Investment Instruments

State retirement systems increased their holdings by 10.7 percent in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. They had $2.2 trillion in cash and investment holdings, an increase of $213.9 billion from 2009. This followed a $610.8 billion loss the previous year.

It's the most expensive metropolitan setting in the United States, and the results may be grim for hard-working New Yorkers, more than a third of whom can't afford to retire.

Industry trade groups met with the Department of Labor on Tuesday to clarify the departments request regarding what impact the conflicts of interest faced by brokers who advise IRAs have on IRA investors.

Employers are becoming increasingly concerned about employees ability to save for retirement, prompting many of them to rethink their retirement benefits plan strategies and assist their employees in better preparing for retirement.

Many Baby Boomers are cashing in life insurance policies to help pay for retirement. These transactions are called life settlements, and they have become popular in recent years as an alternative retirement vehicle.

Women continue to lag behind men when it comes to overall financial and retirement planning, so plan sponsors and financial services companies need to do a better job of helping them do both.

Is there a chance that ETFs might break into the 401(k) business? CNBC columnist Neil Plein says the existing resistence, based on low returns for advisors and institutions, might change with a new payment system.

Paychex, Inc., has launched a new offering for fee-based financial advisors, called Paychex Advisor Select401(k).