Data & Research November 30, 2011

MetLife Survey Finds a Changing "American Dream"

An "American Dream" that is less conventional and more personalized is emerging, according to a MetLife study.
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The nationwide survey reveals that although the American Dream still exists, more American s are replacing the traditional definition of the “Dream” with a “do-it-yourself” model.

MetLife’s 2011 study also found significant gaps in financial safety nets that help Americans achieve and protect their dreams, even as desire to build adequate safety nets remains strong. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed believe having a financial safety net is key to achieving the American Dream, yet only 30% feel theirs is adequate. Gen Y is making progress, but nearly three in four Baby Boomers, many nearing retirement, say they lack an adequate safety net.  

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The non-financial elements of the Dream are also in clearer focus than ever before. These include personal fulfillment, close friends and meaningful relationships. Career and financial success have been overshadowed.  

Achieving the American Dream remains very important to those who have yet to achieve it, especially younger generations. However, the study reveals Americans no longer place importance on traditional elements of the Dream: 70% say you don’t have to be wealthy to achieve the Dream; 65% say you don’t need a college degree; 71% and 70%, respectively, say marriage and children aren’t essential and 59% percent say you don’t have to own a home.  

Instead, Americans say a sense of personal fulfillment is key in assessing whether they have achieved the Dream. Materialism, once symbolic of achievement, has waned significantly. In October 2011, 74% of all Americans reported they already have what they need, compared to only 58% who said the same in April 2011.

Across generations, more Americans have difficulty choosing between a roof over their heads and having close friends and family. Gen Y places the highest premium on relationships with 33% rating close friends and family as most important compared to just 23% who say it is most important to have a roof over their head. Fifty-two percent of Gen Y also say the America Dream is more about personal achievement than opportunity for all.

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Willing to Do More  

Regardless of whether the vision of the Dream is individualized or shared, the majority of Americans say their standard of living does not need to be higher than their parents’ in order to feel they have achieved the American Dream. Still, this year, more Americans say they are working harder than their parents did at their age. Gen Y is working additional hours (26%), freelancing (24%) and working second jobs (21%) to get ahead. More than one-quarter (27%) of Baby Boomers are willing to relocate to another part of the country to sustain or achieve the American Dream. Across generations, one-third will take a job they are overqualified for.  

While most Americans recognize the importance of having a financial safety net, achieving one is proving extremely difficult, with only 30% of all Americans saying that they have an adequate safety net in place. Living paycheck to paycheck tops the list of issues preventing Americans from achieving an adequate safety net, with more than half identifying it as the top issue standing in their way. A weak retirement savings plan follows a close second for 50% of Baby Boomers, and younger generations say they are not making enough money to build a financial safety net.  

From September 26 to October 10 2011, Penn Schoen Berland, in partnership with Strategy First Partners, conducted 2,420 online surveys among the general population as part of the 2011 MetLife Study of the American Dream. This is the fifth annual edition of the study.  

Download the 2011 MetLife Study of the American Dream at www.metlife.com/americandream. 

The Markets November 29, 2011

Towers Watson Suggests Stable Value Strategies Becoming Riskier

Towers Watson believes that stable value investors should be aware of a few shifts brought on by a combination of an underlying structural change and recent economic stress.  
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In a white paper titled, Assessing Stable-Value Strategies: What Plan Sponsors Should Consider, Towers Watson (TW) says that investors should pay attention to limited wrap capacity, tighter investment guidelines, higher fees and the potential for an increasing interest rate scenario.

According to TW, stable value has long been a popular investment option in defined contribution (DC) plans, as plan participants have appreciated the principal preservation, benefit responsiveness, liquidity and consistently higher returns compared with money market options, with a similar risk profile.

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However, the paper notes that plan sponsors should be aware of the type of events that may trigger a violation of the wrap agreements and cause a potential market-value adjustment, such as a workforce reduction or the addition of a competing fund option (money market or self-directed brokerage option) within the DC plan.

Such risks include counterparty, term, credit and liquidity (at the plan level) and are exacerbated by:

•  Complexity
•  Lack of standardization
•  Less-than-ideal transparency
•  Changing markets prompted by uncertainty over Dodd-Frank, swap legislation, diminishing capacity and evolution of the wrap market
•  The reality of higher wrap fees and lower yields

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“While stable value investment strategies have performed relatively well during the past few years compared to money market strategies, we believe the changed environment means investors should revisit these with a view to understanding all the risks now associated with this investment strategy,” said Peter Schmit, research manager in Towers Watson’s investment business and coauthor of the paper. “Regardless of upcoming regulatory decisions, we believe there has been a structural shift in competitive advantage away from plan sponsors and stable-value managers over to insurance providers and the investment strategy now faces distinct market risks and regulatory headwinds.”

Schmit adds, “We have been discussing stable value with our clients for a number of years, specifically with an emphasis on the education and oversight of the complex structured product. As a plan sponsor fiduciary, it is important to understand the wrap issuer market and the developments within the wrap market, as well as the risks associated with stable value. Ultimately, those who are armed with the best information will make the wiser investment choices as they relate to this issue.”

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