CBO predicts 3.8% fed funds rate by 2019
CBO projects that the federal funds rate will remain near zero until the second half of 2015 and then “rise considerably.”
Do ETFs Increase Stock Volatility?
Authors of a new study, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that a one-standard-deviation increase in ETF ownership of a stock raises its daily volatility and...
Nationwide’s ‘blue frame’ goes out the window
On Sept. 4, Nationwide’s NFL advertising, featuring Peyton Manning, will include the insurer's refurbished 'N and Eagle' brand mark. It will also appear on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88...
The Bucket
Brief or late-breaking items from AIG, Plan Strategies, Inc., Great-West Financial, OneAmerica, Voya Financial, USAA, LifeYield, Franklin Templeton Investments and TIAA-CREF.
M&A speculation drove life/annuity stocks in 2Q2014
A.M. Best attributed much of the quarterly gains for L/A stocks to the merger fever that followed Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co.'s $5.7 billion bid for Protective Life.
Debt service can crowd out savings: LIMRA
Advisors with clients in their 40s need to know how heavy a debt load they are carrying, LIMRA said in a release.
Deloitte publishes annual DC benchmarking survey
There continues to be limited interest in in-plan annuities, with 6% of plans offering this option in 2013, up from 4% in 2012. Ten percent of plan sponsors indicated...
The Bucket
Brief or late-breaking items from Lincoln Financial Group and Global Atlantic Financial Group, Ltd.
Older, wealthier U.S. households grew more so in 2000s: Census
For Americans ages 65 and older, the real median household net worth increased for between 2000 and 2011, with the age 65-to-69 subgroup seeing the largest increase ($40,000 or...
This is your brain on money
Public television will turn its inquisitive light on the topic of behavioral finance next October 16.
FIA sales could reach $50 bn in 2014: LIMRA
"This is only the second time we have seen quarterly sales over $60 billion since the third quarter of 2011," said Todd Giesing, senior analyst, LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute...
“I’m delaying Social Security until age 70. How do I pay for Medicare before then?”
Aren’t Medicare premiums typically deducted from Social Security benefits?
Exodus from U.S. equity funds continues in July
Overall flows into long-term mutual funds remained positive in July at $14.4 billion, but this total is noticeably lower than in recent months.
Talk exceeds progress on state-run private retirement plans
Workers without access can open personal IRAs, but backers of state-run plans say people want the convenience of a workplace savings option.
The Bucket
Brief or late-breaking items from Milliman, New York Life, TrimTabs, Alta Trust and ETF Model Solutions.
AllianceBernstein launches fiduciary-minded TDFs
“Our question was, what’s the next stage in the evolution of target date funds? After talking to advisers and plan sponsors, we decided that ‘2.0’ in TDFs will be...
Fidelity settles suit for $12 million, revises its own 401(k) plan
“Fidelity’s settlement of this case is somewhat surprising as typically vigorously defended itself in other excessive fee litigation," wrote ERISA blogger Thomas E. Clark.
Denmark’s ATP pension switches to 15-year guarantee
While current guarantees set a return for as long as 80 years, under the new system, each year’s contribution will be guaranteed a certain return for 15 years, based...
Many participants would prefer bigger match, lower pay
Only 13% of those surveyed by Fidelity said they would take a job with no company match, even if it came with a higher pay level.
