A Sense that the Worst Is Over
At the IRI annual conference in this quaint colonial village, the annuity industry shared a sense that, after several hellish years, the worst may be over.
Fixing the 401(k)s’ Leakage Problem
“I think is an opportunity for a win-win-win,” says Lew Minsky, executive director of DCIIA. “If you keep more people invested for retirement, all of the players in the system benefit. You’re growing the system.”
The Tailwinds in Vanguard’s Sails
At $64.8 billion, net flows into Vanguard funds in the first half of 2014 were greater than the flows of the next five fund families combined, according to Morningstar’s mid-year analysis.
Replacing Those Disputed Replacement Rates
What was so important about a tiny column of numbers, missing from Table V.C7 of the 2014 Social Security Trustees Report?
Featured
The Fed Trap
The Fed's assumption that the so-called “wealth effect”—when asset appreciation spurs real economic activity—will hasten a true post-crisis recovery isn't producing the desired results, writes the former Morgan Stanley chief economist.
What’s Up, Heterodox?
Heterodox economics, though valid and perhaps even more intellectually honest than orthodox economics, has lost its political battles, and that has made all the difference.
News
U.S. paper assets are $198 trillion: Fed flow of funds report
The net worth of households and nonprofits rose $1.4 trillion to $81.5 trillion during the second quarter of 2014. The value of directly and indirectly held corporate equities increased $1.0 trillion and the value of real estate expanded $230 billion.
