“Our practices are in compliance with ERISA and DOL guidelines,” a Fidelity spokeswoman said. “We believe that the practices described in the lawsuit are consistent with the law and...
Distribution of Wealth in the U.S.
This video, which has been viewed over four million times on YouTube, shows how the explosive growth of stock market wealth over the past 30 years has changed U.S....
More chatter about ‘defined ambition’ plans in the UK
Britain is talking about creating a government-sponsored Pension Protection Fund that would "smooth" participant outcomes and bear the risks that private providers can't afford to shoulder.
Cerulli surveys global DC trends
The United Kingdom is the only market with defined contribution assets in excess of US$1 trillion that is expected to have double-digit growth.
US at rear of peloton in retirement security: Natixis
Western European nations with universal health care and retiree social programs dominate the top of the rankings, taking the first 10 spots. Norway is first overall, followed by Switzerland,...
New FIA from ING U.S. offers living benefit and deferral bonuses
If income payments are deferred for five years, the available income withdrawal amount is boosted by 150%. With a ten-year deferral, the available income withdrawal amount gets a guaranteed...
Forethought Launches ‘ForeRetirement’ VA
The lifetime income benefit captures new contract value highs on a daily basis to age 90, with a minimum deferral bonus of 6% simple interest credited until the 10th...
They Just Don’t Get It
It understandably drives the 401(k) industry nuts to hear professors and regulators proposing to cut the tax incentives for the business owners who sponsor workplace plans or for those...
The Research Points to Annuities
In case you overlooked last week's cover story in Retirement Income Journal on the 16 best income-related research papers of 2012, here are the four papers that are aimed...
A Few Words of Advice for You Advisors
While I was reading an excerpt of a new report from Boston-based Cerulli Associates and Phoenix Marketing, memories of close encounters with brokerage advisors came rushing back to mind.
Vanguard closes Wellington Fund and a bond fund to some customers
Over the years, Vanguard has often restricted cash inflows to maintain fund assets at levels that don’t compel fund managers to buy suboptimal investments.
AnnuityRateWatch.com launches GLIB calculator
The software calculates all the possible combinations of over 250 annuity products combined with more than 100 riders to find the product and rider that provides the highest income...
Odd new online game lets you “play” the market
"Invoost" allows people to exercise their investing skills and win cash prizes by competing against other "investors" in a virtual investment game.
Flood into foreign equities bodes ill: TrimTabs
“Bulls should be concerned” that in-flows into foreign stock funds have been so heavy this year, said David Santschi, TrimTabs CEO. “Big inflows from fund investors often occur near...
Prudential Enters DIA Space with All-Bond VA
“The annuity space is book-ended at one end by the SPIA, and at the other end by the VA with a guaranteed lifetime income benefit. Our new product resides...
Pacific Life announces new pension de-risking product
The product is intended to enable plan sponsors “to de-risk their pension obligations and stabilize their corporate balance sheets and income statements without affecting plan termination, said a Pacific...
Europe evaluates incentives for working longer and subsidies for saving more
Pension adequacy in Europe “requires active aging strategies, investments in life-long learning of all age groups, the adaption of workplaces to the needs of older workers and new forms...
Small plan participants pay as much as 1.97% in annual fees
The average target date fund expense in a large plan is .98%, while the balanced fund average is 1.12%. The average target date fund expense for a small plan...
Debate continues over capping 401(k) tax break at 28%
Under the “28% cap” proposal, someone in the 39.6% marginal tax bracket could reduce his federal income taxes by a maximum of $14,000 on a deferral of $50,000 into...
Life and annuity companies will face reckoning in 12-14 months: Conning
Conning's new report is titled, “U.S. and Global Insurance Industry Outlook: Economic, Capital Markets, and Regulatory Challenges Continue—Nothing to Be Gained by Waiting for Things to Get Better.”