Credit Suisse said its tracking of long-short hedge funds showed a 3% drop in October through midday Thursday, declining at less than half the pace of the Standard & Poor's 500 as a global market rout was underway. The market turmoil occurred as some public pension funds are pursuing crisis-risk offset strategies, which are meant to curtail investor losses partly through allocations to trend-following hedge funds.

The environmental, social and governance effects of investments are becoming a heightened area of consideration for pension funds in the UK and Asia, experts say.

A survey of more than 1,100 investors in the Netherlands found about three-fourths of respondents saying they would accept lower returns for the sake of environmental, social and governance considerations. About one-fifth of respondents said they would tolerate returns that are 4% lower as long as ESG factors are considered.

Data from eVestment show hedge funds' September returns at negative 0.17%, leaving third-quarter returns at 0.30% and year-to-date returns at 0.53%. The sector's aggregate 2017 return was 8.92%.

Medicare Part B premiums covering outpatient services and physician costs will rise marginally to $135.50 per month next year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said. The Social Security Administration also announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment that will increase the average monthly benefit to $1,461.

If the Democratic Party wins the control of the House in the midterm elections and Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., becomes chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, that "could be a positive development" for pending retirement legislation, said Paul Richman, vice president of government affairs at the Insured Retirement Institute. "Mr. Neal has clearly communicated to us, both privately and in public statements, that retirement security is one of his top priorities," Richman said.

Recent statements about user-friendly disclosures for variable annuities by Dalia Blass, director of the Securities and Exchange Commission's division of investment management, are "a very positive signal" that a proposal is on the way, said Jason Berkowitz, vice president and counsel for regulatory affairs for the Insured Retirement Institute. "We really are just looking for them to start the public dialogue on this," he said.

Advisors should know how to respond when clients say they are contemplating opening a family office, Family Office Exchange President Alexandre Monnier writes. He shares 10 reasons a client might wish to do so, including education, confidentiality and continuity.

Consultant Michael Goldberg shares five musts advisors should consider for business networking. These include having a specific purpose, communicating clearly and following up.

Rising interest rates result in a higher payment for those who set up a charitable gift annuity, retirement expert Bob Carlson writes. The American Council on Gift Annuities has increased recommended payout rates, the first adjustment since 2012.