October 16, 2019 Five Lessons Packaged Target-Date Solutions Can Learn from Customization by Jennifer DeLong, Andrew Stumacher As defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors know, the US Department of Labor recommends considering both packaged and custom target-date strategies when choosing a solution. As we see it, packaged solutions can learn a few things from fully customized target-date solutions, which are generally used by large and megasize plan sponsors. Asset Allocation, Multi-Asset, Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
October 03, 2019 Finding a Flexible, Plan Sponsor-Friendly Secure Income Solution by Jennifer DeLong, Andrew Stumacher When plan sponsors consider a lifetime income solution as their DC plan’s default investment, they frequently cite two must-have ingredients: flexibility in adjusting to individual participant circumstances, and simplicity in implementation. Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
October 02, 2019 US DC Plan Participants Want Certainty and Control by Andrew Stumacher, Jennifer DeLong For any lifetime income solution to be effective within a DC plan, it will have to satisfy two major participant concerns: certainty of that retirement income and control over those hard-earned plan assets. Not all lifetime income solutions are able to provide those must-have ingredients. Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
September 11, 2019 Selecting Insurers for Lifetime Income: Help Is on the Way by Jennifer DeLong, Andrew Stumacher When it comes to implementing a secure lifetime income solution for a defined contribution (DC) plan, sponsors may balk at the task of evaluating insurers and different types of retirement income options. But fiduciary help is already available, with additional services and innovations on the way. Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
September 10, 2019 Washington Helps Retirement Plan Quest for Secure Income by Jennifer DeLong, Andrew Stumacher Washington legislators have crafted some substantive support for defined contribution (DC) plans to offer secure income solutions for participants. The Secure Act, currently under Senate review, may be a key component in clearing away some hurdles that have previously made DC plan sponsors hesitant to incorporate lifetime income solutions. Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
September 04, 2019 Does Your Target-Date Glide Path Suit Your Workforce? by Jennifer DeLong, Andrew Stumacher Plan sponsors evaluating packaged and custom target-date solutions should take a close look at the demographics of their plan participants and how they stack up against those of a “typical” plan. It’s critical information when making a glide-path decision. Multi-Asset, Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
July 08, 2019 Custom or Packaged? The Target-Date Choice Revisited by Jennifer DeLong, Andrew Stumacher Many plan sponsors wrestle with the decision of choosing—or changing—a target-date solution. Is a packaged product appropriate for plan participants, or are there advantages to using a custom solution? Or is there perhaps another choice? Multi-Asset, Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
January 08, 2019 DC Plan Participants Voice Their Interest in Responsible Investing by Jennifer DeLong In our new survey, DC plan participants voice their interest in aligning their retirement investments with their ethics. But the Department of Labor has apparently put up some roadblocks that cause DC plan sponsors to hesitate. Multi-Asset, Responsible Investing/ESG, Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
October 25, 2018 Living the Retirement Dream? by Jennifer DeLong Retirement reality for many Americans may not be as grim as forecasters predict. Could it be better? Yes. But many retirees in our new survey see a glass that’s more than half full. Multi-Asset, Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
July 11, 2018 Is All-Passive Really the Best Thing for Target-Date Funds? by Christopher Nikolich With market returns expected to be lower going forward, target-date funds that invest in passively managed underlying components are at risk of underdelivering. We think diversifying beyond traditional asset classes and tapping alpha opportunities with a multi-manager structure can increase the chances of success. Active & Passive , Multi-Asset, Target-Date Solutions Likes 2 SHARE Bookmarks
March 21, 2018 Do Your Target-Date Funds Measure Up to Rising Rates? by Jennifer DeLong, Daniel J. Loewy, Christopher Nikolich Rising US interest rates could pose a challenge for target-date funds (TDFs) that concentrate on “core” US fixed-income exposure. Diversifying across a broad range of bond markets and strategies can create a cushion in a rising-rate environment. Multi-Asset, Rising Rates, Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
February 28, 2018 With Target-Date Funds, History Does Repeat by Jennifer DeLong Target-date funds played a big part in helping defined contribution (DC) plan participants stay invested through February’s market turmoil. And history does repeat: in the severe 2008–09 financial crisis, these funds kept many participants positioned to take part in a lengthy bull market. Multi-Asset, Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
November 14, 2017 Six Tips to Take DC Plans to the Next Level by Jennifer DeLong Tax reform. Interest-rate hikes. Regulatory questions. Inflation. There’s always a reason to put off making changes to your company’s defined contribution (DC) plan. But some improvements will be good for your plan and participants no matter what happens. Multi-Asset, Plan Design, Target-Date Solutions Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks