News

The current tax treatment of 401(k) plans costs the U.S. Department of Treasury between $50 and $70 billion per year, says a recent analysis.

Americans age 50 and older spend less in retirement than in their working years, and home-related expenses remain their most expensive items.

February 15, 2012 – Do sponsors of 403(b) plans that are not governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) have fiduciary responsibilities to the plan and...

Pensionmark Retirement Group has added team members.  

Folio Institutional and unitZXchange LLC launched a portfolio unitization service. 

The Principal Financial Group has enhanced its resources, education and training for financial professionals. 

LPL Financial Retirement Partners launched two new tools as part of its Retirement Partners tool suite for advisers.  

Investors put an estimated net $35 billion in net inflows into stock and bond mutual funds in the U.S. in January 2012, reports Strategic Insight (SI).  

Strategic Insight, an Asset International company, reports U.S. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) enjoyed $28 billion in net inflows in January.

The Dietrich Pension Risk Transfer Index was nearly unchanged from its prior month’s level of 86.65 and currently sits at 86.35 as of February 1, 2012. 

Prudential Investments expanded its defined contribution business by establishing a new Southwest sales division.

Pacific Resources—a nonmedical employee benefits advisory firm—was purchased by two of its senior executives.  

Mesirow Financial and PNC Institutional Investments introduced Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Section 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services for PNC's Vested Interest retirement plan sponsors. 

 Only 9% of more than 5,000 investment strategies achieve the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings, according to an analysis performed by Mercer’s Investments business.   

F-Squared Investments appointed Mark Marinella as head of investments. 

 An employer breached his fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by failing to honor a former employee’s rollover distribution request.   

The average employee 401(k) contribution rose slightly in 2011 to $5,750, up from $5,680 the year before, reported Fidelity Investments.

February 13, 2012 – Potential clients must “buy” you before they buy any products or services from you.

Cerulli Associates predicts the IRA marketplace will grow steadily over the next five years and expects assets to rise to $7.3 trillion by 2016.

Cerulli Associates estimates there were approximately 11.5 trillion investable asset dollars in retirement income opportunity (RIO) households in 2010, and this number is expected to reach $13.7 trillion...