Your Loophole Is My Noose
Tax breaks, when seen as passive spending programs, are a form of government waste. So raising taxes might shrink the size of government. Or not.
Process First, Not Product
When clients discover that products have been sold to them without the adequate use of process, some advisors will surely face a day of reckoning, says the president of...
In UK, Protest Against ‘Lynch Mob’ Mentality on Public Pensions
Lobbyists wish to "drastically erode the modest pensions of millions of public sector workers," said Derek Simpson of Unite, Britain's largest union.
New River and Newkirk in Electronic Delivery Deal
Newkirk Products, Inc., has agreed to distribute NewRiver’s Prospectus Express product in the 401(k) and 403(b) markets via Newkirk’s Fund Central platform.
Spark Institute Seeks Input on Proposed Data Standards for In-Plan Income Options
"The absence of standards for sharing necessary information among the insurance product providers and unaffiliated record keepers an impediment to more widespread access to these products," said Spark...
To Offset Potential S.S. Cuts, Save 10 Percent More
A hypothetical 45-year-old couple should save an extra $90,000 before they retire. At age 55, the same couple year-old should begin saving an extra $82,900, suggests economist Laurence Kotlikoff.
Most Plan Fiduciaries “Ill-Prepared” to Evaluate Alternatives
Alternative investments could be a trap waiting for unwary or unprepared plan sponsors and fiduciaries, Matthew Hutcheson told members of the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions...
Inflation-Indexed and Level Payout Funds from Barclays Bank
“It's marketed as a gap product, such as between early retirement and pension benefits or to bridge until longevity insurance kicks in,” said Tamiko Toland, an annuity industry analyst...
Independent Fiduciaries to the Rescue
With his National Retirement Security Plan, independent fiduciary Matthew Hutcheson hopes to bring lower fees, better management to small and micro retirement plans.
Behavioral Economics and Retirement Investing
PIMCO and its Allianz affiliates recently sponsored a new study, “Behavioral Finance and the Post-Retirement Crisis.” PIMCO Retirement Product Manager Tom Streiff explains how the study’s findings can foster...
Retirement Planning CE Course Offered
"Planning for retirement can involve multitudes of subjects. As individuals gain knowledge on the value of annuities, they will understand the benefit of this product," Quest CE said...
ASPPA Supports DOL-Mandated Fee Disclosure
Over time, the fees and expenses charged to DC plan accounts can take a substantial bite out of retirees’ retirement savings, said the CEO of the plan sponsor advisers...
TDF Demographics Revealed
The share of all 401(k) plan participants using TDFs increased from 25% in 2007 to 31% in 2008, a new study from the Employee Benefits Research Institute shows.
RIJ Takes a Holiday
Retirement Income Journal will not be published July 28. The next issue will appear
August 4, 2010.
A Dynamic Approach to Sequence Risk
A new scholarly claims that sequence risk demands attention throughout retirement, not just during the years immediately before and after the retirement date.
Reish & Reicher Comment on TDF Proposals
“We expect that the SEC proposals will be adopted much as proposed," says Fred Reish, the well-known ERISA lawyer. But a TDF expert says plan fiduciaries should do more...
The Brilliant Gimmickry of TDFs
TDFs have always been a sales strategy more than an investment strategy, and we should recognize that.
Correction
Last week, an article in RIJ misdescribed Axa Equitable's Retirement Cornerstone variable annuity.
PIMCO Unveils Sovereign Bond Benchmarks
Instead of giving the highest weights to countries with the most debt, PIMCO's new indices will give the highest weights to countries with the highest income based on GDP.
To Shrink Medical Costs, Make Them Visible: SOA
Consumers feel they could make more informed decisions if they had more information on medical procedures and options for care, the SOA found.
