Products & Services

Vanguard launched the Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Fund. 

The average total plan cost for a small 401(k) plan (100 participants) is 1.3%. 

 Allianz Global Investors Capital (AGIC) is offering investors managed volatility investment strategies designed to lower expected portfolio risk while achieving above-benchmark returns. 

Franklin Templeton Investments launched Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Real Return Fund for U.S. investors. 

BlackRock, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Claymore Canada.  

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) announced the SPDR S&P Small Cap Emerging Asia Pacific ETF began trading on the NYSE Arca on January 12.

 ING’s U.S. Retirement division launched the ING Lifetime Income Protection Program.    

 BNY Mellon introduced its Performance & Risk Analytics (P&RA) Mobile Dashboard application.   

 Aria Retirement Solutions introduced the first of its series of RetireOne guaranteed income solutions.  

Brown Advisory added a new mutual fund, the Brown Advisory Equity Income Fund.  

Schwab Retirement Plan Services Inc. launched Schwab Index Advantage, a 401(k) plan offer designed to lower costs, simplify investing and help workers better prepare for retirement. 

 The Principal Financial Group expanded its investment fiduciary support to include ERISA 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services.  

The SPARK Institute released spreadsheet templates of its Data Layouts for Non-Registered Investment Product Disclosures to Retirement Plan Participants.

Robeco Investment Management launched two mutual funds.

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. acquired BNL Financial Corp. officially on December 31, 2011.  

Mercer has aligned its investment organization to meet changing client needs and to advise on challenging market conditions.

 State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) launched ETF Fact or Fiction, a website that provides individual investors with a resource for exchange traded fund (ETF) education.

USI Consulting Group announced it is now offering guaranteed lifetime retirement income solutions through Highland Capital Brokerage, Inc. 

CBIZ, Inc. purchased the employee benefits and retirement book of business from Advantage Benefit Planning (ABP) of Pleasantville, New Jersey, effective December 30, 2011.

SPARK and The SPARK Institute were purchased from Robert Wuelfing and reorganized as a single non-profit, member-driven association.