Has the DOL Found an ESG Middle Ground?
George Michael Gerstein, an ERISA attorney with Stradley Ronon, dissects the DOL’s final rule regarding ESG investing in retirement plans,...
Tag: ESG
What Biden’s Win Means for Retirement Plans
Experts say the president-elect could start the process of shoring up Social Security and embrace ESG investing.
Investment Product and Service Launches
Northern Trust updates investor portal for alt asset managers, SSGA introduces corporate bond ESG ETF, and Mercer launches climate transition...
Investing Leaders Look Ahead to a Biden Presidency
With the Democratic nominee leading polls over the past several months, investors have had ample time to consider the potential impacts of a Biden administration, sources say.
DOL’s Final ESG Rule Appears Slightly Softer Than Proposal
The final version of the regulation emphasizes the importance of using only ‘pecuniary’ factors in the assessment of investment options within tax-qualified retirement plans, rather than expressly limiting...
Further Stimulus Said to Be Already Priced into the Markets
The failure to pass a second fiscal stimulus package is causing volatility, experts said, adding to the normal pre-election jitters.
Investment Product and Service Launches
J.P. Morgan designs core menu evaluation tool; FTSE Russell launches enhanced Green Revenue Data Model; Franklin Templeton presents goals optimization...
Investors Expect Advisers to Connect Their Financial Plan to Their Values
Research finds that if this goal is met, advisers’ share of wallet increases.
Compliance News
Legislative and Judicial Actions
IRS updates its operational compliance list, DOL releases new proposed fiduciary rule, and more.
Data Points
The Virtue in ESG Factors
These investing strategies reveal a rare source of rapid growth.
More Employers Including ESG Investments in Executive Compensation, Retirement Programs
Surveys find plan sponsors and participants have a growing interest in environmental, social and governance issues.
DOL’s ESG Restrictions Prompt Retirement Industry Head Scratching
Broad based demand is building among U.S. retirement plan investors for access to environmentally and socially responsible investments, leaving industry...
Democratic Senators Challenge DOL’s Proposed ESG Restrictions
The lawmakers say environmental, social and governance-focused investing allows retirement savers to support long-term change by building a system that rewards and values inclusion and diversity in corporate...
Despite DOL’s Proposed Tightening, ESG Can Still Shine
It is not all doom and gloom for plan sponsors and participants who want these investments. Here’s what advisers should...
DOL Proposes Stricter Rules About ESG Investing in Retirement Plans
Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia says employer-sponsored plans ‘are not vehicles for furthering social goals or policy objectives.’
New ESG Regulation Expected Soon from DOL
Despite the frequent publication of regulatory guidance—or perhaps because of it—there remains a lot of confusion about how retirement plan fiduciaries should think about environmental and social justice...
Why It’s Hard to Build ESG Consensus
A big part of the challenge is that everyone’s view of exactly what constitutes social and environmental responsibility is different.
Investment Product and Service Launches
Northern Trust offers ESG analytics solution; Innovator announces May series of Defined Outcome ETFs; Capital Group launches fund invested in...
Some Comforting Lessons for Retirement Plan Investors
Data from leading retirement plan recordkeepers shows 401(k) and IRA accounts have seen smaller losses than many broad market indices, thanks in no small part to the efforts...
Bear Markets, Pandemics and ESG Portfolios
Investment managers say evidence is already mounting to show an outperformance of ESG-themed portfolios during the coronavirus pandemic. Might that help their popularity in the U.S.?