’ level of confidence in their overall financial security held steady this month, according to a new survey, but a more optimistic near-term view of their finances was offset by continued uncertainty over longer-range issues.

More than 7.3 million older Americans — one out of every five citizens over the age of 65 — already have been victimized by a financial swindle, according to a new survey.

RETIREMENT, MEDICAL BILLS TOP FINANCIAL WORRIES

This has not been the best of years for retirement planning software. First, in spite of an upward-trending market, retirement plans and portfolios have been badly battered. Second and worse, the whole class of software has come under attack for perceived inadequacies.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority are warning investors to beware of stock scams that promise easy profits from cleanup efforts related to the catastrophic BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

A new study from New York University finds that the stock market often harms investment incentives, especially for fast-growing companies.

The American Institute of CPA is teaming up with the Society for Human Resource Management to create a national award that recognizes employers who offer financial education programs for their staff.

COLLEGE-BOUND TEENS RECONSIDER PLANS

Many successful small and midsized businesses are discovering the benefits of captive insurance companies, and are pursuing the guidance of financial advisors with experience in this arena.

Accountants are squarely on the front line of the problems with the 2010 estate tax hiatus, according to practitioners and estate-planning attorneys.

Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they are either a little or far behind financially in terms of preparing for retirement, according to a new survey.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed rules that would pause trading in certain individual stocks if the price moves 10 percent or more in a five-minute period.

Accounting Today is in the midst of collecting submissions for its 2010 ranking of the Top Firms by AUM.

Although a consensus is building that the U.S. economy is slowly beginning to turn in a positive direction, CPAs and the financial strategists they rely upon are not urging clients to make wholesale shifts in their investment portfolios. Indeed, some are turning somewhat more cautious in the short term.

Broker-dealers are providing more sophisticated services for financial advisors and their clients in an effort to systematize best practices, bolster both efficiency and support, and prepare for potential regulatory reform.

SEC CENSURES GILMAN CIOCIA

It's been all about the investments, particularly during the last couple of recession-laden years. However, investors need to be aware that there are plenty of other issues lurking in the background that, if not addressed properly, can come back to haunt them.

The federal government is losing millions of dollars every year due to increasing taxpayer noncompliance with Individual Retirement Account requirements, according to a new government report.

Retirement and uninsured medical expenses are the most pressing financial concerns for Americans, according to a survey conducted for the American Institute of CPAs by Harris Interactive.

Americans now feel more optimistic about nearly all aspects of their financial security, according to a new survey.