Investment Instruments

The flow of cash into stock mutual funds during the first week of 2013 was the largest in more than 11 years, stirred in part by the 'fiscal cliff' deal.

A $1.8-billion Australian pension fund for pulp, paper and furniture workers has opted to pull out its holdings in Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., citing desires for a more independent board of directors.

Exchange-traded fund flows reached $191 billion in 2012, surpassing the previous record of $169 billion in 2008 - with $38 billion in inflows in December alone.

Despite last week's fiscal cliff fix, employees need to be educated - and ready - to take action to protect themselves from the likelihood of higher costs in 2013.

Bill Gross's advice: "You should avoid (long-term bonds), and confine your maturities and bond durations to short/intermediate targets supported by Fed policies."

Some annuities that guarantee lifetime withdrawal are not well-regulated and could pose a risk to consumers, according to the Government Accounting Office.