The Markets

Long-term mutual funds recorded their smallest monthly intake year to date in May, with $14.1 billion in new assets.  

A simplified retirement plan menu is best for plan participants and sponsors, panelists at the 2012 PLANSPONSOR National Conference agreed.

Retirement plan participants need investment advice, and from the right place, according to panelists at the 2012 PLANSPONSOR National Conference.

Investors put $14 billion in net inflows into stock and bond mutual funds in the U.S. in May.

U.S. exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw roughly $2 billion in net inflows in May.

Exchange-traded fund (ETF) assets decreased $67.4 billion, or 5.7%, in May.

“We stand at a crossroads in the [retirement plan] industry,” said David Musto, chief executive at J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services.

The term “retirement readiness” is all the buzz, but what does it really mean for plan participants?

Five years after passage of 403(b) plan regulations, sponsors are now looking beyond the 403(b) quick fix.

The Callan DC Index enjoyed a strong first quarter in 2012, returning 8.7%.

At the 2012 PLANSPONSOR National Conference, plan sponsor panelists shared their retirement plan success tactics, such as mandatory enrollment meetings and personalized communication.  

Total 529 college savings plan assets were an estimated $158.3 billion in Q1 2012, according to data from Financial Research Corporation (FRC), a division of Strategic Insight.

At a presentation about global investing in volatile times, Neuberger Berman portfolio managers offered insights about big pension plans, industry trends and markets around the world.

Targeted communication and easy enrollment mailers could improve defined contribution (DC) plan participant outcomes.

Small changes to a company’s 401(k) plan—including decreasing the eligibility waiting period or increasing the match—could encourage employees to set the bar higher.

Pension plan funding gains in the first quarter were wiped out in April and May, according to a report from Mercer. 

 Stable value funds continued to significantly outperform money market funds, according to a survey from the Stable Value Investment Association (SVIA).   

The institutional investor mindset toward real assets is shifting significantly, according to research.

 Financial advisers and institutional investors continue to use alternative investments, but the growth of their use has begun to slow. 

Institutional investors are increasingly turning to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for a variety of fund management practices.