The Evolving Nature of TDFs
Since their introduction, TDFs usage has grown to dominate the retirement plan investment landscape, and innovation will continue this growth.
Investing
AB Closing Mutual Fund TDF Series
"We will be reaching out to plan sponsors about our target-date CIT series,” Jennifer Delong, head of defined contribution at AllianceBernstein, tells PLANSPONSOR.
The Role DC Plan Investment Menus Play in Participant Savings
Do managed accounts or larger investment menus encourage participants to add more to their DC plans?
DB Plan Sponsors Focused on Cost and Funded Status Concerns
They are lengthening bond durations and increasing liability-hedging fixed income allocations, a Vanguard survey found.
SEC Finds Concerns About Money Market Funds and TDFs
Among other things, the agency found some TDFs had marketing materials with asset allocation disclosures that differed from the TDFs’ prospectus disclosures.
Prudence, Performance and Quality in Target-Date Funds
Good target-date fund performance is obviously important to participant outcomes, but so is protecting their hard-earned dollars in times of market stress.
Will Tech Innovation Break the Business Cycle?
Suggesting ways investors can address the lower-growth outlook, senior leaders at J.P. Morgan point to the alternative investments and private equity space as a developing opportunity set.
Room for More Innovation in the QDIA Sphere
While TDFs have dominated for over a decade, the industry is recognizing a need for personalization of QDIAs using more participant inputs.
Fixed Income Played Role in Increasing Institutional Investor Returns
Corporate ERISA pension plans reported the highest median return of the three segments tracked, and had the highest allocation to fixed income.
The Future of Annuities for DC Plan Participants
There are differences between annuities the industry wants to offer DC plan participants and those that have traditionally been offered.
Points to Consider When Evaluating TDFs
“Diversification should be happening on all levels," says Jake Tshudy, with SEI Institutional.
Report Examines Links Between TDF Quality and Market Share
A study argues there exists a “fair amount of correlation between market share and the quality" of a TDF in relation to its peers in the target-date category.
Understanding of Fixed Income Investments Needed Now More Than Ever
Fixed income investments remain valuable for retirement plan participants, but with a “new normal” of lower interest rates and increasing longevity, they need to reconsider allocations.
When Choosing Passive or Active Funds, Consider the End Result
Data shows passive U.S. equity assets have passed active U.S. equity assets, but there are pros for each and retirement plan sponsors should have the right goal in...
A Target-Date Fund Industry Snapshot
The five leading TDF families by assets dwarf their competition, and the biggest provider keeps getting bigger.
Several Strategies Help DB Plan Sponsors Manage Financial Risks
MassMutual discusses four main strategies for limiting or eliminating defined benefit plan risks over time: hibernating risks, establishing glide paths, hedging risks by re-allocating investment assets and shifting...
Considerations for Offering SDBAs in Retirement Plans
A report from Schwab found self-directed brokerage accounts can result in good outcomes, but a brokerage window is not for every retirement plan.
Understanding Behavior Biases Can Help Plan Sponsors With Investing Communications
Advisers say being easily influenced by recent news is the No. 1 investor misstep, a survey found.
ICMA-RC Fighting for CIT Availability for 403(b)s
Sponsors of 403(b) plans are not able to use low-cost collective investment trusts in their plans as are their 401(k) counterparts. ICMA-RC is working to change this.
Real Estate Could Be a Prudent Investment Choice for DC Plans
Some defined contribution plan investments may already include real estate investments in their underlying portfolio, but if not, plan sponsors may consider real estate investment trusts or direct...