Author: rafferty

Non-Traded REITs: Not the Next Madoff

18:31 23 July in In the News by rafferty

by Diana Britton, in Yield of Dreams, Wealth Management.com July 20, 2012 Broker/dealers and advisors who sold non-traded REITs to their clients after the market meltdown have been running scared of the potential impacts of those investments, given the negative headlines focused on non-traded REITs. But some suggest that this is not the next Madoff. In the wake of more stringent net asset value reporting requirements, many prominent non-traded REITs saw their valuations plummet, including Cornerstone Core Properties REIT Inc., Inland Western REIT, and Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT I. But unlike Madoff, these were not fraudulent investments. Their losses were simply a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Such REITs raised capital and bought assets in the height of the market, as did many homeowners and day traders, said...

AIG Emerges as Most Likely Buyer of Woodbury Financial Services

18:25 23 July in In the News by rafferty

July 20, 2012 by Bruce Kelly, Investment News Announcement of a deal for the 1,600 reps and advisers is expected before indie B-D's national sales conference next month The American International Group Inc. has emerged as the likely buyer of Woodbury Financial Services Inc., an independent broker-dealer being shopped by The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., according to two sources with knowledge of the impending sale. If a deal comes to pass, Advisor Group — AIG's network of three independent broker-dealers — would experience substantial revenue growth. The three broker-dealers, FSC Securities Corp., Royal Alliance Associates Inc. and SagePoint Financial Inc., last year combined to produce $895.4 million in total revenue, according to InvestmentNews' most recent survey of independent broker-dealers. The acquisition of Woodbury, which generated $253.7 million in gross revenue last year, would increase Advisor Group's top line...

Surprise Suitor Emerging in Sale of Woodbury

17:01 20 July in In the News by rafferty

July 19, 2012 by Bruce Kelly, Investment News Sources say AIG's Advisor Group one of four potential buyers for The Hartford's indie B-D; past connections cited The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. is close to announcing a buyer for its independent broker-dealer, Woodbury Financial Services Inc., according to several sources outside the firm but close to its brokers. Indeed, announcement of a deal for the 1,600 registered representatives and financial advisers is expected before the B-D's national sales conference in mid-August, industry recruiters said. The Hartford said in March it intends to sell Woodbury, along with a number of other noncore businesses, as part of a broad restructuring. According to industry sources, four firms are in the running for Woodbury, which generated $253.7 million in gross revenue last year. Three of the potential acquirers — Ladenburg Thalmann Financial...