Refresher on Annuity Pricing Mechanics
Interest rates, mortality and expenses are some of the key factors.
The Markets
Bull and Bear Market Fundamentals for Participants
All too often, participants are focused on what markets have done in the last several months or years, and they get away from remembering the basics of long-term...
Wells Fargo Drops Plans to Use T Shares in Retirement Accounts
Asked whether Wells Fargo Advisors will reconsider T shares if the DOL’s fiduciary rule is revisited or the SEC pushes through a conflict of interest rule, the firm...
HNW Investors Pay Close Attention to Inflation as They Prepare for Retirement
Sixty-eight percent say they pay close attention to inflation as they prepare for retirement.
Not All Fixed Income Vehicles Act the Same in Rising Interest Rate Environment
“By providing a more diversified set of fixed income options, plan sponsors can help participants be better equipped to weather any challenging market environment, such as the rising...
Argument for Less SMA Use by DB Plan Sponsors
Vanguard research questions whether the risk-matching precision of SMAs is worth the cost and complexity.
Report Suggests ETFs Should Be Treated as Separate Asset Class
Trading practices on both the sell side and buy side are leading to suboptimal executions, limiting ETF growth, according to a Greenwich Associates report.
Strong One-Year Performance Posted by Pensions
Continuing the trend from the first quarter, corporate retirement funds and health care plans lagged during Q2 2018, according to BNY Mellon data.
Different Flavors of Fee Levelization
As one of the first steps of pursuing fee levelization, plan sponsors and advisers should consider whether participants will be charged on a “pro rata” or “per capita”...
Demand for Private Debt Creates Crowded Market
Institutional investors’ interest in mid-market corporate direct lending is driving large capital flows into a squeezed portion of the market, according to Willis Towers Watson, resulting in downward...
July a Slow Trading Month for 401(k) Investors
There were no above-normal trading days in July, the first month this has happened since June 2017.
GAO Says Changes in DOL Guidance on ESG Prevent Retirement Plans from Embracing It
In addition, data on ESG investing is also inconsistent, assessing ESG could increase plan costs, and many investors incorrectly perceive that ESG investing can lower returns.
SSGA Merging TDF Series A Shares With I Shares
Greg Porteous, head of defined contribution intermediary distribution at SSGA based in Boston, says he sees the lowering of target-date fund (TDF) investment fees as a way to...
U.S. Equities Boost Institutional Investor Returns in Q2 2018
Second quarter rebounded slightly from last quarter, which posted negative median returns for all plans for the first time in nearly three years, according to Wilshire TUCS.
Guiding DB Clients to Preserve DB Funded Status Improvements
Northern Trust Asset Management offers four considerations for setting DB plan investment strategy.
Passives, Smart Beta and Alternatives Reshape Investment Landscape
According to Boston Consulting Group, among asset management products, passives were far and away the fastest growing category in 2017, with a record 25% increase in AUM over...
DC Plans and Health Care Employers First Movers into ESG Investing
Of the 12% of institutional investor respondents to a recent survey who have incorporated ESG, most are DC plans, and more than half are healthcare-focused organizations.
TDF Providers Adapted to Low-Cost Demand, But Plan Sponsors Still Need to Be Diligent
Investors in TDFs need to look beyond price tags to investment strategy to determine the appropriateness of the fees and should be mindful of the relatively tight dispersion...
Fixed Income Favored in 401(k) Trades During June
According to the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index, June was a slow month for trading in defined contribution plans; when 401(k) investors made trades, they tended to favor fixed...
Alternatives Seen as a Panacea for Volatility
More advisers are turning to alternatives, according to a report from BNY Mellon | Pershing.