The Markets

Most advisers are optimistic about equity markets and believe the Trump administration will have a positive impact on their business, but pessimism about the bond market prevails.

J.P. Morgan’s head of target-date strategies urges plan advisers to reexamine the “critical role of fixed-income assets in target-date funds,” highlighting ways they can help clients generate stronger...

Providers are enhancing managed accounts with new features and are seeking to maximize the benefits of these solutions in order to outweigh their costs. 

Data from Northern Trust shows retirement plan investors have done well in the last year and in the last quarter, in particular, but long-term return assumptions remain muted...

Retirement plan advisers can help their plan sponsor clients take advantage of emerging opportunities for better deals and service coming out of fierce competition among asset managers. 

Outcomes from using an OCIO have been generally positive and have the potential to improve DB plan funded status, particularly in volatile market conditions, the firm says.

They are telling investors, young and old, to get their portfolios in order now—not in the throes of the next recession. 

However, corporate funds' and Taft Hartley plan's returns trailed those of public funds and foundations and endowments.

There are some things plan advisers and sponsors can do to help defined contribution (DC) plan participants refrain from reacting to unreliable financial news.

At a recent PLANADVISER focus group event, it was evident that small- and mid-market plan sponsors had little interest in “white labeling” investments—and their rationale might surprise you. 

However, they view U.S. equity valuations as getting less attractive and see a risk to the markets trajectory if the Trump administration cannot enact legislation that supports improved...

Institutional investors recognize that the expanding middle class in emerging countries will contribute dependably to global growth over the long-term, according to OFI Global Asset Management. 

With TDFs growing rapidly in the DC market, providers are exploring new ways to stand out from the crowd.

However, there are some challenges that inhibit greater adoption of ESG investments, State Street Global Advisors finds.

Millennials are now the largest demographic in the U.S., and also the least likely to have access to a defined benefit pension plan. 

Consultants interviewed by PIMCO weighed in on which target-date strategies are best for which plans, which active strategies are best for which investments, and more.

International Equity funds took the lead among Equity funds in March.

Over the past decade almost $3 trillion has moved from discretionary stock-picking funds to index-aligned investment strategies, according to TABB Group’s latest research, driven by both U.S. and...

Morningstar finds strong evidence that the two share class approaches are likely to catch on in the ERISA retirement planning industry. 

The first quarter of 2017 brought only light trading from 401(k) plan participants, according to data provided by Aon Hewitt.