Wealth management

Alliance National Bank, a subsidiary of Alliance Financial Corp. in Syracuse, N.Y., announced Thursday that it will begin offering a health savings account Jan. 1.

Safeco Corp. has announced the hiring of an energy company executive, Paula Rosput Reynolds, to become its president and chief executive officer Jan. 1.

Health-care information provider MCOL said it has started a free public Web site designed to help consumers and employers support, select, and use health plans.

The chief operating officer of a small Arkansas investment manager says he knows his decision to launch his first equity fund this fall defies the trend for small firms to quit proprietary fund management in the face of rising regulatory costs.

John Hancock Financial Network on Wednesday reported a 23% rise in life insurance premium sold during the first half and a 26% increase in agent recruitment compared with the first half of 2004.

The Depository Trust and Clearing Corp. said it has adopted insurance processing technology from Finetre Corp. as part of a service to automate sales, servicing, and processing of life insurance and annuity products.

Health savings account providers HealthEquity Inc. and UICI have formed a partnership to offer an HSA integrated with a high-deductible health plan for employers in Texas and Georgia.

Bank of America's family wealth advisers unit introduced a team Tuesday to serve ultra-wealthy clients in Dallas.

Phoenix Cos. has introduced a variable annuity rider that guarantees a minimum income stream for life to the surviving spouse after a policyholder’s death.

Mellon Financial Corp. announced Tuesday that Charles J. Jacklin will take the role of chief executive officer at its Mellon Capital Management subsidiary on Jan. 1.

Willis Group Holdings Ltd., a global insurance broker, announced Tuesday an agreement to buy International Insurance Brokers Inc., a specialized broker in New York serving the armored car and check-cashing industries.

ING U.S. Financial Services said Tuesday that it has introduced a disability income insurance product designed for the voluntary benefit marketing arena.

Tally-Ho Ventures Inc. has announced an agreement to buy Protrust Private Clients SA, a Swiss private-client manager, for up to $8 million.

Wachovia's wealth management division on Tuesday named Curt Farmer wealth management director for the Carolinas, succeeding Bob Newell, who was named president of Wachovia Trust in August.

Vesta Insurance Group Inc. said Tuesday that it hired BDO Seidman LLP as its independent registered public accounting firm for 2005.

Greater Bay Bancorp announced Monday that it had promoted Dan R. Francis, the chief operating officer of its ABD Insurance and Financial Services unit, to succeed Frederick J. de Grosz as president and chief executive officer on Jan. 1.

Fidelity Investments says it expects to bolster distribution of its defined benefit plans despite the overall shrinkage of the business in the face of defined contribution plans’ popularity and recent high-profile pension bankruptcies.

The Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is to present two final anti-money-laundering rules this morning at a National Association of Insurance Commissioners meeting in Chicago.