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Insurance

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Report shows high average credit scores in Iowa

Midwest residents on average have stellar credit scores, according to nationwide rankings for metropolitan areas released today by Experian, one of three agencies that track credit scores.

Cedar Rapids came in third among the top …

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Hartford warrants sell for $700 million

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. stock warrants sold for $13.70 each at a U.S. Treasury Department auction on Tuesday, raising about $700 million for taxpayers, Bloomberg reported. The Treasury demanded warrants from recipients of bailout …

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Bankers Trust to have renovation celebration

The downtown Des Moines Bankers Trust branch, 717 Seventh St., will have a renovation celebration at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The celebration will include a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and appetizers provided by downtown restaurants. …

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Health-care reform could boost drug stocks


Dear Mr. Berko:

Our broker of the past 26 years (you and he know each other) had me invest $93,000 in six different pipeline master limited partnerships in early 2009, and you know how well …

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Banking on a win


In a bank headquarters that could double as a ski lodge, Jeffrey Rose is looking uphill.

The building is home to First Bank. It is all stone and rich wood with a gas-fed fireplace in …

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Insurers take measure of new accounting rules


New international accounting standards now under consideration would bring significant changes in how U.S. insurance companies account for the products they sell. The changes could also influence the types of coverage that companies are willing …

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Quinn to keynote Iowa Women and Money Conference


Syndicated financial columnist and author Jane Bryant Quinn will keynote the fourth annual Iowa Women and Money Conference to be held Oct. 9 in Des Moines.

Hosted by the Iowa Treasurer’s office, the free, daylong …

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Time for some tough choices


Dear Mr. Berko:

We have an individual retirement account (IRA) that four years ago was valued at $685,000 and is now worth about $413,000. I’ve enclosed the statements from our adviser, whose office is in …

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Here’s another nice dividend choice

Dear Mr. Berko:

We own four master limited partnerships (MLPs) that you recommended, and we are happy with the good income (all paid more than 9 percent) and their increase in market values. We have …

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CPI is flat as consumer attitudes worsen

An increase in food and energy costs pushed overall consumer prices higher last month, but fears of deflation are still alive, Reuters reported.

The core Consumer Price Index (CPI) was flat in August, the U.S. …