Products August 15, 2012

Schwab Adds Value Line Asset Allocation to OneSource Select List

 

The Value Line Asset Allocation Fund (VLAAX) has been added to the Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource Select List.

 

 

Reported by

The fund uses a model that compares stock values and interest rates, allocating more to stocks when valuations and rates are low, and less when they are high, according to Stephen Grant, the fund’s manager. “However, our stock selections have impacted performance more than asset allocation. We use a momentum strategy that looks at investor psychology and selects those stocks where investor sentiment is improving,” Grant said.

Investors are interested in a fund that can shift assets back and forth among stocks, bonds and cash to seek better opportunities or manage risk as market conditions warrant, said Tom Sarkany, marketing director for Value Line Funds. Value Line President Mitchell Appel calls the vehicle an aggressive allocation fund.  

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As of June 30, the fund held 73% in stocks, 23% in bonds and 4% in cash. The fund is one of seven asset-allocation funds among Schwab’s 23 third-party funds in the Additional Fund Categories section.

Investments can be made in the fund for a minimum of $1,000; there is no load and no transaction fees. More information is available here.  

Deals & People August 15, 2012

MassMutual Retirement Names New Sales Director

Christopher Stout was added as a Southeast sales director for MassMutual Retirement Services.
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Stout is responsible for business development and sales support of MassMutual’s third-party and dedicated distribution channels focusing on retirement plans in the small-plan market. Stout is in Canton, Georgia, and is partnering with MassMutual Managing Director Jeffrey Keller, covering Georgia and Alabama. Stout reports to Shefali Desai, emerging market sales manager for the division.

Before joining MassMutual, Stout served nearly three years as regional vice president of retirement plan sales with Guardian Insurance Company of America. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stockton State College.

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“The Southeast territory continues to grow aggressively, and MassMutual is committed to supporting our distribution network with knowledgeable, service-oriented individuals like Chris,” Desai said. “With MassMutual, retirement plans in the small-plan market have the opportunity to leverage services that many other providers don’t offer. Chris’s expertise will be a great asset to retirement plan advisors and third-party administrators.”

 

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