Administration December 14, 2009

Investors Turned to Specialized/Boutique Fund Firms for Results

December 14, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - In a background of lingering uncertainty for investors, many mutual fund managers have continued to attract significant inflows to their stock and bond funds in 2009.

Reported by

Strategic Insight, a business intelligence provider to the fund industry, and an Asset International company, identified 55 mutual fund managers that grew organically by 10% or more (net inflows as a percent of beginning-year assets) through the first 11 months of 2009. These firms included specialized/boutique organizations and industry innovators such as TCW Management, Van Eck Global, Manning & Napier, Matthews Asian Funds and Credit Suisse, according to an SI press release. 

Most of the fastest-growing managers (on a percentage basis) outpaced bigger, brand-name firms, SI found. The firm said smaller firms’ achievements confirm investors’ results-oriented attitudes post-crisis.

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

“Investment boutiques, Asian and international specialists, providers of non-conventional strategies and managers of short-duration bond funds are all common to this year’s list,” commented Avi Nachmany, Strategic Insight’s director of Research, in the press release.

“These times of continuing economic anxiety highlight the value of the clarity and conviction of small and focused investment firms,” Nachmany explained. “This conviction has been well received by financial advisers, RIAs, and self-directed individual investors. The appeal of investment boutiques will again be evidenced in 2010.”

SI’s list includes managers of stock and bond funds of $1 billion+ at the beginning of the year; it excludes ETFs and funds underlying variable annuities. More information can be found at http://www.sionline.com.

Benefits December 14, 2009

2009 Workplace Holiday Fetes Less Festive

December 14, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – A new employer survey finds the down economy has taken a major bite out of traditional year-end holiday workplace activities.

Reported by

BNA reports that its Holiday Practices Survey finds a significant dropoff in corporate sponsorship of holiday parties from 81% in 2008 to 67% in the latest poll. The proportion of employers backing a company-wide holiday party has also plunged from 64% in 2008 to 50% in 2009.

Also corporate parties will be less of a drinkfest. Among those scheduling an employee party, 58% will have alcohol available, down from 65% last year.

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

Many of those offering an open bar are also keeping an eye on consumption by:

  • using bartenders to monitor consumption (77%),
  • limiting times when alcohol is served (47%),
  • offering taxi service for employees and guests (51%),
  • providing discounted hotel rates to encourage overnight stays (31%), and
  • appointing designated drivers (8%).

Those that have such get-togethers are making the fetes more of an employee-only affair, according to BNA.

Some 47% will open up their company-wide holiday parties to spouses or other guests, compared with the 55% last year. Some 33% say they will hand over a gift to an employee or provide a bonus, down from 40% in 2008 – the third consecutive declining figure since 49% in 2006.

Employers Still doing Charitable Giving

Even though holiday shindigs are less prevalent this year, that doesn’t mean companies are all playing Scrooge.  Some 59% will sponsor or participate in one or more charitable activities this holiday season, little changed from the 61% of employers that engaged in these activities during the 2008 holiday season.

Toy collections and food drives continue to be the top choices for charitable giving. Two in five establishments (40%) will sponsor the collection of toys and games for needy children, while nearly the same proportion of organizations (39%) will sponsor or contribute to year-end food drives.

The 2009 holiday calendar will facilitate generous paid leave. The fact that both Christmas and New Year's fall on Friday creates favorable conditions for an extended weekend. Nearly six in 10 surveyed employers (58%) have scheduled at least three days of paid leave during the 2009-2010 holiday season.

The survey was based on responses from 315 human resources and employee relations executives.

«