Two Firms Join for Data Exchange

October 14, 2010 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Pension software provider BLAZE SSI and preapproved document provider McKay Hochman have worked out an agreement allowing the two companies to exchange data between their respective systems.

The two-way data transfer will facilitate Form 5500 preparation and reporting, 1099R preparation and distribution, plan design and modeling, and summary annual report preparation and distribution, the company said. 

“Teaming up with BLAZE SSI makes tremendous sense for us,” said Rich Hochman, president of McKay. “BLAZE SSI offers a number of services that we don’t, and we offer services they don’t. Yet, these services frequently rely on the same data. By connecting our two systems through a data transfer capability, we can each offer our respective customer bases a broader range of services.” 

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For more information, visit www.mhco.com or call 973-492-1880.

State Street Releases Risk Index

October 14, 2010 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – State Street Global Markets has announced the launch of its Systemic Risk Index that measures the U.S. equity market’s vulnerability to market shocks.

A news release said the Systemic Risk Index describes the degree to which a small number of macro risk factors, as opposed to stock- or industry-specific news, can drive stock returns.

The components of State Street’s Systemic Risk Index are made up of approximately 60 industrial sectors. The Index provides a single, daily measure of fragility and can help portfolio managers determine when they should consider hedging their portfolios or change investment strategies, the company said.

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“In today’s market, investors are continually looking for new ways to manage risk in their portfolios,” said Will Kinlaw, managing director and head of Portfolio and Risk Management Research at State Street Global Markets, in the news release. “State Street’s Systemic Risk Index is designed to provide institutional investors with an early indication of fragility within the U.S. market so that they can adjust their strategies accordingly and maximize returns even in a difficult market environment.”

The Systemic Risk Index was developed by State Street Associates in collaboration with Windham Capital Management, LLC, a Boston-based investment management boutique. 

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