Data & Research February 21, 2012

Investors in Target-Date Funds Feel More Secure About Retirement

Workplace retirement plan investors who use target-date funds feel more secure about reaching their retirement goals and managing their portfolios than those who do not. 
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According to a study from ING U.S., 71% of target-date investors indicated that target-date funds made them feel more confident that they were making sound investment decisions.

When asked about various features available in target-date funds, all respondents showed a strong preference for those that are managed by multiple investment managers and are able to provide a guaranteed income stream at retirement. More than nine in 10 (93%) target-date investors and nearly three-quarters (71%) of those who do not use them would want a target-date fund that provides stronger protection against market losses in the years leading up to and including retirement. Additionally, eight in 10 (80%) respondents using target-date funds and two-thirds (66%) of those not using them would prefer less market risk at that stage of the investment cycle.

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“These findings suggest that diversified, age-adjusted target-date funds, when effectively designed, may work better than traditional offerings in bridging the gap between investor knowledge and long-term retirement objectives,” said Paul Zemsky, chief investment officer of multi-asset strategies for ING Investment Management.

Other key findings of the study include:

•  Eighty-eight percent of target-date investors have interest in a target-date fund that offers guaranteed income at retirement;

•  Eighty-six percent of target-date investors feel confident they know the definition of “diversification” compared to a smaller number (71%) of those who do not use target-date funds; and

•  Sixty-one percent of target-date investors prefer multi-manager strategies, while a much smaller number (14%) prefer a single- manager.

 

The survey findings are from an online survey conducted by Synovate on September 19 and 20, 2011. Respondents were 540 active defined contribution plan participants (212 invested in target-date funds while 328 did not) between the ages of 25 and 69 and were the primary/joint financial decision maker for their account. 

To view a report containing detailed findings of this study, visit the ING Retirement Research Institute.

Deals & People February 21, 2012

Lincoln Financial Names Chief Marketing Officer

 

Lincoln Financial Distributors (LFD) named Richard Aneser chief marketing officer. 

 

 

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In this newly created position, Aneser will drive business results through strategic marketing for Lincoln’s portfolio of insurance and retirement products offered through financial advisers, institutions, insurance brokerages and consultants in the U.S. He will report directly to LFD’s president and CEO, Will Fuller.  

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Aneser joins Lincoln with more than two decades of marketing experience, on both the agency and corporate sides. Prior to joining Lincoln, Aneser served as managing director and head of advisory and solutions marketing and wealth management Americas for UBS.  

From 2002 to 2009, he held a range of marketing roles with Merrill Lynch, including as a member of the Global Wealth Management Global Leadership Council. He began working for Merrill Lynch as a director of global wealth management in 2002, and was managing director of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management from 2008 to 2009. From 1997 to 2002, he served at Fidelity Investments: from 1999 to 2002 he was a vice president of integrated marketing, retail marketing communications; and from 1997 to 1999 he served as director of integrated marketing. Earlier in his career, he served at Hill, Holliday Advertising, Seigel & Gale, Wells Rich Greene BDDP and AC&R Advertising.   

Aneser earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy from St. Michael’s College in Vermont, and holds FINRA Series 7, 24 and 66 licenses.

 

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