| Benefits & Administration | Comparing Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Health Care DC Plan Data | While the 2018 PLANSPONSOR DC Survey shows that, in many ways, not-for-profit health care DC plan sponsors have adopted more “best practices” for their plans than those in the for-profit segment, the for-profit plan sponsors have more confidence in participants achieving retirement income goals.Read more > | | Economic Events | In January, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged on a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis; rising 1.6% over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted (NSA), the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2% in January, SA; up 2.2% over the year, NSA. Real average hourly earnings increased 0.2% over the month in January, SA. Average hourly earnings increased 0.1% and CPI-U was unchanged. Real average weekly earnings increased 0.1% over the month. | | Market Mirror | Wednesday, the Dow gained 117.51 points (0.46%) to finish at 25,543.27, the NASDAQ was up 5.76 points (0.08%) at 7,420.38, and the S&P 500 increased 8.30 points (0.30%) to 2,753.03. The Russell 2000 was up 4.71 points (0.31%) at 1,542.94, and the Wilshire 5000 closed 86.05 points (0.30%) higher at 28,548.54. The price of the 10-year Treasury note was down 6/32, increasing its yield to 2.706%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond decreased 11/32, bringing its yield up to 3.040%. | | From the Magazine | Making It Last | Employees need to consider questions about saving and life expectancy. According to the Center for Disease Control, today’s 65-year-olds can expect to live 20 years longer, on average. Seventy-five-year-olds are projected to reach 87. “That’s the retirement challenge, extended longevity, for individuals who are not professional investors and have to ensure that their savings last a lifetime,” says David Ireland, global head of defined contribution (DC) for SSGA in Boston. What role can employers play to help employees with sorting out all of the opportunities and decisions that mitigate longevity risk?Read more > | | Investing | A Drop Off in Volatility in January Led to Scant 401(k) Trading | With market volatility slowing in January, trading activity among 401(k) investors dropped off, according to the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index. In fact, January 2019 was the slowest start to the year in the more than 20-year history of the index. When participants did trade, they favored fixed income investments.Read more > | | Small Talk | ON THIS DATE: In 1803, Moses Coates received a patent for the apple parer. In 1849, the first photograph of a U.S. president, while in office, was taken by Matthew Brady in New York City. President James Polk was the subject of the picture. In 1859, Oregon became the 33rd member of the Union. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell filed an application for a patent for the telephone. In 1899, Congress approved voting machines for use in federal elections. In 1903, the Department of Commerce and Labor was established. In 1912, Arizona was admitted as the 48th U.S. state. In 1920, the League of Women Voters was founded in Chicago. The first president of the organization was Maude Wood Park. In 1929, the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” took place in Chicago. Seven gangsters who were rivals of Al Capone were killed. In 1946, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was unveiled. The device, built at the University of Pennsylvania, was the world’s first general purpose electronic computer. In 1966, Rick Mount of Lebanon, Indiana, became the first high school, male athlete to be pictured on the cover of “Sports Illustrated”. In 1966, Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers set a National Basketball Association (NBA) record as he reached a career high of 20,884 points after seven seasons. In 1980, Walter Cronkite announced his retirement from the “CBS Evening News.” In 2005, the video-sharing website YouTube was activated. No SURVEY SAYS this week. | Share the news with a friend! Pass the NewsDash along and tell your friends/associates they can sign up for their own copy.Read more > |
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