Investor Appetite for Equities Remains Anemic
Investor demand for international equity offerings tumbled again, attracting just $3.8 billion in September, according to Strategic Insight.
Investing
Managing Investment Risk in Cash Balance Plans
The features of cash balance plans that make them easier to understand and make costs more predictable also create challenges for investing plan assets.
Fiduciary Fears Still Adding to Passive Product Tailwind
Cerulli Associates finds “fiduciary fears” are supporting flows into lower-cost, passive products, but many plan sponsors...
Finding the Right Default
A prudently selected default investment can solve real problems and help plan sponsors feel more confident in automatically enrolling their participants.
In-Plan Lifetime Income
Most participants are interested in in-plan lifetime income options, but just one in five plan sponsors say the same.
Retirement Plan Investors Abandoning Asset-Class Preference
More investors are turning to unconstrained multi-asset class solutions, a survey suggests.
Schwab Finds Equities Dominate SDBAs in Retirement Plans
In the second quarter, participant account balances in the Schwab Personal Choice Retirement Account were down 0.07% from the first quarter, but up 3.8% from June 2014.
DCIIA Says Illiquid Assets ‘Manageable’ in DC Plans
Daily valuation and trading issues associated with illiquid asset classes do not outweigh their potential performance benefits within DC plans, an analysis finds.
Lessons for Plan Sponsors from the Market Volatility
The most recent market environment reinforces the need for bonds and should encourage plan sponsors to look at innovative strategies.
Bond Ladders a Prudent Approach to Fixed Income
They perform well in all interest rate environments.
Fiduciary Duty and the ESG Catch 22
More than anything, ESG investment advocates face an image problem.
GAO Identifies Reasons Most Plan Sponsors Use TDFs as QDIA
The fit with participant characteristics especially led to the decision to use TDFs as QDIAs.
Retirement Investors Should Plan for Rising Interest Rates
Equities would benefit in the short term, while fixed income investments would decrease in value.
Share Class Offerings Shift With Fiduciary Focus
A majority of asset management firms are reforming share classes and approaches to fees, especially for the qualified retirement plan market.
Industry Looks to Ease Investor Jitters
The usual flow of retirement research and market commentary is being complemented this week by a refreshing look at the fundamentals—at the roles volatility and perception play in...
Using Alternative Investments to Diversify DC Participant Accounts
How alternatives can help, and a suggestion for how to include them in DC plans.
Investors Shun U.S. Equity Despite Its Return
International Equity funds led inflows again in July, according to Strategic Insight.
A Summer Lull in Participant Trading
Trading activity was light within 401(k) accounts last month, according to Aon Hewitt.
Managing Retirement Plan Participants’ Reactions to Volatility
Experts counsel plan sponsors to rely on their advisers to set reasonable expectations for market volatility.
TDFs Continue Growth as Target-Risk Funds Lose Assets
In the second quarter, target-date funds experienced $19.3 billion in positive inflows, while target-risk funds saw aggregate outflows of $2.9 billion.