The Implications of Europe’s Solvency II
As Europe raises its bar on insurance regulation, it's in America's best interest to follow suit, writes Ms. Toland, managing director, Retirement Income Consulting, at Strategic Insight.
It’s Back: The Hartford’s In-Plan Income Annuity
With United Technologies' recent adoption of an in-plan annuity, it now appears more likely that guaranteed income will eventually become commonplace in the defined contribution space. The Hartford, after...
Send the Social Security Statement to Everyone On One Day!
The associate director of the Center for Retirement Research wants financial services companies to fund a revival of the delivery of Social Security statements to working Americans. Cost: $55...
The Scoop on Pre-Owned Annuities
When buying a secondary-market annuity that offers a 7% or 8% effective rate of return, make sure you deal with honest brokers.
From the UK, ideas for better outcomes for DC participants
Would gradual annuitization from age 65 to 75 be better for DC plan participants in the UK than gradually switching from equities to government bonds from age 55 to...
Wealth2k income planning tool added to Pershing advisor platform
Income for Life Model, a time-segmentation retirement income planning tool from Wealth2k, will be integrated into the NetX360 advisor web platform offered by Pershing, the clearing firm owned by...
AXA updates Accumulator VA
The Accumulator Series, introduced in 1995, now has a higher deferral bonus roll-up.
United Technologies Adopts In-Plan Annuity
After overhauling its huge retirement plans, this Fortune 50 firm selected AllianceBernstein's stand-alone living benefit as its in-plan 401(k) income option. AXA Equitable, Nationwide, and Lincoln Financial were expected...
Our Debt Won’t Bankrupt Our Grandkids
Deficit hawks say that federal debts and deficits put our progeny in a hole. Indeed, they've said it for decades. But some economists, starting as far back as 75...
Putnam launches “Dynamic Risk Allocation” fund
In addition to global equities and global fixed-income securities, the fund may invest in commodities and real estate investment trusts, and use leverage.
Putnam launches “Dynamic Risk Allocation” fund
In addition to global equities and global fixed-income securities, the fund may invest in commodities and real estate investment trusts, and use leverage.
State employees prefer DB to DC, NIRS/Milliman study shows
The study analyzed seven state retirement systems that offer a choice between DB and DC plans to find that the DB uptake rate ranged from 98% to 75%, with...
U.S. pension deficit largest since WWII—Mercer
“The end of September marks the largest deficit since we have been tracking this information,” said Jonathan Barry, a partner in Mercer’s Retirement Risk and Finance business.
Courts favor fiduciaries in suit over “imprudent” plan investments
Plan sponsors and fiduciaries have won another case at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit—the third this year.
Advisor loyalty to fund firms is in flux: Cogent
'Last year, DFA and BlackRock were the only Stars in our mutual fund company commitment ranking,' said Cogent principal John Meunier. 'This year, a total of four firms made...
Hearts & Wallets identifies growth in investor technology use
Investors are using technology for pre-work before contacting a financial professional, to check up on their advisor and to monitor their advisor’s account management, the consulting firm has found.
New York Life Retirement Plan Services reorganizes
Joan Driscoll, a 24-year industry veteran with 18 years of experience at New York Life, has been promoted to lead the new effort as managing director of client strategy.
SEC weighs action against Standard & Poor’s
The SEC enforcement staff sent S&P a Wells notice, which gives companies the chance to make the case why charges are unwarranted.
Russell introduces ‘volatility-responsive’ asset allocation
"Ten years of well-behaved markets can have less impact on the ultimate success or failure of a portfolio than a couple of outlier months of extreme returns," says Russell...
401(k) Reforms: More Enviable Than Viable
Proponents of 401(k) reform met defenders of the status quo in a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Sept. 15. The reforms have some justification, but they could hurt the...
