Financial Professionals

Associations, certifications, designations, investment and law

 

Advisor Works - A password-protected web site open only to Professional Investment Advisors. Our goal is to create a mutually beneficial environment for colleagues in order to support members in their practices and foster a higher standard of professionalism.

 

Alternative Investment Management Association - A forum for managed futures, hedge funds, and currency management.

 

American Arbitration Association - Dispute resolution services worldwide.

 

The American College - An independent, accredited, nonprofit educational institution that provides graduate and professional education, primarily on a distance self-study basis, to individuals seeking career growth in the field of financial services and insurance.

 

American Association of Individual Investors - Specializes in providing education in the area of stock investing, mutual funds, portfolio management and retirement planning.

 

American Bar Association - The ABA's Lawlink, a legal research jump station.

 

American Institute of CPAs - With over 330,000 members, the AICPA is the premier national professional association for CPA's in the United States.

 

American Savings Education Council - Their goal is to make saving and planning a vital concern of Americans and in the economic interests of employers.

 

American Society of Appraisers - Organization of appraisal associates.

 

Association for Investment Management and Research - Supplying the benefits and services that investment professionals need to advance their careers.

 

Bank Securities Association - The nation's leading trade association dedicated to serving the needs of those responsible for marketing securities, insurance and other investment products through commercial banks, trust companies, savings institutions, and credit unions.

 

PSA: The Bond Market Trade Association - Represents securities firms and banks that underwrite, trade and sell debt securities, both domestically and internationally.

 

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. - Your online resource for information about CFP licensees and the financial planning profession.

 

College for Financial Planning - Has delivered the highest quality educational programs, courses and materials to financial professionals.

 

Employee Benefit Research Institute - The only nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed exclusively to data dissemination, policy research, and education on economic security and employee benefits.

 

Financial Planning Interactive - Helping financial advisors plan better futures. 

 

Financial Planning Association -  The Financial Planning Association is the membership organization for the financial planning community.

 

Family Firm Institute - An international professional organization dedicated to assisting family firms by increasing the interdisciplinary skills and knowledge of family business advisors, educators, researchers and consultants.

 

Internal Revenue Service - The IRS website for forms, instructions, publications, regulations and other stuff.

 

Institute of Certified Fund Specialists - The Certified Fund Specialist and Board Certified designation programs cover a broad range of disciplines, including mutual funds, securities, insurance, and estate planning.

 

Institute for Investment Management Consultants - Offers the CIMC professional designation.

 

Insurance Information Institute - Recognized by the media, governments, regulatory organizations, universities and the public as a primary source of information, analysis and referral concerning insurance.

 

International Association of Registered Financial Consultants - Incorporated in 1994 by a group of financial planners who felt that there was a need for a professional membership organization filling certain needs.

 

Investment Company Institute - Seeks to enhance public understanding of the investment company business, to serve the public interest by encouraging adherence to the highest ethical standards by all segments of the industry, and to promote the interests of fund shareholders.

 

Investor Protection Trust - Dedicated to Noncommercial Investor education.

 

National Association of Enrolled Agents - The association is dedicated to helping its members maintain the highest level of knowledge, skills and professionalism in all areas of taxation, so that their members may most effectively represent the needs of their clients.

 

National Association of Insurance Commissioners - The organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the four US territories.

 

National Association of Investors Corporation - The NAIC is a nonprofit, largely volunteer organization dedicated to investment education.

 

National Association of Personal Financial Advisors - NAPFA has helped Fee-Only planners and other Fee-Only professionals enhance their skills, market their services, and gain a voice with government and consumers alike.

 

National Association of Tax Practitioners - A nonprofit professional association dedicated to excellence in taxation.  NATP was formed to serve professionals who work in all areas of tax practice.  Members include CPAs, individual practitioners, enrolled agents, accountants, attorneys, and financial planners.

 

National Investor Relations Institute - NIRI is a professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants responsible for communication among corporate management, the investing public and the financial community.

 

North American Securities Administrators Association - The oldest international organization devoted to investor protection.

 

The Registered Financial Planners Institute - Formed in 1983 to promote professionalism in financial planning. Provides professional membership and designations.

 

Society of Financial Service Professionals - Formerly the American Society of CLU and ChFC with over 32,000 members dedicated to helping individuals, families, and businesses achieve financial security.

 

Tax Analysts Online - Worldwide Tax Information.

 

US Chamber of Commerce - The ultimate small business resource.

 

World Financial Planning Forum - Exists to facilitate the exchange of ideas that are of common interest to noncommercial financial planning membership organizations throughout the world.

Market News

Headlines and Wire Releases

  

Bloomberg Market News - Offers business and financial news with market updates

 

CBS Marketwatch News- Latest wire flashes from Reuters, Businesswire, AP, UPI, PRNewswire and more.

 

CBS Marketwatch Headlines - Market Headlines throughout the day

 

Business Wire - Latest wire flashes from businesswire that is searchable.

 

MSNBC News-  News stories from MSNBC, CNBC & Wall Street Journal.

 

MSN/Reuters Breaking News - MoneyCentral's Breaking News Section

 

Quicken Market News- Market related news and stories

 

Yahoo Business Stories - Daily news stories from Reuters, AP, The Motley Fool, Thestreet.com.

 

Yahoo Headline News - Business headlines from many sources.

BusinessWire

AP

PRNewswire

Canadian Corporate News

Standard & Poor's

Reuters

Dow Jones

UPI

FWN

Market Center

Bloomberg

Fortune Magazine

Internal Revenue Service Tax Glossary

Investor Words - Tax Glossary

SmartMoney Interactive (Financial Information)

TaxGaga.com - Tax glossary

TaxPreparerList.com - Tax glossary

Wall Street Research Net - a comprehensive resource for investors

Bank of Canada.
Monetary Policy Report, Publications, Financial Statistics, Canada Savings Bonds

Regulatory Agencies & Organizations

International, Federal, State & Industry Sites

 

Alternative Investments Association - The Forum for Managed Futures, Hedge Funds, and Currency Management.

 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission - Federal regulatory agency for futures trading.

 

FIBV - International Federation of Stock Exchanges.

 

IOSCO -  World Securities Regulation Association

 

IRS.gov- United States Internal Revenue Services main site for accessing tax information

 

Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board - MSRB makes rules for dealers who deal in municipal bonds, municipal notes and other municipal securities

 

National Association Of Securities Dealers - Corporate site of the NASD

 

NASD Regulatory Agency - Regulating the securities industry for the benefit of investors

 

North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) - The oldest international organization devoted to investor protection.

 

Options Industry Council - Formed in 1992, to enhance the acceptance of equity options by brokers and individual investors and to promote the use of options products. 

 

Securities Industry Association - General and specific information on the securities industry

 

Securities and Exchange Commission - Federal level government agency overseeing the markets

 

State Securities Regulation - Links to each state's regulatory agencies and contact information can be found at this site.

Business Magazines and Journals

Periodicals Offered Online

 

Asset Finance International - The only leasing and securitization magazine in the world.

 

Bank Investment Marketing - Insights and analysis for Bank Securities and Insurance professionals.

 

Barrons - Dow Jones weekly print publication is online here. Premier publication for long term investors in larger firms and funds.

 

BusinessWeek.com - The world's most widely read business publication

 

Buyside.com - A comprehensive site for the institutional and savvy investor.

 

Economist - An authoritative British weekly magazine covering politics, economics and international affairs.

 

Financial Times - World business newspaper.

 

Financial Planning Magazine -  With a circulation of over 100,000, Financial Planning magazine is the premier news and advertising publication in the financial planning community.

 

Forbes.com - Forbes magazine online.

 

Fortune.com - Biweekly magazine and home of the Fortune 500. Business, investment, career, management and small business information.

 

Harvard Business Review - Brings its readers original research and firsthand perspectives from leading business thinkers around the world.

 

INC. com - Offers resources for small and start-up Internet business entrepreneurs including online buying and selling advice, marketing and advertising tips and tools, as well as customer service and public relations information.

 

Individual Investor Online - Financial research and small cap stock analysis for personal portfolio management.

 

Insurance & Technology - Magazine providing insight into insurance & technology.

 

Institutional Investor - Institutional Investor is required reading for the top decision-makers in the worlds leading financial institutions.

 

Investment Advisor - Dow Jones publication for investment advisors.

Journal of Derivatives - Offers the latest derivative innovations bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application.

 

Kiplinger - Investing, personal finance, calculators and financial advice.

 

Money.com - Full of information from Money magazine as well as financial calculators and plenty of financial links and reference information.

 

Online Investor Magazine - The investing search engine.

 

Project Finance Magazine - Provides strategic information, news, forecasts, and trend analysis on the project finance markets.

 

RedHerring.com - One of the main tech/ investor publications for entrepreneurs and the venture capital community in Silicon Valley.

 

Registered Representative -  The site contains industry news, discussion forums, and how to information for financial professionals.

 

Research Magazine - All a broker needs to succeed.

 

SmartMoney - SmartMoney has daily stock and mutual fund recommendations, hourly market updates, personal finance investing research tools and advice, and up-to-the-minute stock and mutual fund quotes and charts.

 

Technology Review - MIT's magazine of innovation.

 

Upside.com - Technology business news, analysis and research.

 

Wall Street Journal - Dow Jones online version of Wall Street Journal.

 

Wall Street &Technology - Information Technology for the securities and investment markets.

 

Worth.com - Provides expert views on money, markets, and the culture of finance with tips and tools to grow money.

 

Electronic Communication Networks (ECN’s)

Extended Hours Trading Networks

 

Archipeligo -  Provides state-of-the-art execution capabilities and unsurpassed market liquidity.

 

Instinet - The world's largest agency brokerage firm and wholly owned subsidiary of Reuters Group.

 

Island - A computerized trading system that gives brokerages the power to electronically display and match stock orders for retail and institutional investors.

 

MarketXT - The first extended hours ECN for the individual investor.

 

Redibook - Delivers the trading advantage through a tightly integrated suite of applications designed by professional traders for professional traders.

The Analysis Center

Tools, Chart Analysis, and Research

This section provides our viewers with links to websites dedicated to the technical analysis of the market. At these sites you will find an array of free and subscription-based services to help the technically oriented professional.

 

Big Charts - Interactive online charting service giving free and unlimited access to charts, reports, indicators, and quotes on 22,700 US stocks, mutual funds, and major market indices.

 

Market Research Inc. - Advanced technical charting and analysis of stocks and commodities.

 

Sixer.com - Fresh, smart, innovative investment resource with a "sixth sense" for intelligent investment information and news.

 

Trading-Ideas.com - Comprehensive technical analysis, charts of interest, trading ideas for short-term and day traders and much more

 

Decision Point - Large collection of free technical analysis materials. Live interactive and long term charts.

 

MurphyMorris.com - Analysis and commentary from John Murphy

 

Signalwatch - Each day Ed Downs evaluates the overall market, and picks out charts that are exhibiting proven Technical Analysis patterns.

 

Clearstation - Find profitable stock trends using price-action analysis. Fast loading explanatory graphs, quotes, and market news.

 

Tigerinvestor.com - Offering stock picks, daily market commentary and news, hard-hitting trading articles, free Wall St. equity research, and vibrant discussion boards.

 

Jarrett Investment Research - Technical analysis, commentary, and research from Dennis Jarrett.

 

Ask Research - Free stock and mutual fund charts, updated continuously during the trading day. Technical analysis, watch lists, and market data.

 

Investor Tech - Provides online technical analysis, interactive java charts, stock finder, and market reports.  

 

Security Traders Paradise - Welcome to the most Popular Stock Charting site on the Internet!  Now Serving over 3 million hits per month! 7 day Trial Membership Free.. Interactive Charting provided by Metastock & SecurityTrader.  

 

Briefing.com - Quick, concise, objective analysis of important events affecting stocks and bonds. Briefing.com keeps you informed, focused, and ahead of the market.

 

The High Performance Trader - tools for the high performance trader

Initial Public Offerings

Pending and Current Equity Financing

 

This section provides our readers with links to sites that cover the IPO markets.  You can find company profiles, scheduled offerings, price ranges, commentary and analysis on the companies going public.

  

Alert IPO - Ostman's Alert-IPO! offers quotes and charts, news, company profiles, EDGAR filings, aftermarket performance data, trading alerts, bull/bear rankings, an underwriter directory and a calendar.

 

Hoovers Online IPO Central - IPO Central provides quotes and charts, news, filing and pricings, company capsules, aftermarket performance data, an IPO scorecard, an underwriter directory, a Beginner's Guide to IPO Investing, a calendar, a weekly e-mail update, FAQs and a searchable database. Subscription required for full access.

 

IPO.com - Offers online IPOs and private placements. Includes quotes and charts, news, filings and pricings, company profiles, press releases, prospectuses, an underwriter directory, a calendar and a weekly newsletter. Registration required for full access.

 

Yahoo Finance Initial Public Offerings - presents quotes and charts, news, filings and pricings, company profiles, aftermarket performance data, insider trading information, an underwriter directory, a calendar, message boards and a Web site directory.

Institutional Research

Independent Analysis

 

Quantech Research Group - Institutional Investment Research Company Profile Mark T. Minervini Products & Services Methodology & Strategy

 

Global Equity Analysis Research Group - Professional investment adviser offers research on over 4,200 stocks traded in the US and Canada with buy/sell recommendations.

 

United Asset Management - UAM provides investment services to institutional, mutual funds, and high-net-worth clients. 

 

Avalon Research Group - An institutional research boutique and full service brokerage firm that concentrates on the analysis of both undervalued and overvalued securities.

 

Intech - An institutional equity manager offering both active and passive equity strategies based on mathematical and statistical principles.

 

McDonald Invest - Institutional Equity Research Reports from McDonald Investments Inc. Equity Research provides Equity Research Reports to Institutional Equity clients.

 

Argus Research Group - Argus Research is an objective, independent securities research organization.

 

CERA - Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) is the leading independent firm providing insight into the energy future. The firm specializes in energy markets, technology, geopolitics, and strategy.

 

CFRA - A leading independent financial research organization. Their mission is to warn investors and creditors about companies experiencing operational problems and particularly those that employ unusual or aggressive accounting practices.

 

Green Street Advisors - An independent research firm concentrating on the securities of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and other publicly traded Real Estate companies.

 

Holt Value Associates, LP -  A global financial consulting firm. Holt's basic premise is that the stock market sets prices based on cash flow, not on traditional accounting measures of corporate performance.

 

IPO Intelligence Online - The premier Web Site of Renaissance Capital and the leading source for institutional research and information on IPOs, offers IPO news, IPO filing and pricing, calendars, market commentaries, IPO rankings, and a guide to IPO

 

Intrinsic Value Associates - Equity research and valuations.  Use Discounted Free Cash Flow to estimate the value of companies. Service: Intrinsic Value Reports and Intrinsic Value Weekly for equity managers.

 

Multex Systems, Inc. - The world’s fastest growing on-line provider of electronic brokerage research reports and third party research to the investment community. Multex offers a growing range

 

Elliott Wave International - Market forecasting based on Elliott Wave technical analysis. Free market commentary, chat, Bob Prechter's column and more.

 

Sturza's Institutional Biotechnology Research - Medical Investments and Institutional Research

 

Stategic Analysis Corporation - SAC is a capital markets research firm that offers investment research, credit analysis, and corporate-finance services

 

The Wall St. Transcript - Independent opinions and recommendations from top analysts, money managers and CEOs.

 

Capital Reflections, Inc. - A leading independent institutional research boutique providing theme based, topical research.

 

Bridgewater Associates, Inc. -  A global investment manager with approximately $18 billion in assets under management. Bridgewater manages investment portfolios focused on currency and interest rates.

 

Ibbotson Associates - Founded by Professor Ibbotson in 1976, is the world's leading authority on asset allocation, providing products and services to help investment professionals

 

Economic Contrarian Update - Contrary investing and investment ideas from all global financial markets

 

Kendall-Wallace Advisory Group - A provider of quantitative analytic services to the institutional brokerage community. KWAG employs adaptive algorithms in quantitative models to achieve market discipline for the institutional trader

 

CTA Research Corporation - Publishes The CTA Consistency Index Newsletter and assists high net worth investors, fund managers, and institutions in all phases of research, asset allocation, and account monitoring

 

Market Dynamics - a research service for institutional portfolio managers

 

Biotechnology Institutional Stock and Investment Reports - Miller Tabak provides a unique series of services to a diverse group of clients ranging from large institutions to hedge funds