Products June 21, 2012

Northwestern Mutual Unveils New Retirement Strategy

June 21, 2012 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Northwestern Mutual launched a retirement strategy that does not assume a fixed life expectancy.
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The strategy considers the very high possibility that an individual will live past the average life expectancy. According to Northwestern, there is a 25% chance that a 65-year-old man will live to age 94, a 65-year-old woman to age 95, or at least one spouse of a 65-year-old couple to age 98.

Using Northwestern’s strategy, the company’s financial professionals help clients create a stream of reliable income throughout retirement, protect retirement savings so they last a lifetime and leave behind a legacy. To accomplish these goals, the strategy takes into market volatility, inflation and taxes, health care costs, and long-term care needs.

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“What we’ve realized time and again is that building a prudent plan with the guidance of a trusted financial adviser is key to building a financially secure retirement,” said John Grogan, Northwestern Mutual senior vice president for planning and sales. “The Northwestern Mutual Retirement Strategy was developed with the knowledge that the most crucial aspect of retirement planning is having certainty, as well as flexibility, as you move through your retirement years.”

Products June 21, 2012

Morningstar Rolls Out Alternative Mutual Fund Ratings

June 21, 2012 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Morningstar, Inc. released Morningstar Analyst Ratings and Global Fund Reports for approximately 40 alternative U.S. mutual funds, representing about 75% of the alternative fund universe by assets.
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Analysts evaluate the funds on numeric factors as well as qualitative factors including people, process, parent, performance and price. They then rate the funds on a five-tiered scale. From highest analyst conviction level to lowest, the ratings are gold, silver, bronze, neutral and negative.

“The strategies employed in alternative funds are often new and sometimes complex,” said Nadia Papagiannis, director of Morningstar’s alternative fund research and editor of Alternative Investments Observer. “Our goal with the Analyst Ratings and Global Fund Reports for these alternative investments is to help institutions and financial advisers research and compare funds as they continue to seek diversification through alternative investments.”  

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The Morningstar Analyst Rating for alternative mutual funds, along with analysis, is available on Morningstar.com and MorningstarAdvisor.com. The new Analyst Ratings, supporting analysis, and Global Fund Reports are also available in Morningstar Direct and in Morningstar Office.

Over the next year, the company plans to increase its alternatives coverage to approximately 100 funds.

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