Global equity funds and ETFs are hot in 2014: TrimTabs
“Global equity funds have received almost seven times as much money as U.S. equity funds this year,” said David Santschi, CEO of TrimTabs. “Fund investors are as convinced...
A look at women and money, via Prudential
Even though they don’t feel prepared to make wise financial planning decisions, fewer women say they are seeking professional financial advice, according to Prudential Financial's study of women's attitudes...
The Bucket
Brief or late-breaking items from Envestnet, Guardian Life, the Investment Company Institute and The American College.
Quote of the Week
"At some point you cross the line from reviving markets to becoming the bellows fanning the flames of the “Booming and Bubbling”... I believe we have crossed that line....
Skads of Data about Americans over 65
The June 2014 report on the elderly by the U.S. Census bureau is a must-have for anyone trying to map this market. It has dozens of useful charts and...
To raise retirement security, ban DC cash-outs: EBRI
Getting rid of cash-outs during job changes could mean that 38.3% more of the poorest Americans would have saved enough to replace 60% of their pre-retirement income (when combining...
How does an unshackled pension fund invest? Ask Sweden’s SPK
“We’ve invested in a Goldman Sachs fund, which includes credit, high yield and emerging market debt. It’s a broad mandate that we believe has the ability to make money...
The Bucket
Nevin Adams to leave EBRI for as-yet undisclosed position. Also, brief or late-breaking items from Voya, Nationwide Funds and Securian.
Introducing the free ‘Social Security Maximizer’
To access the Maximizer, subscribers (after logging in to the RIJ website) should simply click on the Social Security Maximizer image in the right navigation channel of the RIJ...
Retirement assets total $23 trillion in 1Q2014: ICI
IRAs held $6.6 trillion in assets at the end of the first quarter of 2014, up from $6.5 trillion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2013. Forty-six...
Cerulli explains strange bond weather
Life insurers, holders of $2.6 trillion in long-term bonds, added about $52 billion in high-quality bonds to general account investment portfolios last year, Cerulli reported.
UK creates framework for DB/DC hybrid
It’s still not clear whether the hybrid approach—called “defined ambition” by UK Work & Pensions secretary Steve Webb—has widespread support or interest among employers or if it’s mainly a...
AIG to help officers accused of ‘fraud on the market’
The “fraud on the market” theory in class action litigation asserts that the price of shares traded in an “efficient market” reflects all available information, including alleged misrepresentations by...
Northwestern Mutual to sell Russell Investments
Russell oversees almost $260 billion in assets, primarily for large, institutional investors such as pension funds. The firm also maintains stock indices such as the Russell 2000. Russell mutual...
IRA rollovers in 2013 totaled $324 billion; $720 billion stayed behind
Besides providing quantitative rollover data, a new Cerulli Associates report provides qualitative survey data. One takeaway: People in their 50s don't think of themselves as 'pre-retirees.'
The Bucket
Brief or late-breaking items from TrimTabs, E*Trade, Transamerica, Fidelity, Guardian Life, and LPL Financial.
Merrill Lynch overcharged 41,000 small business retirement plans: FINRA
Merrill Lynch learned in 2006 that its small business retirement plan customers were overpaying, but continued to sell them more costly shares and failed to report the issue to...
Social Security a “screamingly good” deal: Financial Engines
Yet, ironically, there’s little evidence that a majority in Congress would be amenable to the higher payroll taxes that will probably be needed to make those generous, inflation-indexed Social...
Limit participants to three loans: TIAA-CREF
Paying off debt was cited as the top reason for borrowing from retirement plan savings (46%), yet only 26% of respondents said that paying off debt justified a loan.
Connecticut funds the creation of a public IRA by 2016
The Connecticut Retirement Security Board will be expected to report their findings and a plan for implementation to the General Assembly by April 1, 2016.
