Sept-oct 2008

The role of financial planning is becoming more important in client relationships

Advisers should use a "holistic" approach to tap the lucrative market of providing retirement income services to affluent investors, according to TowerGroup.

Two conferences to help broaden your business

Once the province of large plans, "hybrid" cash balance now makes sense for micro plans

Many businesses are changing travel policies because of higher prices and a down economy, and they are taking steps such as staying at cheaper hotels, according to a survey by Orbitz for Business and Business Traveler magazine.

You bring more to a retirement plan than your expertise

The credit crunch has polarized investment allocations, setting records in Merrill Lynch's Survey of Fund Managers for July.

By the time you read this column, the Olympics will likely be a distant memory, but already there have been exciting finishes and new world records.

New products, highlights, announcements

How to know what you don't know

Retirees will outlive retirement savings if they continue at the same rate of spending

cover story

How to work (a) with, (b) around, (c) through your compliance department

While the demand for mutual funds remains strong, other solutions are gaining ground

DoL completes three-part package of disclosure regulations

Due to insufficient focus on retention, the inability to reach the plan participant at the appropriate time, and failure to build a relationship with the participant prior to retirement, defined contribution (DC) plan service providers are largely unsuccessful at retaining participant assets after retirement, according to a study from the Diversified Services Group (DSG).

How to draft and monitor an investment policy statement

Tired of giving the same old presentations? Use these nuggets of information to spruce them up.

Evaluating the process and payoff

It's up to advisers to help sponsors and participants understand in-plan 'guaranteed' income products

Advisers share their preferences for building a plan investment lineup

Articles that appeared in the Trendspotting section of the magazine

Recent research from Hewitt Associates says both women and men are on track to replace 85% of pay at retirement, assuming average life expectancy; however, women need to replace 130% of their final pay, while men need to replace 123% of pay at retirement.

EBSA issues new participant disclosure regulations