And these days, affluent investors can choose among a growing array of them.

As of last month, most affluent investors had done nothing to prepare for rising interest rates, according to a new Bank of America survey.

But recently the group, based in Dallas, opened a fund for other affluent investors, the report said, and plans a second outside fund as well.

Why is there such a fascination with affluent investors now, in a white-collar recession, rather than in the booming 1980's?

It also has a money management arm and a stock brokerage business aimed at affluent individual investors.

Because the Federal tax rates have been lowered, affluent investors receive fewer benefits from using real estate to shelter their income from taxes, he noted.

Schwab is focused on winning over more affluent investors.

That kind of euphoria, however, has some affluent investors in the United States nervous.

Three years ago, he decided to join the hypercompetitive battle for the assets of affluent investors.

But Mr. Williams decided to do what affluent investors had been doing for decades: he hired somebody to manage his money.