A Debt Straitjacket? Or a Misdiagnosed Disease?
With public and private debt so high across the developed world, International Economy magazine asked a group of economists, including this RIJ guest columnist: “Has the world been fitted with a debt...
View ArticleFixed annuity sales dipped sharply in 3Q2017
'Despite the unfavorable market conditions for annuity sales, I still anticipate that fourth quarter will be strong,' said Sheryl J. Moore of Wink, Inc., which tracks fixed annuity sales. 'The fourth...
View ArticleAs Bitcoin price soars, TOBAM launches the first Bitcoin mutual fund
The market value of a single Bitcoin rose more than 1,000% in dollar terms in the past 12 months, to $8,263 from $748, according to Coindesk.
View ArticleHow to succeed in the DC investment-only market
Five firms 'are carving out a distinct advantage within the target date funds and retirement income categories,' said Sonia Sharigian, author of a new Cogents Report, Retirement Plan Advisor Trends.
View ArticleICI releases first-half 2017 participant behavior data
Only 1.6% of DC plan participants stopped contributing during the first half of 2017, according to a new report from the Investment Company Institute.
View ArticleeMoney Advisor adds integration partners
The Fidelity-owned advisory software firm announced new integrations with Charles Schwab, Envestnet and Box.
View ArticleThe Word of the Week Is: Thanks
A short note from RIJ... It focuses on gratitude but also includes a hint of changes we plan for 2018.
View ArticleFinancial / Retirement Planning Software Directory
See the detail on financial planning software including vendors, scopes, costs, and contacts.
View ArticleSocial Security Maximizer
The Social Security Maximizer is an integral tool for a retirement planner's comprehensive financial planning calculations.
View ArticleHope, Despair: SPARK Forum Has It All
At SPARK's retirement conference, Millennium Trust, Paychex and GuidedChoice announced a new workplace IRA plan. Bill Meyer pitched his Social Security-centric planning tool. And BlackRock hinted at...
View ArticleWade Pfau's Latest Book
'“This book presents the probability-based approach” to retirement spending strategies, Pfau told RIJ in a recent interview. 'If annuities are off the table, here’s what you can do.'
View ArticleThe Ambiguity of Tax Deferral
A failure to agree on whether or not there's 'government money' in tax-deferred savings accounts has complicated our debates over the DOL fiduciary rule, the need for a harmonized fiduciary standard,...
View ArticleDB-DC hybrid idea resurfaces in UK; launches in Germany on January 1
The British government is looking anew at a hybrid defined contribution plan design that would give participants a non-guaranteed variable income (with or without smoothing) in retirement.
View ArticleAmid ‘Trump Bump,’ annuities go begging
LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute's third quarter 2017 annuity sales survey reflects the fact that few Americans are taking profits from the aging bull market and locking them into safe retirement...
View ArticleA Bitter Sandwich on Thanksgiving
An elderly widow recently suffered a bad fall. Her children, one of whom is still paying college tuition for one of the grandchildren, face the prospect of paying $12,000 a month for nursing home care.
View ArticleResearch Roundup
We summarize five papers: “The Sustainability of U.S. Household Finances," “The Great Debt Boom: 1949-2013,” “Living Below the Line: Economic Insecurity and Older Americans in the States, 2016,”...
View ArticleAIG launches New York’s first fixed annuity with GLWB
To satisfy New York regulators, AIG had to design the product's guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit rider somewhat differently from versions offered in other states.
View ArticleDepartment of Labor Declares 18-Month ‘Transition Period’ for BICE
Though the DOL has said it will focus its enforcement policy on compliance assistance, 'private litigants' won't be so gentle, the benefits law firm warned, adding that even the DOL may decide at any...
View ArticleVanguard and BlackRock/iShares dominate October fund flows
'Taxable bond' remained the leading category group in October with $39.1 billion in flows overall, followed by 'International equity,' whose flows more than doubled to $22.2 billion from $9.8 billion...
View ArticleFinancial / Retirement Planning Software Directory
See the detail on financial planning software including vendors, scopes, costs, and contacts.
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