Products June 14, 2007

Illinois Firm Adds Retirement Services Unit

June 14, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The Aurora, Illinois-based Sikich LLP has announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Sikich Retirement Plan Services LLC.
Reported by

A news release said the new company will specialize in providing custom retirement plan solutions for small to mid-size corporate retirement plans and will operate from two locations, Aurora and Springfield, Illinois.

According to the announcement, the Aurora location will be headed by Sikich Partner, Karen S. Sanchez, and Diana Jordan will direct the Springfield operations.

For more stories like this, sign up for the PLANSPONSOR NEWSDash daily newsletter.

Services will include compliance, recordkeeping, and fiduciary and investment advisory consulting. Clients can choose from an integrated retirement plan solution or a custom solution that utilizes any combination of retirement services. All services will be provided with fee disclosure, according to the news release.

The new entity will also offer fiduciary assessments to plan sponsors and retirement plan committee members to help determine if the plan sponsor is fulfilling the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The Sikich platform will also focus on plan participants in an effort to increase participation and average deferral rates.

More information is at www.sikich.com .

Products June 13, 2007

Calvert Responds to Investor Concern with Alternative Energy Fund

June 13, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - In response to results of its recent survey about climate change and alternative energy, Calvert has launched the Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund.
Reported by

According to a press release, the fund invests in a broad universe of U.S. and non-U.S. stocks, seeking companies that are alternative energy market leaders as well as those building a significant presence in the sector. KBC Asset Management International, a Dublin-based firm, will be sub-adviser to the new fund.

“The Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund is a sector-specific fund that offers exposure to alternative energy with attractive diversification potential for both socially responsible (SRI) and non-SRI global investors,” said Steve Falci, Calvert’s Chief Investment Officer, Equities, in the press release.

Never miss a story — sign up for PLANSPONSOR newsletters to keep up on the latest retirement plan benefits news.

The “Calvert Climate Change/Alternative Energy Survey” found that more than three out of four U.S. investors (76%) are concerned “about global warming and what climate change could mean in terms of major changes” during their lifetime and those of their children and grandchildren.  In addition, the release said nearly nine out of 10 respondents (85%) agreed that alternative energy investments – such as wind, solar and other sources of clean power – represent a dual opportunity to support the environment and generate profit at the same time. 

However, Calvert found that only one in five investors who use a financial professional responded affirmatively when asked if they had discussed investing in alternative energy with a financial adviser. The survey was conducted for Calvert by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) and polled 1,094 investors.

More information on the Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund and an Executive Summary of Calvert’s survey can be found at  www.calvert.com .

«