Plan Sponsors Need the Right Motivations for Choosing ESG Investments
Political motivations and investor recommendations can result in choosing a low-performing investment for a retirement plan.
Investing
Analysis Finds Shift Away from U.S. Equity in Favor of Other Asset Classes
Corporate plans have significantly increased their U.S. fixed income allocation, while public plans have used the funds from U.S. equity and placed them into alternatives, Investment Metrics finds.
Rising Short-Term Interest Rates Can Benefit Retirement Investors
Higher short-term rates translate into additional income for investors from their bond portfolios, and their fixed-income allocation should provide greater ballast for the more volatile equity component of...
How to Talk Through Volatility with Plan Participants
It is also important to keep participants’ eyes on the longer term, says Frank Pape, director of consulting services at Russell Investments in Seattle. If participants are experiencing...
How Sponsors Can Offer Guaranteed Lifetime Income
One option is through a profit sharing plan that invests the money in an annuity once a participant retires.
Fixed-Income ETFs Used to Address Bond Market Issues
“A majority of institutions around the world now consider bond ETFs as an alternative for fixed-income exposure and liquidity,” says Greenwich Associates Managing Director Andrew McCullum.
Five-Year Market Forecast Sounds Mostly Optimistic Note
Northern Trust expects relatively steady economic growth, controlled inflation and accommodative monetary policy.
Have Risk Lessons Been Learned From Financial Crisis?
Industry observers fear that 10 years following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, many investors, including retirement plan investors, may have forgotten lessons that should have been learned.
TDFs Contribute to CIT Growth in 401(k)s
In 2017, target-date funds (TDFs) represent 41% of CIT assets in 401(k) plans, Cerulli Associates finds.
Return on Investments, Mortality and Insurer Expenses Key Factors in Pricing Annuities
Whether looking to provide in-plan guaranteed income solutions for a DC plan or looking for an annuity to purchase for a DB plan risk transfer, plan sponsors have...
Participants Need to Understand Market Cycles
The record bull market may cause retirement plan participants to be overly confident, but they need to understand market cycles and volatility so they can resist making the...
Wells Fargo Pulls Back on Decision to Use T Shares
Although it did answer the question of whether the decision was made in response to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals mandate to vacate the DOL’s fiduciary...
Important Information Regarding Interest Rates’ Effects on Fixed Income Vehicles
An Insights article from Cammack Retirement notes how different fixed income vehicles perform under a rising interest rate environment and suggests DC plan sponsors offer a diverse menu...
Is the Risk-Matching Precision of SMAs Worth the Cost and Complexity?
Vanguard research explains how CITs and mutual funds are just as beneficial.
Institutional Investors Need to View ETFs Differently
Investors and broker-dealers should start treating ETFs as an asset class all their own, Kevin McPartland, with Greenwich Associates suggests.
BNY Mellon Master Trust Index Highlights Yearly Growth
Despite something of a tepid second quarter, pension plans have enjoyed a strong year of growth.
Investors Consider Fund Fees, Performance When Making Purchases
Forty percent say information about fund fees is “very important” when selecting a mutual fund, ICI found in a survey.
Crowded Private Debt Market Confounds Institutional Investors
A Willis Towers Watson report suggests large capital flows into certain squeezed portions of the private credit market are creating downward pressure on returns and upward pressure on...
GAO Explores Why Few Retirement Plans Embrace ESG Investing
GAO says in other cases where plans may face complexity, such as selecting a target-date fund or monitoring pension consultants, the DOL has provided general information, including items...
SSGA Eliminating A Shares for Target Retirement Funds
SSGA is following the trend of providers lowering investment fees, and sees an opportunity to attract 403(b) plan sponsors.