News

YONKERS, N.Y. - As the Securities and Exchange Commission recently approved a new rule that requires mutual funds to disclose important information about their proxy voting policies and the votes they cast for the shares of stock owned by the funds, Consumer Reports identified five things mutual funds should tell...

CAMBRIDGE, Ontario Canada, - Meritas Financial Inc. announced the launch of four new socially responsible investment (SRI) mutual funds that will be available through Group Retirement Services, a division of Great-West Life Assurance Company and London Life Insurance Company. The funds include one balanced fund and three equity funds. Of...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Roughly 62% of all investors - nearly 35 million - now access the Web for research and information, news, and financial services, a three-fold increase in use over the past four years. According to a survey by American Century Investments, investors doing their homework when they...

WASHINGTON - Credit unions that implement individual development accounts (IDA) programs may be eligible for a $550 annual tax credit. The Senate Finance Committee has approved the tax section of the Charity Aid, Recovery, and Development Act of 2003, which allows financial institutions a tax credit for each IDA account...

Lifetime Savings Accounts (LSA) * Can be used for any type of savings. * Allows savers of any age and income to contribute up to $7,500 each year. * Unlimited, penalty-free withdrawals. * Contributions not deductible. * Not required to document qualified expenses. Retirement Savings Account (RSA) * Can only...

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - With the recent announcement that Bethlehem Steel will be bought by International Steel Group, the status of pension plans for retired workers seems to be safe. In December 2002, company officials discovered that Bethlehem Steel's pension plan was underfunded by $3.2 billion and would be turned over...

HOYT LAKES, Minn. - When Hoyt Lakes Community Credit Union set out to align with a firm that would provide trust services in a quest to become the primary financial institution for its 5,100 members, some were skeptical given the credit union's size. But Don Werdick, Hoyt Lakes' president/CEO, said...

FARMINGVILLE, N.Y. - President/CEO Robert Allen glances out the window of his office at Teachers Federal Credit Union and counts. "There are three banks within sight of my office," he reports. "One prides itself on being open seven days a week. We're open a full six days a week." That's...