Products June 20, 2007

IW Financial Offers Solution for Compliance with Divestment Laws

June 20, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - IW Financial Inc. (IWF) has announced it offers a solution that will enable institutional investors, asset managers, and plan sponsors to satisfy the divestment requirements of all pending or future legislation on Sudan, or Iran and other U.S.-designated sponsors of terrorism.
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According to the announcement, with its partner Conflict Securities Advisory Group (CSAG), a research firm dedicated exclusively to identifying and assessing companies that have business in, or with, State Department-designated terrorist-sponsoring states, IW Financial provides research-based technology solutions that enable investment professionals to analyze portfolio holdings using environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.

Sam Pierce, chief executive officer at IW Financial, said in the announcement, “[I]t is clear that states require a solution that can satisfy all potential terrorism-related requirements.  IWF is now in a position to offer that solution.” Roger W. Robinson, Jr., President and CEO of CSAG, said the firms’ solutions can address a number of specific policy guidelines for divestment.

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The new solutions are immediately available, and more information can be found at www.iwfinancial.com or www.conflictsecurities.com .

Benefits June 19, 2007

Americans Apprehensive About Retirement

June 19, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Nearly one-third of American adults describe themselves as apprehensive, panicked, or clueless about their retirement, according to results of a survey conducted on behalf of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA).
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Investment Executive reports that a quarter of respondents on the verge of retirement (ages 55-64) acknowledged they have not done enough to prepare. However, discomfort about the prospect of retirement is higher for the 45-54 age group than it is for those younger or older – with 38% of respondents in this group expressing some level of apprehension or related concern about retirement.

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The apprehension is not likely to decline as they get closer to retirement, as 30% of adults age 55-64 also described their emotional state regarding their financial preparation for retirement as uncomfortable.

Respondents who have consulted a financial professional were much more likely to say they are comfortable/confident about retirement than those who have not (78% vs. 58%), the news report said.

SIFMA found that the problem is not just that Americans do not or have not saved enough. Nearly 30% of respondents said they are focused on finding the money that could potentially be saved, while another third said they may have the money, but they do not know how to manage it. Thirty-four percent reported struggling with the challenges of getting started, of focusing on saving, or of finding the right kinds of help.

The survey is the result of a telephone poll of 1,000 respondents and was conducted May 29-31 by Artemis Strategy Group, according to Investment Executive.

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