The Best Retirement Research of 2012
For the second consecutive year, we bring you the most intriguing, influential and useful retirement-related academic research that came to our attention in the prior year.
View ArticleCutting Longevity Tail Risk Down to Size
In a white paper published last month, Milliman actuaries describe a design for a mini defined benefit plan that a plan sponsor could tuck inside a defined contribution plan like a donut tire in the...
View ArticleThey Just Don't Get It
It understandably drives the 401(k) industry nuts to hear professors and regulators proposing to cut the tax incentives for the business owners who sponsor workplace plans or for those who contribute...
View ArticleTwo Dollar Fallacies
If progress is not made in reducing the projected fiscal imbalances and limiting the growth of bank reserves, reduced demand for dollar assets could cause the dollar to fall more rapidly and the...
View ArticleForethought Launches ‘ForeRetirement’ VA
The lifetime income benefit captures new contract value highs on a daily basis to age 90, with a minimum deferral bonus of 6% simple interest credited until the 10th contract anniversary or the first...
View ArticleNew FIA from ING U.S. offers living benefit and deferral bonuses
If income payments are deferred for five years, the available income withdrawal amount is boosted by 150%. With a ten-year deferral, the available income withdrawal amount gets a guaranteed boost of...
View ArticleUS at rear of peloton in retirement security: Natixis
Western European nations with universal health care and retiree social programs dominate the top of the rankings, taking the first 10 spots. Norway is first overall, followed by Switzerland,...
View ArticleCerulli surveys global DC trends
The United Kingdom is the only market with defined contribution assets in excess of US$1 trillion that is expected to have double-digit growth.
View ArticleMore chatter about ‘defined ambition’ plans in the UK
Britain is talking about creating a government-sponsored Pension Protection Fund that would "smooth" participant outcomes and bear the risks that private providers can't afford to shoulder.
View ArticleFinancial / Retirement Planning Software Directory
See the detail on financial planning software including vendors, scopes, costs, and contacts.
View ArticleVariable Annuity Carriers 'Mix It Up' in Q4
"We may be at an inflection point, with the first carriers beginning to tweak products in small ways for competitive advantage despite the ongoing low interest rate environment," writes John McCarthy,...
View ArticleThe Best Retirement Research of 2012
For the second consecutive year, we bring you the most intriguing, influential and useful retirement-related academic research that came to our attention in the prior year.
View ArticleCutting Longevity Tail Risk Down to Size
In a white paper published last month, Milliman actuaries describe a design for a mini defined benefit plan that a plan sponsor could tuck inside a defined contribution plan like a donut tire in the...
View ArticleDistribution of Wealth in the U.S.
This video, which has been viewed over four million times on YouTube, shows how the explosive growth of stock market wealth over the past 30 years has changed U.S. financial demographics to a degree...
View ArticleWhere the Wealth Is
Do you build and wholesale financial products? Cerulli reports that the giant wirehouse channel shrank slightly last year, to the benefit of the fast-growing RIA and dually-registered advisor channels.
View ArticleWestern & Southern introduces ‘SmartStep’ fixed annuity
SmartStep offers four years of guaranteed rates: an initial rate set by the company followed by three years of stepped-up rates. At the end of the guarantee period, the contract is credited with an...
View ArticleWhen the Empire Didn’t Strike Back
Conservative reviewer Hutchinson praises Benn Steil's new book on the 1944 Bretton Woods negotiations, which documents how Britain lost its economic crown jewels at the historic conference in New...
View ArticleFidelity the target of new lawsuits over float income in 401(k) plans
“Our practices are in compliance with ERISA and DOL guidelines,” a Fidelity spokeswoman said. “We believe that the practices described in the lawsuit are consistent with the law and fair to all...
View ArticleDC fee disclosure has little impact: LIMRA
“The disclosure notices — or the discussion of them — did seem to improve the knowledge of those who believed they didn’t pay any fees or expenses,” said Alison Salka, corporate vice president and...
View ArticleMorningstar publishes 2012 Global Fund Flows report
"Worldwide, fixed-income funds gathered USD 535 billion in 2012, or nearly 95 % of long-term net inflows,” said Syl Flood, product manager, investment research for Morningstar.
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