In Practice

Financial advisers and their clients would benefit from more precise information about their existing immediate income annuity contracts, according to the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA).

Research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) IRA Database finds that almost 40% of IRA assets are invested in equities.

A 403(b) plan sponsor survey from the Profit Sharing/401k Council of America (PSCA) and The Principal reveals sponsors are increasingly asking for help from investment advisers.

An Aon Hewitt study found that participation in defined contribution (DC) plans has reached a record high of 75.8% among eligible employees.  

Seventy-five percent of U.S. broker/dealer (B/D) and independent registered investment advisory (RIA) firms are planning to hire in the next 12 months. 

Aaron Friedman, national practice leader for nonprofit consulting at The Principal, says "there is still a huge opportunity for advisers to step in and help." 

 The majority (76%) of married female clients make financial decisions with their spouse; whereas 39% of the men consult their wives, according to research from Brinker Capital.  

Institutional investors are increasingly bullish on using exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in their portfolios, according to a new study.

Although two-thirds (66%) of the Class of 2011 who are graduating with debt say the value of college is worth the cost, one-quarter say they would have made...

A new white paper assets that emotional responses are keeping those in and near retirement from accessing professional investment help.  

Looking at all angles of a wealthy client’s finances is undoubtedly important; one group is proposing tackling all aspects of a client's life to achieve the best outcomes.    

TD Ameritrade has started a professional development program that aims to give women in financial advisory roles the tools they need to effectively market their services to female...

Drawing comparisons to the Pension Protection Act that codified best practices that were already in play, Chip Castille, managing director and head of U.S. & Canada Defined Contribution...

Research from The Conference Board reveals that the 2008-2009 economic recession has increased pressure on individuals to delay retirement.

Research from Vanguard shows that defined contribution plan participants younger than 30 have higher equity allocations than other generations had at the same age.

The Financial Research Corporation (FRC) estimates that over the next five years, assets in defined contribution (DC) plans and IRAs will grow from $9.0 trillion in 2010 to...

Research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) finds that immediate annuities or longevity annuities would be effective at reaching desired income adequacy targets, especially for lower-income retirees.

An Aon Hewitt report highlights how loans, hardship withdrawals, and cashouts can be detrimental to retirement savings.

In its 2011 Defined Contribution Survey, BlackRock asked plan sponsors and participants to describe the allocation of responsibility they see in retirement plans.   

In its quarterly Sentiment Survey of registered investment advisers (RIAs), TD Ameritrade found 73% of respondents said business has grown in the last six months.