House Hearings Emphasize Sharp Partisan Divide on ESG
The narratives of the two parties have consolidated around opposing views and how those views relate to fiduciary duties.
Investing
Franklin to Add Retirement AUM With Putnam Acquisition
Great-West, parent of Empower, will shed its asset management division but gain a 6.2% stake in Franklin.
The Price of Uncertainty: Target Date Funds and Stock Volatility
What a prolonged debt ceiling fight could cost retirement investors.
Pension Funded Status Improves in April Thanks to Strong Equity Performance
U.S. corporate pension plans’ funded levels improved marginally in April, and many are inching toward full funding, according to analyst firms.
How Social Media Influences Plan Sponsors’ Participant Communications
The critical mission of educating younger employees about retirement investing requires different engagement tactics than in the past.
Siegel Says Stock Options Can Help Participants Hedge Against Inflation
Economist and investor Jeremy Siegel favors stocks, REITs and certain high-yield bonds for long-term investing.
DC Council Expects Increase in Real Estate Investing
Real estate allocations can strengthen participant outcomes and reduce volatility, according to the Defined Contribution Real Estate Council.
Increased Pension Fund Liabilities Overrode Investment Returns in March
According to most analysts, the fall in discount rates raised liabilities by more than the growth in equities, leading to deterioration of funded status in March.
North Carolina Lawmakers Introduce Bill Backing Retirement Offerings
A Republican-introduced bill in North Carolina would make it state policy to “assist private sector working households” in saving for retirement.
Fed Continues Inflation Fight Despite Banking Failures
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says the FOMC remains 'strongly committed to bringing inflation back down to our 2% goal.'
Biden Uses First Veto to Uphold DOL ESG Rule
Veto permits retirement plans to continue using environmental, social and governance criteria when selecting retirement plan investments.
2023 DB Summit: Factors in DB Plan Decisionmaking
To keep the defined benefit plans active or not? That is the question for many plan sponsors.
DB Summit: Long-Term Investing
Liability-driven investment, lump-sum distribution and de-risking options are all on the table, experts say.
Lower Liabilities Somewhat Offset by Equity Volatility in February
Overall, U.S. corporate pension funding levels experienced a slight increase last month.
U.S. Corporate Pension Funding Remains Largely Unchanged in January
Funding levels improved most for pension funds that have significant weighting towards equities, said Agilis.
529 and ABLE Account Market Tops $410 Billion
In Q4 2022 the number of tax-preferred education savings and prepaid accounts rose to more than 16 million.
Corporate Pension Funding Marginally Retreated From Levels To End 2022
December equity performance reduced pension funding levels from highs earlier in the year.
Morgan Stanley Expands Robo-Advising Tech with Blooom Purchase
Morgan Stanley grows its retirement offering with purchase of 401(k) robo-adviser Blooom's technology. Former Blooom customers are back in the hands of their recordkeepers.
Struggling Teamsters Pension Receives Close to a Billion Dollars in Assistance
The financing will allow the union pension to both satisfy monthly payments to beneficiaries and provide make-up payments.
Exploring ESG Investing: An ESG Path Forward
Asset allocators Zach Stein and Andrew Siwo discuss different approaches to ESG and sustainable investing .