Products August 18, 2014

Matrix Launches Modeling and Unitization Platform

The ModelTool(k)it from Matrix Financial Solutions helps advisers manage portfolio models of recommended mutual funds and ETFs in 401(k) plans. 
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The tool gives advisers advanced portfolio modeling and managed account capabilities, and access to the 25,000 mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available on the Matrix Trading Platform. The solution was created through a partnership of Matrix and Envestnet Retirement Solutions.

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The addition of managed account services is part of Matrix’s goal of providing a full suite of solutions that help retirement plan-focused financial advisers, broker/dealers and third-party administrators (TPAs) differentiate and compete in the competitive small to mid-sized plan segment, the company said in a statement.

The new offering should also help meet growing investor demands of service providers and financial advisers for integrated and actively managed portfolio and investment services, says John Moody, president of Matrix. Moody describes ModelTool(k) as an easy-to-implement and cost-effective solution for advisers and recordkeepers looking for a “simple and efficient platform to create, manage and implement model portfolios.”

More information about Matrix is available at their website. 

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The Markets August 18, 2014

Mutual Funds See Healthy Inflows in July

Long-term funds of all types attracted $30 billion in July, lifting year-to-date net inflows to $293 billion, according to Strategic Insight (SI), an Asset International company.
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Inflows to equity funds in July totaled $18.2 billion, driven by a $15.2 billion inflow to international equity funds. The international total return category had the most inflows, with $1.8 billion, and emerging market equity finished in a close second for the asset class, at $1.6 billion.

The total U.S. Equity fund inflows of $3 billion were driven by demand for income-oriented mutual funds ($1.2 billion), as well as exchange-traded products, according to SI.

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Both short- and intermediate-term strategies led July’s $11.8 billion commitment to bond funds. The flow-leading taxable bond strategies included the corporate bond general category, which saw $5.3 billion of inflows, and corporate short maturity ($3.4 billion). The $1.6 billion July inflow for tax-free bond funds was in large part driven by demand for muni-short funds ($1.1 billion).

A heavy selling session on the last trading day of the month sent equity returns into negative territory in July, as the weighted average of one-month returns for U.S. equity and international equity funds were -2.1% and -1.5%, respectively. Yield movement was mixed during the month, and taxable bond funds’ average return was -0.4%. Tax-free bond funds averaged a 0.1% return.

The data from SI also reveals steady inflows continued to non-traditional funds in July—the category again recording $6 billion of monthly aggregate net inflows. Both U.S. equity alternatives and taxable bond alternative funds have experienced success year-to-date in 2014, SI says, attracting $16.9 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively.

The income-mixed, flexible U.S., and natural resources equity objectives each collected in excess of $1 billion again in July. Money Market fund redemptions totaled $18.8 billion in July.

More information about how to obtain research reports from Strategic Insight is available at www.sionline.com.

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