Forward Management Refocuses on EM Corporate Debt

Forward Management, LLC has relaunched the former Forward International Fixed-Income Fund with a new name, a new strategy, and a new sub-adviser.

The company says the Forward EM Corporate Debt Fund (FFXIX) is among the first with a mandate focused primarily on emerging market (EM) corporate debt. Forward has selected SW Asset Management, LLC, a Newport Beach, California-based global credit manager that specializes in EM corporate debt, as sub-adviser for the fund.  

The Forward EM Corporate Debt Fund is offered in Investor Class, Institutional Class and C Class shares. It is available through Charles Schwab, Commonwealth Financial Network, LPL Financial, Matrix Clearing, National Financial/Fidelity, Pershing, Raymond James and TD Ameritrade.

The fund is the fourth mutual fund that Forward has introduced or relaunched in recent months. The firm is considering introducing a long/short version of its EM corporate debt strategy later this year.
  

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More information is at http://www.forwardmgmt.com.

ING Hires 401(k) Sales Regional VP

Brian Lighty has joined ING U.S. Retirement Services as the Independent Channel Regional Vice President covering northern Illinois.

In this role, he is responsible for developing independent adviser and TPA relationships, and expanding ING’s small and mid-market 401(k) plan sales through financial intermediaries.    

According to the company, Lighty comes to ING with a proven track record of successful sales and relationship-building experience in the retirement and institutional services industry. He spent 15 years at Putnam Investments and most recently with Columbia Management as Regional Vice President, covering seven states.  

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Lighty reports to Todd Smiser, who heads up the north central region for ING’s Intermediary Corporate Markets Distribution team. 

Smiser is one of five regional ING sales team leaders who report to Bill Elmslie, head of National Intermediary Corporate Markets Distribution and Service. In addition to the five sales regions, Elmslie oversees a national business development group that works with TPAs, wholesalers, broker-dealers and mid-market consultants.  His organization also includes customer relations and sales support functions.

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