Last week, lawmakers and regulators registered concerns about money-market funds' exposure to the European debt crisis. It is the second time in three years questions have been raised about the funds, held for their perceived safety.

Recession-battered 529 college-savings plans are trying to lure investors with the chance to win thousands.

After watching one of the hottest investment products streak past the $1 trillion mark recently, a host of mutual-fund companies are stepping up their efforts to get into the exchange-traded fund business—with a more active but pricier product for investors.