Reader Responses January 30, 2017

SURVEY SAYS: Fan of the Falcons or Pulling for the Patriots?

So, my team did not make it to the Super Bowl again this year.
Reported by

However, there is one team in the game I will be rooting for to win.

Last week, I asked NewsDash reader, “Are you a fan of the Atlanta Falcons or are you pulling for the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LI (51)?”

For more stories like this, sign up for the PLANSPONSOR NEWSDash daily newsletter.

The majority of responding readers (61.6%) are rooting for the Falcons to win the Super Bowl, while nearly one-quarter (24.4%) chose the Patriots. Nearly 6% said they don’t care, 3.5% chose “either” and 4.6% indicated they don’t watch football.

In the comments left by readers, there was much distaste for the Patriots and Tom Brady, but also some kudos for them. As usual, some commented about looking forward to the commercials, although one reader expressed distaste for them as well. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said, “Regardless of who wins, hoping for a good competitive game!!” 

Thanks to everyone who responded to our survey!

Verbatim 

Any team but the Patriots!

But mostly I will be paying attention to scores for my squares.

The New England CHEATRIOTS are one of the main reasons I stopped watching the NFL (after 45 years). I would be happy if they never win another game. Ever.

Any team but Patriots!

It's time for the Commercial Bowl!

Let's have someone new win this year. The Patriots have enough titles.

At the risk of my personal trainer, who is a diehard Patriots fan, seeing this and making me do about 2000 extra crunches...Go Atlanta!

Tom Brady is like Rambo on a mission.

I marked "don't watch football" and therefore could have also marked "don't care" but I know enough to not root for the cheater team (Patriots).

Tired of New England's act.

Super Bowl 51, already?!. OMG, I'm not sure whether to be sad for how old that makes me or for how much I've spent on the beers they've cost me!

Anyone can win as long as it is NOT the Patriots. Do they have any fans outside of New England? I'm over them - move along!

Verbatim (cont.) 

Basically anyone but the Patriots

This Broncos fan would like to see ANYONE but Tom Brady and his team win Super Bowl LI.

When I attended the University of Michigan, it was common knowledge that Michigan quarterbacks couldn't make it in the NFL. Tom Brady has proven that wrong and is on the verge of proving he is the best ever. I will always be a Tom Brady fan.

My team isn't in it either, so I am rooting for the team that beat my team!

Tom Brady deserves the win after Roger Goodell's shenanigans this year!

Not a fan of the Falcons but when it comes to the Patriots and their sketchy behavior and ethics, I am a fan of anyone who is playing them.

Stop using Roman numerals!!!

Great day to go shopping or to the movies

Should be a good game, entertaining throughout. Just need to figure out when the bathroom break will be in effect!

Patriots = cheaters.

Not a huge fan of either but tired of seeing the Patriots win it again so will be rooting for the Falcons. Also hope the game is somewhat interesting after a lot of boring playoff games.

I will never pull for a team that cheats. I hope Atlanta wins, led by a former ACC quarterback!

Verbatim (cont.) 

I have no ties to the Falcons. However, my team of choice is always the one playing the Patriots.

Anybody but the Patriots... and maybe the Steelers, at this point.

Curious to see how the Patriots are going to cheat this year!

The Patriots and Tom Brady are the best continuously, not just for 'the game.'

I'm a Packers fan, not a Falcon's fan, but I couldn't bear to see the Patriots get yet another ring!

Born and raised in New England, and have the privilege to work in Boston the past 11 years - so I have watched each of our sports teams win a championship!

I am not a fan of either team, but prefer to see the Falcons win since the Patriots have been there soooo frequently and it would be nice to see another team win.

My AFC team didn't make it either. When that happens I always then root for the AFC team with 1 singular exception. Under no circumstances could I ever root for the Patriots. Go Falcons.

While the Falcons beat my Packers, they were the better team that day. Matt Ryan deserves a Super Bowl win, and I'd like to see someone other than Brady and the Patriots win.

Which team I might support for the Super Bowl? No, which team(s) I might support for March Madness!! 🙂

had enough of Belichick and the Patriot cheaters

Who cares? I go to the party for the food, drinks and commercials!

Verbatim (cont.) 

Yes, it's a dynasty!

Tom Brady is the GOAT!!!! Go Pat's!!!!!

I like Ryan because he went to BC but I still want the Patriots to win.

I'm from Buffalo, so I really dislike the Patriots. I'll pull for any team playing against them!

Regardless of who wins, hoping for a good competitive game!!

How will I know what cool and hip products to buy without watching an obscure multimillion dollar commercial telling me to do so?!?

Brady doesn't deserve anymore trophies and the Falcons need the glory.

Anyone other than Tom Brady

I will watch the Puppy Bowl instead.

When people who entertain (play sports) are paid more than those that have an impact on running our Country (President, Congressmen) I just don't understand where our Country's priorities are....

Looking forward to seeing Goodell give Brady the trophy!  

NOTE: Responses reflect the opinions of individual readers and not necessarily the stance of Asset International or its affiliates.
Administration January 27, 2017

DC Plans Making Fee-Focused Changes

Increase in recordkeeper search activity, movement to institutional fund structures, de-emphasizing revenue sharing and adoption of fee policy statements were found in a survey of DC plan sponsors.
Reported by

Callan’s 10th-annual “Defined Contribution Trends Survey” reveals that fees are playing a heightened role in driving plan sponsor decision-making.

Reviewing plan fees was cited as a key area of fiduciary focus, both now and for the foreseeable future. Also related to this focus on fees are trends including an increase in recordkeeper search activity, movement to institutional fund structures, de-emphasizing revenue sharing, and adoption of fee policy statements.

Never miss a story — sign up for PLANSPONSOR newsletters to keep up on the latest retirement plan benefits news.

“Plan sponsors described their review of plan fees as ‘continuous’,” says survey co-author and DC consultant Jamie McAllister. “This includes both investment fees and recordkeeping fees. Recordkeeping searches often result in fee reductions. As a quarter of our survey respondents said that they were very or somewhat likely to conduct a recordkeeper search in 2017, this implies that fee pressure will continue.”

When Callan first asked the question, in the 2012 survey, defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors reported that the majority of participants paid administrative fees solely through revenue sharing (36%) or partially through revenue sharing (30%). In 2016, just over one-third (38%) said revenue sharing was used in any way to pay such fees.

“In 2012, plan sponsors had fewer fee payment options,” says Lori Lucas, CFA, survey co-author and Callan’s DC practice leader. “Today, there are far more mutual funds and daily valued collective investment trusts (CITs) without revenue sharing, and even when there is revenue sharing, plan sponsors can rebate it back to plan participants in ways that weren’t previously available.”

Plan sponsors’ movement away from mutual funds to CITs is also primarily driven by fees. Nearly two-thirds of DC plans offered CITs in 2016, up from 48% in 2012. Meanwhile, mutual funds have decreased in prevalence from 92% to 84% over that same period.

Fees are also driving the increased use of indexed funds. In 2016, far more plan sponsors reported increasing the proportion of passive funds in their plan (12%) than increasing the proportion of active funds (2%). In addition, more than 47% of plan sponsors have a written fee payment policy in place, either as part of their investment policy statement (21%) or as a separate document (26%). This is the highest rate ever recorded in Callan’s survey.

NEXT: Plan design and investment findings

Callan’s 10th-annual “Defined Contribution Trends Survey” also found the use of automatic contribution escalation increased markedly over the past year (63% in 2016 versus 46% in 2015). Caps on automatic contribution escalation have also markedly increased, from 19% in 2015 to 27% in 2016.

Nearly half (47%) of plan sponsors reported making a fund change due to performance-related reasons. This is the highest in the survey’s history. Large cap equity was the most commonly replaced fund. Plan sponsors also took action with their target-date funds in 2016, most commonly cited was evaluating target-date suitability (67%) as the most prevalent course of action.

In addition, the survey found that largely in response to money market reforms going into effect, 64% of respondents have changed to a different money market fund or eliminated their money market fund altogether.

As for the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule will, DC plan sponsors believe it will primarily impact the plan’s printed materials, website, and other educational materials (43%) and communication regarding plan rollovers (43%).

Callan has published the “Defined Contribution Trends Survey” each year since 2007. This year 165 U.S. DC plan sponsors responded, with more than 80% having more than $100 million in assets.

A summary of key findings may be accessed here.

«