The Markets April 9, 2008

Morningstar Opens Alternative Research Platform

Morningstar has launched a new institutional research platform focused on alternative investments.

Reported by

Morningstar Direct Alternative Investment Edition, a global, multi-currency institutional research platform, provides in-depth performance analysis of approximately 8,700 hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, and Commodity Trading Advisor products, according to a press release.

The Web-based platform enables clients such as fund-of-fund managers, fund managers, family offices, and institutional investors to conduct alternative investment research by combining robust, timely data with advanced analytics and reporting tools.

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Direct AIE includes nearly 300 data points for each hedge fund, 29,000 global indexes (including 251 hedge fund indexes), monthly performance data, assets under management, and Morningstar proprietary hedge fund ratings, indexes, and categories. Subscribers can customize their research by changing benchmarks, time periods, risk-free rates, and currencies for risk/return calculations. Strategy classification breakdown, geographic exposure, industry exposure, fees and liquidity terms, and asset class exposure help users gain insights into investment performance and risk, according to Morningstar.

With the tool, users can export presentation-ready graphs and data into Microsoft PowerPoint or PDF files, or Microsoft Excel for additional analysis.

More information is available here.

Compliance April 9, 2008

DoL Offers New Information Channel for Employers

Small businesses wondering about the best retirement plan design have a new resource from the government.

Reported by

Nevin E. Adams

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) has released a new online video to help small employers and accountants understand the various options for providing a retirement program for their employees. “Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business” introduces employers to the three most popular retirement arrangements, according to a press release.

The video portrays real-life experiences of four small employers that operate a simplified employee pension (SEP), a savings incentive match plan for employees, an individual retirement arrangement (SIMPLE IRA), and 401(k) plans. The video focuses on the ease in setting up a retirement program appropriate for small-business owners as well as the advantages of sponsoring a retirement plan, including tax breaks and as a tool to attract and retain a quality workforce.

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“Today, there are many retirement plan options for small employers. The experiences of the small-business owners featured in the video show how simple and valuable a retirement plan can be for small businesses,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security Bradford P. Campbell.

The video, which was developed with the assistance of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, is available online for download here.

Visitors to the site also may place DVD orders. Free copies of a companion booklet of the same title are available online at www.dol.gov/ebsa (under Publications) or by contacting the Employee Benefits Security Administration toll free at 866-444-3272.

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