Investing

Public pension plans today are increasingly investing in private equity, real estate and venture capital, according to panelists at the Council of Institutional Investors’ 2024 Fall Conference.

The director of benefits at Wayne-Sanderson Farms shares how offering an in-plan managed account service helped its employees older than 50.

The Mercer Wise platform provides 401(k) benefits to more than 70,000 U.S. employees. 

The firm saw a 15% increase in total assets, compared with the same period in 2023.

Most investment consultants and research firms found that funded status remained flat in July, with some seeing slight declines. 

June 2024 data from Morningstar show collective investment trust target-dates account for 50.5% of assets, surpassing mutual fund target-dates.

Monday’s market rout caught enough attention to send a relatively high number of 401(k) investors to safer assets, according to Alight tracking.

Hits to the stock market mean participants will see retirement savings losses, so plan sponsors should have a communication plan in place to steady reactions. 

Understanding the average age of participants and how employees are allocated in their investments are some factors plan sponsors should consider when evaluating a QDIA that moves participants...

State and local pension plan funded status rose 0.5% in Q2, per Wilshire.

Fees for mutual funds in defined contribution plans have declined about 60% this century, according to a new ICI report, though CITs loom as an even-cheaper competitor.

Another strong month for pension funding status puts an ‘exclamation point’ on a strong run as the Fed ponders an interest rate drop.  

Experts discuss the trends of streamlining the investment menu and adding lifetime income options

Strong investment returns pushed funding level to 79.4% in May.

Collective investment trusts are overtaking mutual funds in 401(k) plans, according to new research from Cerulli; however, barriers to adoption of CITs on investment menus remain.

Equity markets kept funding levels up even as discount rates fell in May.

Plan sponsors may need additional time and processes to consider qualified default investment alternatives, as various TDFs, managed accounts and retirement income options are all in play.

Government support and the efforts of recordkeepers will be crucial to increase the use of annuities in target date funds.

As defined benefit plan sponsors look to de-risk and offload pension liabilities, the selection of annuity providers has come under increased scrutiny in recent lawsuits.