Products May 30, 2008

Lincoln Puts Out 403(b) Service Suite

Lincoln National Corp. unveiled a suite of services designed to help 403(b) sponsors comply with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations.

Reported by

Fred Schneyer

A Lincoln press release said its 403(b)e SURE offering is also aimed at helping sponsors simplify their plan administration. According to the release, the service includes representatives specializing in disciplines such as law, compliance, and account management.

The offering provides plan document services, including a sample document for non-ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) plans and custom document services for ERISA plans. The Lincoln Unifier Service is included in the offering to help employers meet the administrative burden of bringing their plan into compliance.

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The release said the service also includes Lincoln LifeSpan, a participant learning program that offers customized tools and materials designed to help employees build their investment skills.

“While the new 403(b) regulations increase employer responsibility, the Lincoln 403(b)e SURE Advantage solution can ease their burden by providing a streamlined, simplified solution, ” said Wes Thompson, president of Lincoln Employer Markets, in the release. “Lincoln’s suite of services enable employers to meet the new administrative requirements while allowing their participants to reach a more secure retirement.”

More information is available at http://www.LincolnFinancial.com.

See New 403(b) rules may offer opportunities for advisers to have “a client touch’.

Products May 30, 2008

New International Fund Sets Sail at Janus

Janus Capital Group Inc. launched a new international fund.

Reported by

Nevin E. Adams

The Janus Adviser International Forty Fund (ticker: JFFAX) is a concentrated portfolio that seeks long-term growth of capital by investing directly in 30 to 50 companies across developed and emerging markets.

According to a press release, the fund manager plans to “…leverage Janus’ proprietary research process in an attempt to identify and capitalize on international firms with attractive long-term growth prospects and strong and sustainable competitive advantages.” The fund’s benchmark is the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World ex-U.S. Index.

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“By concentrating the fund’s investments in a limited number of holdings, we think our most compelling stock picks could possibly make more meaningful contributions to the fund’s overall returns,” Jonathan Coleman, co-chief investment officer of Janus, said.

Portfolio Manager Laurent Saltiel will manage Janus Adviser International Forty Fund. Saltiel, who also comanages Janus
Adviser International Equity Fund, joined Janus in 2002 as an equity analyst covering basic material, consumer staple and retail securities. Prior to that, he was an analyst with RS Investments in San Francisco.

“I look for businesses with high or improving returns on invested capital, solid free cash flow generation and management teams that create value for shareholders,’ Saltiel said. “A strong valuation discipline is a fundamental part of my investment strategy. I believe this approach will help ensure that the fund invests only in stocks that I feel offer the most attractive risk/reward opportunities.’

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