Investment Instruments

Allianz LIfe announced an operating profit of $381 million in the first half of 2012, up considerably from the same period in 2011.

Workers continued to stash more money in their 401(k) plans in the second quarter, but the stock market's modest decline left them slightly further behind in reaching their savings goals.

Prudential Financial Inc. said Wednesday that its net income jumped nearly threefold in the second quarter, as the life insurer recorded a one-time gain of nearly $2 billion as a stronger Japanese yen drove up the value of the company's derivatives.

The sale of the unit is the first of three transactions planned by Hartford under its strategy of focusing on its property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds businesses.

Financial advisors from NEXT Financial Group, Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. and The Strategic Financial Alliance are members of the advocacy organization.

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