Fundsters hitting the conference circuit this month probably won't be checking their BlackBerrys and iPhones from 11-12 on February 4 and 8:45-9:45 a.m. on February 16. Instead, they will be paying attention to some star figures.

That's because former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush are set to take the stage at TD Ameritrade Institutional conference and Abigail Johnson is scheduled to make a rare public appearance at NICSA's Conference & Expo. Below is a roundup of noteworthy happenings in the fund world this month.

CONFERENCES

The 14th annual TD Ameritrade conference, which will take place from February 3-6 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, is expected to draw the largest number of advisor attendees in conference history, organizers say.

TD Ameritrade Institutional president Tom Bradley will moderate the Bush-Clinton chat, which will mark the second time the two are appearing together on stage. (The first time was at a Toronto forum last May).

Johnson, president of Fidelity's personal and workplace investing division, is set to deliver the keynote address at NICSA's 28th Annual Conference & Expo at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa. The conference will kick off on Valentine's Day and run through the 17th. Rodger Lawson's announcement last month that he plans to retire from Fidelity at the end of March -- and the fresh round of succession speculation it triggered -- further heighten interest in Johnson's upcoming appearance.

HIRES

David Feldman, a former Columbia Management distribution executive, joins Baron Capital Group this month as head of intermediary sales.

Former Pimco executive Dick Weil starts February 1 as Janus Capital Group's new CEO.

TURNING 40

Speaking of Janus, the Denver firm is celebrating the 40th birthday of the Janus Fund on February 5.

RE-BRANDING

Prudential Financial is rebranding its JennisonDryden mutual fund family to Prudential Investments effective on or about February 16.

M&A

The Wall Street Journal reported last Thursday that Bank of New York Mellon could announce its purchase of PNC Global Investment Servicing as soon as this week.

An AFBA shareholder vote is scheduled this month on the reorganization of AFBA 5Star Funds into FBR Funds. FBR unveiled its agreement to acquire the AFBA 5Star Funds last December. 

Stay ahead of the news ... Sign up for our email alerts now
CLICK HERE