Products November 4, 2008

Natixis Introduces Absolute Return Fund

Natixis Global Associates (NGA) announced the addition of the Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund (VNVAX) to the Natixis Funds lineup.
Reported by

The fund is a diversified portfolio of mid-cap value stocks managed with an absolute return orientation. Similar to the Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund, the new fund seeks long-term capital appreciation with an emphasis on absolute return, according to a release. Both funds pursue a bottom-up investment strategy focused on identifying undervalued stocks.

Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund seeks investments in the market cap range of $1 billion to $20 billion, while the Small Cap Value Fund invests in companies ranging in size from $100 million to $5 billion.

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Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund is managed by Chris D. Wallis, Scott J. Weber and Dennis G. Alff. Wallis and Weber have also co-managed the Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund (NEFJX) since 2004.

More information is available at www.ga.natixis.com.

Products November 4, 2008

MassMutual Beefs Up Participant Ed Tools, Team

MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division announced plans to expand its participant communication and education beyond retirement-related topics.
Reported by

MassMutual has announced that it will launch a suite of new online educational content in the fourth quarter that will include:

  • interactive charts
  • tutorials
  • calculators
  • seminars that advisers and plan sponsors can use for small group education purposes.

Team Expansion

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  • MassMutual has also initiated the expansion of its team of Retirement Education Specialists to facilitate more on-site participant education, according to the firm. On October 20, the following individuals joined O’Toole’s organization as Retirement Education Specialists:
  • Sean Czepiel is based in Massachusetts, and provides education services to clients in MassMutual’s northeast region. He has been with MassMutual since 2006 and was most recently a customer service representative in the company’s Springfield office.
  • Shelly Hardison joined MassMutual from Nationwide Financial, where she was most recently a retirement plan consultant. She will provide education services to clients in the Midwest region.
  • Dan Kolosowski is based in southern California, and provides education services to clients in MassMutual’s western region. He has been employed by MassMutual since June 2007 as a representative in its Retirement Services Participant Information Center.
  • Jorge Mullen is based in Connecticut and also provides education services to clients in MassMutual’s northeast region. He joined MassMutual from Hooker & Holcombe, a benefits consulting agency in West Hartford, Connecticut.

“In today’s environment, there is clearly a need for more personal attention and education for retirement plan participants, not just regarding retirement issues but from a holistic financial viewpoint,” said Hugh O’Toole, senior vice president and head of MassMutual’s national sales and distribution organization. “Financial advisers and TPAs can play an important role in the educational process. MassMutual will continue to reinforce their efforts with best-in-class educational opportunities for participants.”

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