Some 29% of affluent investors own municipal bonds, with an average investment of $500,000. Charles Doty of Asset Preservation Advisors, an investment advisory firm in Atlanta that focuses solely on the management of municipal bond portfolios, discusses the differences between actively managed and laddered portfolios, providing insights that can help you make the right choice.

Overall most retirees appear to be using one of two methods to fund their retirement: straight systematic withdrawal from funds inside their IRA or 401Ks, or laddering a portfolio of CDs or Bonds. Most people appear to be interested in converting retirement funds into income rather than taking out a lump sum. An estimate of people using annuities is in the 10-15% range.

Spectrem research shows that 23% of High Net Worth individuals investing in collectibles (which includes artwork) with that percentage rising to 32% with Business Owners, who perhaps have more flexibility with their spending over Corporate Executives (only 16% of whom purchase collectibles).

Recognizing the explosive growth and promise of international equities, the New York Stock Exchange’s parent NYSE Group, Inc, and corporate partners, are acquiring 20% ownership in India’s National Stock Exchange.