
401(k) Investors Display Poise as the Market Struggles
Investors limit reactionary trades despite equity markets posting their worst month in two years.
Big Market Swings Always Raise Big Questions
April was a hard month for the markets, and the beginning of May has been even more brutal, but investment experts still see room for tempered optimism about the remainder of the year.

Welcome to the Rising Rate Environment

401(k) Trading High in the First Quarter
The first quarter was busy for investors despite March’s market rally.

401(k) Index Underscores Investor Jitters
Facing some jarring geopolitical events, 401(k) investors reacted with above-normal trading activity during February.

401(k) Trades Reach Highest Levels in a Year
On average, 0.017% of balances were traded daily in January despite the backdrop of a volatile stock market, according to Alight Solutions.
Useful Advice as Rates Rise and Markets Move
With markets off to a choppy start in 2022 and rate hikes on the horizon, inflation is top of mind for many investors, as demonstrated by a D.A. Davidson survey.

The Art of Building TDF Glide-Paths Amid Market Disruption
One of the key lessons to remember in multi-asset investing is that there is no free lunch, and those who benefit from taking the most risk are likely to feel the most pain when market conditions sour.
Booming Markets Not Prompting Many 401(k) Trades
On average, just 0.01% of balances were traded daily in December, which is in line with the monthly average for the past year, according to Alight Solutions.

Learned Lessons and Market Musings From CIO Bob Doll
Basic Market Lessons Reinforced by 2021
Among the takeaways one investment expert has from the year is that structural forces have a large influence on interest rates and may keep them relatively low despite the efforts of policymakers.
401(k) Traders Sat Still During a Tough November
Two-thirds of days during the month saw net trading activity favor equity funds over fixed income, according to the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index.
Institutional Investors Remain Confident Despite Renewed Volatility
They see plenty of growth potential in a market they say is driven and distorted by fiscal and monetary policies—a situation which could spell trouble for unprepared individual investors.
Self-Directed Investors Favor Equities, Especially Tech Stocks
Despite substantial market volatility, third-quarter trading volumes in self-directed brokerage accounts brokered by Charles Schwab were similar to those seen a year ago.
J.P. Morgan: Doing Well and Doing Good Are Compatible
Historically, investors tended to consider ESG factors either to increase risk-adjusted returns (doing well) or to achieve sustainable outcomes (doing good). A new analysis suggests there is no meaningful trade-off between the two when investing in public markets.
Market Watchers Focus on Inflation
Some capital markets experts say the ‘transitory message’ on inflation from the U.S. Federal Reserve is beginning to overstay its welcome.
Inflation Fears Ease (for Some) Amid a Murkier Market Outlook
As some investment analysts argue inflation has peaked, and that it should soon return to an average annual rate in line with recent history, others are focused on the effects of growing wage pressure and the competition for labor.
Investing Aggressively Doesn’t Match Saving Consistently
Results of a new analysis published by Dimensional Fund Advisors suggest that embracing higher equity exposures prior to and during retirement is an inadequate tool to manage longevity risk.

Average 401(k) Equity Allocation Surpasses 70%
The latest update of the Alight Solutions 401(k) Index shows the average asset allocation to equities rose in June to the highest level in 20 years. The index shows investors were content to watch their balances rise, as there were no days of above-normal trading activity. Average net trading activity was 0.009% of 401(k) balances, down from 0.011% in May.
A Markedly Positive Mid-Year Market Check-In
Millions of jobs have returned as the country has reopened, thanks to the positive impact of the COVID-19 vaccination program, but as the U.S. enters the second half of the year, sources say some ‘problems of success’ have emerged.