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Insurance

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FBL Financial ends S&P credit rating

Standard & Poor’s Rating Services has withdrawn its debt and financial strength ratings for FBL Financial Group Inc. at the company’s request, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Tuesday.

At the end …

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Fiscal cliff tops eurozone as U.S. fund managers’ top worry

Concerns about a looming U.S. “fiscal cliff” topped investors’ worries for the first time in 17 months. slighting edging out fears about Europe’s debt crisis, according to Bank of America’s  latest monthly survey of fund…
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Study: Middle class Americans reluctant to use financial counselors

Nearly half of all middle-income Americans do not seek the advice of an investment counselor, according to a study released Tuesday by the Consumer Federation of America and Primerica Inc.

Some 45 percent of Americans whose annual …

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United Way to offer financial help to low-income households

United Way of Central Iowa will partner with Wells Fargo Co. to provide multiyear financial counseling for low- and moderate-income households.

For the next three years, Wells Fargo will give United Way $100,000 each year …

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2011 home lending lowest level in 16 years

In 2011, the volume of home lending dropped 10 percent, hitting the lowest level since 1995, Reuters  reported. 

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, a group of U.S. regulators, published data on Tuesday showing that 7.1 million …

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BERKO: Peugeot, GM rate red flags

Dear Mr. Berko:

When you spoke at our fund-raiser in June, you made this comment: “A good time to buy a good stock is when you have the money, but the best time to buy …

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A new small lending tool for Iowa banks

Iowa Business Growth Co. has a straightforward mission: Identify gaps in small business financing and fill them with innovative loan products to help drive economic development in the state.

Its newest tool to carry out …

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BERKO: Frick and Frack

Dear Mr. Berko:

Please tell me about a company called Hi-Crush, which produces sand for the oil and gas exploration business. One of the fellows I bowl with always brags about the money he makes …

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BERKO: The Dow and real estate stocks

Dear Mr. Berko:

A money manager I know is very certain that the Dow Jones industrial average will be much higher this year and next year. Because the presidential administration and the Federal Reserve are …

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Firm says West Bank and MetaBank parents are tops in their class

West Bancorporation Inc. of West Des Moines and Meta Financial Group Inc. of Sioux Falls are among the top 25 publicly traded community banks in the country, according to investment advisory firm Sandler O’Neill + …