Employers Use SDBAs to Give Employees Choice
Self-directed brokerage accounts can also help keep participants in the plan and be an avenue for offering not-so-standard investment options, but they’re not right for every plan.
Investing
Investment Considerations for Inflation Protection
Both defined benefit and defined contribution plan sponsors can look for exposures to commodities, real estate and TIPS.
Understanding PRT: Retiring Your Pension Plan
Considering asset allocation, glidepaths, LDI and risk on the way to pension risk transfer.
Public Pensions Making Moves to Divest From Russia
New federal sanctions forced Colorado’s PERA to take its money out of a Russian state-owned bank almost immediately.
The Role of Stable Value Funds as QDIAs or Otherwise
Though stable value funds might not be appropriate as the qualified default investment alternative for a defined contribution plan, they have an important role to play in retirement...
Why Have Balanced Funds Been Given the Short Shrift?
Their performance only matches that of TDFs for a certain age cohort, but there are other circumstances for which they might be considered a good QDIA fit.
QDIA Basics
What plan sponsors need to know about qualified default investment alternative rules and how to select the appropriate one for their employees.
Considerations for Tweaking the Investment Menu for Older Participants
Participants approaching retirement and those who decide to remain in the plan need additional choices and can benefit from assets that aren’t correlated to equities.
Fiduciary Diligence Demanded as CITs Shine
A significant regulatory concern is that banks should not simply “rent their charters” to third-party registered investment advisers seeking to use the bank’s status as a fiduciary to...
How Institutional Investors Can Rate-Proof Their Portfolios
Northern Trust Asset Management suggests that institutional investors take a look at junk bonds and natural resources stocks.
Alternatives May Have a Place in DC Plans
DCIIA provides potential next steps for defined contribution plan sponsors to incorporate alternative investments into their plans, with considerations for fiduciaries.
Investment Opportunities for DB Plans Moving Forward
Corporate defined benefit plans should consider managing volatility, avoiding concentration risk and factor investing.
New Developments in Managed Accounts
Lower fees, more services and new distribution methods might make managed accounts worth a new look for DC plan sponsors.
Plan Sponsors Still Aren’t Embracing ETFs
Many defined contribution plan sponsors are focusing on lower fees, which is a selling point for exchange-traded funds, but there are other ways sponsors can cut costs.
Adjusting TDFs Amid Jittery Markets
One of the obvious and lasting appeals of multi-asset-class portfolios such as TDFs is their potential to provide retirement plan participants with a smoother ride when markets are...
What the 2022 Investment Markets May Bring
One prominent chief investment officer foresees a “tug of war between a good earnings tailwind and a modest valuation headwind,” likely resulting in substantial volatility for institutional investors.
Practical Implications of DOL’s Latest Private Equity Statement
The Department of Labor’s supplemental statement is a tonal shift rather than a substantive change that reflects the continuing courtship for defined contribution plans and private equity investments.
Considerations for DB Plan Investing in 2022
Protecting funded status, addressing inflation, adding value and more—all should start with setting objectives.
Investors Seeking Better Performance Are Driving ESG Investing
Concerns about climate change and natural disasters are spurring fresh interest in environmental, social and governance investing.
With Pandemic Lessons Learned, Institutional Investors Gear Up for 2022
The first year of the pandemic was defined by a flight to safety, while 2021 brought a risk-on stance and strong returns for many institutions.