October 08, 2012
--- John
Hancock made available its recently renamed Retirement Choices At series of
target-date funds (TDFs) in the investment-only marketplace to plan sponsors. ---
Share classes R1, R2 and R6 are now available, following the
launch of R4 shares last spring.
Effective May 2012, John Hancock renamed its two target-date
funds series to clarify the distinction between funds that are managed “to” and
“through” retirement.
Formerly named Retirement 2010 – 2050 Portfolios, are now
called Retirement Choices At (e.g., Retirement Choices at 2015), emphasizing
that the portfolios are managed “to” a specific year. The former Lifecycle
Portfolios, also spanning 2010 to 2050, are now called Retirement Living
Through portfolios, to reinforce that the portfolios are managed “through” retirement.
“These actively managed portfolios offer asset allocation at
an attractive expense level,” said Steven Medina, portfolio manager with John
Hancock Asset Management, sub-adviser to the funds. “The suites have been
managed very much in line with their expectations, with the near-dated
portfolios designed to protect capital in difficult market environments, while
the farther-dated portfolios have participated nicely in the more favorable
market environments. Moreover, they have attracted $2.5 billion in assets in
the past two years, so clearly they are resonating with plan sponsors.”
Kristen Heinzinger