Investing

There were only three days of above-normal trading, according to the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index

An increase in liability values was offset by an increase in asset values.

Despite slowing global growth, disparate inflation rates, and continued normalization of U.S. monetary policy, economists with Vanguard and J.P. Morgan Asset Management believe that a near-term recession will be avoided.

They also foresee continued volatility in the stock market, but are turning to active management and alternative strategies to mitigate its risk.

It will offer lump sums to participants and transfer the remaining money to a group annuity contract from Athene Annuity and Life.

Despite clients' tendency to focus on equity performance, half of advisers surveyed by Incapital expect their clients will be increasing allocations to fixed income or cash over the next 12 months.

A new report from Charles Schwab explores retirement plan participant investment activity within self-directed brokerage accounts; findings show self-directed accounts associated with advisers are better diversified.

Nearly half owned their funds only through their employer-sponsored retirement plans, according to the ICI.

To make sure employees’ investment are diversified, Marc McDonough, with Schwab Workplace Financial Solutions, suggests employees should be offered a financial wellness program to help them understand a range of financial issues, including how much of their net worth is tied to equity compensation and how to properly balance their overall portfolio.

Speakers at the Best of PSNC 2018 event in Boston said diversification remains incredibly important, but simplifying the fund menu is a win-win for participants and sponsors.

The five principles serve as a conversation starter for investors to use when engaging companies to be active participants in protecting and enhancing long-term portfolio values by ensuring risks are being appropriately monitored and addressed.

When considering ESG investing, retirement plan sponsors are still concerned about performance and transparency, and some are confused by the latest DOL guidance.

For the year ended September 30, they are up 6.90%, according to Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service.

MassMutual will take on approximately $50 million of the company’s pension plan obligations.

BNY Mellon says higher allocations to U.S. equity drove outperformance.

“Despite a growing emphasis on de-risking among large institutional asset owners, the need to generate returns and meet future funding targets remains paramount,” says John McDonough, head of distribution and marketing at OppenheimerFunds.

The proposal is intended to help investors better understand these contracts' features, fees and risks, and to more easily find the information needed to make an informed investment decision.

Preliminary data shared by Alight Solutions shows the firm’s 401(k) trading index spiked on Monday October 29; investors making moves shunned growth assets and paid premium prices for fixed income.

If they do not embrace immigration in a big way, developed economies are likely to run into labor shortages that will curtail their growth potential; emerging markets will likely benefit from demographic trends.

Public Funds and Foundations & Endowments each had median returns of 2.4% in the third quarter, with Corporate ERISA plans following at 1.9%, according to Northern Trust.