Wealth management

After seven consecutive months of aggressive investing, millionaires took a slightly more cautious approach last month, according to a study released Wednesday.

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 6 — The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. today announced that it plans to report an after-tax charge of approximately $42 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, related to the BlackRock Long-Term Retention and Incentive Plan in its third quarter 2004 results. This charge takes into account the value of awards granted to date and the applicable service period.

Developing a body of road-tested compliance practices remained the problem for fund families large and small as they met Tuesday's deadline to appoint chief compliance officers.

Zurich Financial Services, the big Swiss insurance company, said Tuesday that it has named Gary Kaplan chief underwriting officer for its Zurich North America Commercial unit in Schaumburg, Ill., and head of its technical center.

New York Life Insurance Co. announced Monday that it has hired Gregory Deavens to be a senior vice president and Russell Bundschuh to be a first vice president.

John Hancock Financial Services of Boston said Monday that it has added a credit card payment option to its long-term-care insurance products.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. said Monday that it has agreed to sell its multiperil crop insurance business to Rural Community Insurance Co., a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Co., for an disclosed price.

Boston Private Financial Holdings Inc. said Monday that it has a $30 million agreement to buy an 81% stake in KLS Professional Advisors Group Inc., a move intended to expand its New York operations.

OppenheimerFunds Inc. says the London office opened recently by its OFI Institutional Asset Management division strengthens its focus on establishing a wider global presence.

Northeast Financial Services Co., a subsidiary of Northeast Bank of Auburn, Maine, announced Thursday that it had acquired Sargent Insurance Agency of Rangeley, Maine.

The founder of Aon Corp., the second-largest insurance agency in the country, announced Thursday that he intends to resign as chief executive, and the company has begun the search for his successor.

Safeco Corp.'s recently announced organizational changes are part of the Seattle insurer's effort to redesign itself as a property/casualty company now that it has shed its life insurance and investment operations.

Wachovia Corp. announced a deal Wednesday to buy a Waltham, Mass., wealth advisory firm that would extend its wealth management footprint farther into New England, a market in some turmoil after recent bank mergers.

HSA Bank, the trade name for State Bank of Howards Grove, which is a leading custodian and administrator of Health Savings Accounts, has announced its being chosen the exclusive trustee for high-deductible health plans offered by Government Employees Hospital Association Inc.

StillPoint Advisors Inc. said Tuesday that it has appointed Jeffrey S. Hall president of its family office unit.

Money managers express positive feelings on the likelihood that stocks will outperform bonds in the year ahead, according to a third-quarter study from Russell Investment Group released Tuesday.