Data & Research December 20, 2011

Americans Split on 2012 Financial Outlook

Eighteen percent of Americans say planning for retirement is an area they want to work on in 2012.
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According to the COUNTRY Financial Security Index, 30% of respondents said 2012 will be better than 2011. However, almost an equal number said it will be worse (28%) or about the same (32%).

Other top financial priorities for 2012 include reducing debt (27%) and boosting savings (19%). When asked which national economic issue will most impact them, 28% cited the federal budget deficit and the level of government spending.

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The “Gen Y” age group (18-29) is ending 2011 with significantly more upbeat financial sentiments. Forty-one percent rate their overall level of financial security positively (up 20 points since the October index). Seventy-three percent are confident in their ability to pay debts (also up 20 points since the October index).

The COUNTRY Financial Security Index is a bi-monthly measure of Americans’ sentiments toward their overall financial security. It is an aggregate of various factors comprising financial security including savings and investments, financial planning, retirement, education and asset protection. The Index was created by COUNTRY Financial, and is compiled by Rasmussen Reports, LLC. It is based on a national telephone survey of at least 3,000 Americans.

To access the survey data in its entirety, visit http://www.countryfinancialsecurityindex.com  

Products December 19, 2011

Janus Capital Launches Three Funds

Janus Capital Group launched three funds. 
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The funds include: INTECH Global Dividend Fund, January protected Series—Global, and Perkins Select Value Fund, all effective December 15, 2011.

The INTECH Global Dividend Fund is designed for investors in search of long-term growth of capital and monthly income beyond traditional fixed income investments. INTECH will use the same risk-managed investment process it has been implementing for nearly a quarter century, which focuses on alpha capture by selecting stocks with unique volatility characteristics and low correlations to one another, with an added consideration of maximizing dividend yield.

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The Janus Protected Series – Global allows investors to participate in the global equity markets with a level of downside protection using a risk allocation methodology through a Capital Protection Agreement where BNP Paribas provides capital protection. The fund combines the stock picking of Janus with capital protection provided by BNP Paribas. It has a protection feature—the Protected NAV—that rises as the NAV of the fund rises, but doesn’t fall when the NAV declines (except for reductions related to dividends, distributions, certain extraordinary items and any extraordinary expenses).

The fund allocates primarily between global equities and a protection component (consisting of cash, cash equivalents, treasuries and derivatives) based on day-to-day market volatility. If the NAV per share for any share class is less than the protected NAV, the fund would liquidate. There is no guarantee that the investment techniques used by the fund’s portfolio manager and the risk allocation methodology agreed to with the capital protection provider will produce the desired results. The allocation process can result in the fund underperforming or lagging its benchmark or similarly managed funds during rising markets. Janus Protected Series – Global is managed by Jonathan Coleman, who also manages Janus Protected Series – Growth and serves as co-chief investment officer, equities, of Janus Capital Management.

Perkins Select Value Fund seeks capital appreciation unconstrained by market cap. The Perkins Select Value Fund has the flexibility to select securities among market caps based on both market conditions and valuation. The fund is co-managed by Bob Perkins, founder of Perkins Investment Management and co-portfolio manager of the Perkins Small Cap Value strategy, and Kevin Preloger, co-portfolio manager of the Perkins Large Cap Value strategy. 

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