AABP EP Awards 728x90

Insurance

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Retail sales up for sixth straight month

Sales at U.S. retailers rose 0.6 percent in December from November, Bloomberg reported.

The increase marked the sixth consecutive month that sales increased and capped the largest one-year jump in more than 10 years, according …

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Longtime Des Moines firm files to reorganize finances

Miller the Driller Inc. filed to reorganize its finances under U.S. bankruptcy law today in federal court in Des Moines. The company, which has operated in Greater Des Moines for more than half a century, …

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Meredith to report fiscal 2011 second quarter results

Meredith Corp. plans to report the results of its fiscal year 2011 second quarter on Jan. 25, prior to the opening of U.S. stock markets. A conference to discuss the results has been scheduled for …

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AEL to release 2010 earnings

West Des Moines-based American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. will release its fourth-quarter 2010 earnings after the close of U.S. markets on Feb. 23. The fourth- quarter earnings release and a financial supplement will be …

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A municipal minefield


Dear Mr. Berko:

What do you think of municipal bonds? I recently read that Bill Gross, who manages PIMCO, the biggest municipal bond fund, recently invested $4.5 million in it, bringing his total to $9 …

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Principal becomes U.N. signatory

Principal Financial Group Inc.’s Principal Global Investors announced today that it will be a signatory for the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) program.

Signatories commit to an annual report considering PRI’s six principles …

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Feds charge Schwab with misleading investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday charged Charles Schwab Investment Management (CSIM) and Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. (CS&Co.) with making misleading statements regarding the Schwab YieldPlus Fund and failing to prevent the misuse …

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FBL Financial Group to announce fourth-quarter earnings

FBL Financial Group Inc. will announce its fourth-quarter 2010 earnings after the close of U.S. markets on Feb. 3. The fourth-quarter earnings release and financial supplement will be posted on the FBL website (www.fblfinancial.com) at …

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Wells Fargo acquires JFK

Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA Inc. announced today that it acquired Overland Park, Kan.-based JFK Consulting Group LLC.

The acquisition closed on Nov. 29. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. JFK Consulting provides employee …

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If it’s in a can …


Dear Mr. Berko:

I bought 50 shares of Ball Corp. in 2001 at $80 and now have 200 shares with a profit of more than $9,000. What do you think of this company? My broker …