TDFs, Passive Funds and Income Products Shape the DCIO Landscape
Sources say plan sponsors are beginning to realize the value of differentiating services—from retirement income solutions to securities lending capabilities—now...
The Markets
401(k) Investors Increase Trades Amid Volatility
Investors continue to favor fixed income, the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index finds.
401(k) Participants Were ‘Less Reactionary’ in 2019 Trading
The trend of small trades away from equities to fixed income funds seems to suggest participants were rebalancing their portfolios, not making drastic changes to their investment mix,...
The Case for ‘Blend’ TDFs
PIMCO says that rather than go with an all-actively managed target-date fund (TDF) or an all-passively managed TDF, a mix of the two makes sense—and that there is...
Balanced Portfolio Performance Forecasts Fall Again
“Stocks are trading at a very high price-to earnings ratio, and we don’t see that as sustainable,” says Jon Barry, senior retirement strategist at MFS.
Strategies for Including Private Equity in DC Plans
From an operating perspective, plans can use private investments in a multi-asset class investment vehicle.
Adviser Managed Accounts. A Good Fit?
The past few years have seen a number of recordkeepers roll out new “adviser managed accounts,” i.e., managed accounts that...
Pondering DC Plan Access to Private Equity
An ever-greater proportion of the wealth being generated by the U.S. and global economies is locked away in private equity markets.
Navigating Rate Cuts, Trade Wars and Elections
“We think 2020 will be another year of slow growth—durable enough to avoid recession but disappointing to those looking for improvement,” says Bob Browne at Northern Trust.
Keeping Defaulted Participants on the Right Path
Roughly 80% of participants initially accept target-date funds when they are offered as the default investment, although acceptance declines to...
Predictions of Growth and a ‘Status Quo’ Presidential Election
Are earnings estimates too high? Is the trade progress substance or show? How long can a recession be avoided? What might the election mean for the economy?
Advocates Hope a New Decade Will Bring Continued ESG Progress
Experts says environmental, social and governance investing mandates are being boiled down to more practical, discrete risk areas, such as cybersecurity or board diversity.
Allocating Committee Time in 2020
Reviews of the investment menu often take up the most committee time, but is that the best practice?
November Was the Lightest Trading Month for 401(k) Investors
There were no days of above-normal trading activity, according to the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index.
Carbon-Sensitive Portfolios Perform as Well as Those That Aren’t
S&P studied companies demonstrating three levels of carbon sensitivity and found that all three held up in terms of stock performance; furthermore, S&P says these companies are well...
Increased Volatility Projected for 2020, but No Recession
Asset managers also expect modest economic growth to shift investors’ attention to smaller companies, value stocks and cyclical sectors.
Crafting Annuity Confidence and Clarity Is Hard Work
One passionate analyst says the highly nuanced annuity marketplace does not receive sufficiently careful attention from either the financial services...
Don’t Overlook Stable Value’s Role as Bull Market Ages
If the Fed continues to cut interest rates, sources say, stable value funds will likely prove to be superior in comparison with money market funds.
PIMCO Discovers Error in Fund Fee Waiver
PIMCO is now in the process of reimbursing investors affected by the miscalculation.
Ideas for a QDIA Design That Will Better Serve Participants Ready to Retire
Jason Shapiro notes that some DC plan participants may stay in their plan after retirement and rely on TDFs’ asset allocation for retirement income for possibly 30 years...