Product & Service Launches

Lincoln Adds to In-Plan Retirement Income Offerings 

 
Lincoln Financial Group has added to its in-plan guaranteed income investment offerings for defined contribution retirement plans. 

The asset manager’s newest iteration of its Lincoln PathBuilder, powered by YourPath, can be offered to participants via a managed account or as a stand-alone investment option in a retirement plan; it provides exposure to a group annuity contract with an asset allocation investment fund. 

With the new design, participants can “choose to begin lifetime income at any point in time” and “can completely change their mind” even after making payments by withdrawing or transferring their account balances, a Lincoln spokesperson wrote via email. 

The prior offering of the same name, launched in 2021, used a similar guaranteed lifetime benefit with target-date and risk funds, according to the firm. YourPath is a Lincoln-branded investment offering developed in partnership with American Century, Capital Group, BlackRock and State Street. 

Lincoln’s latest offering is available on its recordkeeping platform, but a firm spokesperson said via email it is working to offer through other recordkeepers. 

The investment is also “built to accommodate portability, both at the participant level” via an individual retirement account, “as well as [at the] sponsor level (to other recordkeepers) via middleware,” according to the spokesperson. 

Vontobel Adds Global Equity Mutual Fund 

Vontobel has launched an actively managed mutual fund investing in companies in developed and emerging markets. 

The Vontobel Global Equity Fund adds to Vontobel’s mutual fund offerings and is part of its goal of expanding distribution in the U.S.  

The fund seeks to invest in companies with stable, predictable and sustainable earnings growth. 

“Given the current economic climate of persistent inflation and a heightened sensitivity to interest rate signals, we focus on businesses that exhibit high and steady profitability, resilient business models, and strong structural growth potential,” said Ramiz Chelat, portfolio manager, in a statement. 

Vontobel’s mutual funds are available through investment vehicles that include collective investment trusts and separately managed accounts.  
 

Fidelity Offers Tech Stack for Small and Midsized Wealth Managers 

Fidelity Investments announced two new technology platforms for small and midsized registered investment advisers. 

Fidelity’s technology stack and advisory bundle of services is geared toward RIAs looking to address limited resources and budgets.  

The bundle includes Fidelity’s Fidelity Managed Account Xchange Essentials, a new managed account platform. FMAX offers advisers both Fidelity and third-party managed accounts. 

“Smaller firms and advisors launching their own business, however, often have fewer resources, which can put them at a disadvantage,” said Noni Robinson, head of emerging RIAs at Fidelity Institutional Wealth Management Services, in a statement. “Our offering takes the guesswork out of selecting a technology stack with solutions that support front-, middle-, and back-office employees at these firms.” 

The offering was created in collaboration with eMoney Advisor, focused on financial planning solutions, and Advyzon, an adviser technology firm. The services include Fidelity’s brokerage platform, eMoney’s financial planning strategies and Advyzon’s portfolio management software.