Investing

Corporate pensions, public pensions, defined contribution plans and union plans all voice increasing interest in emerging market investments.

With TDFs dominating the DC market, fund managers are looking at new ways to enhance these vehicles and face the competition.

More than two-thirds (68%) of respondents say integration of ESG has significantly improved returns, a State Street Global Advisors survey finds.

Data from Pew does not reveal a best or one-size-fits-all approach to successful investing, but there is a uniform need for full disclosure on investment performance and fees.

There are some ways in which Millennials are demonstrating prudence and foresight as investors—and other ways they are not.

The second highest priority listed by plan consultants is an evaluation of investment fees.

Passive strategies accounted for nearly all of March’s net inflows.

“Responses to the shift vary greatly, ranging from just hoping this trend changes to working to reduce their cost structure, with everything in-between,” TABB Group says.

They key development around “T shares” is that they feature uniform commissions, while “C shares” move compensation away from the point of transaction. 

“The wide range of private fund strategies can generate strong returns, provide diversification, reduce volatility, act as an inflation hedge, and/or deliver reliable income,” Cerulli researchers explain.

Roberta Rafaloff, with MetLife, says plan sponsors should stop discussing annuities as if they are investments.

Institutional portfolios using the endowment model grew 4.95% (on a total return basis) for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, according to the Endowment Index.

Among DB plan participants who were given a choice between a lump sum or an annuity, fewer than half said that, at the time they made their decision,...

The majority of TDF providers continue to construct their TDF portfolios using proprietary funds as the underlying investments, Mercer finds, “despite reports of plan sponsor unbundling trends.”

Canadian pensions do a good job of keeping costs down, diversifying and using alternative investments.

Just 10% of respondents to a survey by State Street say they view fiduciary duty as a barrier to ESG integration.

Interest rate moves, changes in collateral and ETF usage is driving a higher demand for securities lending programs from institutional investors, such as DB plans.

Governmental plan sponsors are generally not policed by ERISA, but they face their own set of “old, obscure laws” that can apply many restrictions on how or how...

These investment vehicles may pose pricing and regulatory advantages that could seem attractive to plan sponsors.

Money market fund regulation previously led to investor demand for government funds.