Wealth management

Wealth management revenue has been a bright spot on bank earnings for the last few years, but regulatory changes to the way advisers can charge for their services will likely dramatically change the business.

Ally Financial announced Tuesday that it had agreed to buy the online brokerage firm TradeKing Group for approximately $275 million. TradeKing, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has roughly $4.5 billion in client assets.

More than half of all U.S. households have suffered a "financial shock" in the past five years. Some say mobile apps could help users brace for — and recover from — such setbacks.

HarborOne Bank is proving that financial education really can improve the bottom line.

State Street has agreed to buy General Electric's asset management unit for as much as $485 million.

Less than a year after investing in MX Technologies, USAA has partnered with the startup to provide personal financial management tools to its 11.4 million members.

The bank that for many defines ultrawealthy is now in the market to serve investors whose employers don't even offer 401(k)s.

Chase is investing in digital and technology resources in a way that's reminiscent of the Silicon Valley model, as it looks to create more direct interaction with its customers on its website.

Banks need to rethink their purpose to serve its younger customers, many of whom are inundated with choices. Banks have a tremendous opportunity to win these overbanked customers if they can figure out a way to become the financial hub.

Northern Trust has agreed to buy Aurora Investment Management, a hedge fund portfolio manager that's owned by Natixis Global Asset Management.

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Two big Canadian banks reported quarterly results on Thursday.

The private-banking prowess of newly acquired City National was the steadying influence Royal Bank of Canada needed amid global and domestic economic shocks in its latest quarter.

Several money managers increased their holdings in banking companies during the fourth quarter and added new investments in other banks.

The Madrid-based bank announced Thursday that it will invest $250 million in Propel Venture Partners.

The Canadian bank's U.S. wealth management arm is moving toward a hybrid digital-human advice platform, partnering with BlackRock's FutureAdvisor to add robo tools for its 1,900 advisers.

HSBC is testing a new money management app that uses push notifications to nudge customers into saving more and spending less.

Bank of New York Mellon, Northern Trust and State Street have all pledged to cut costs as challenging global equity markets, low interest rates, a strengthening U.S dollar and heightened regulatory expectations continue to crimp revenue and profit margins.

American International Group announced $3.6 billion in new costs to fill a reserve shortfall and said it will hold an initial public offering for its mortgage insurer and sell an adviser network as Chief Executive Peter Hancock seeks to boost returns and protect his job after criticism from activist investor Carl Icahn.

Bank of New York Mellon has become a big believer in reverse mortgages, particularly home equity conversion mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.