
A New Telling of the Story of Persistent Inequality
Walsh Could Be Confirmed Monday, Gensler Vote Less Clear
Sources say there is a good chance Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will be confirmed by the full U.S. Senate Monday afternoon, but they are less sure about the timing of SEC Chair nominee Gary Gensler’s confirmation vote.

$35 Trillion in Retirement Savings Tells a Tale of Two Economies
Retirement plan balances have never been higher, fresh data from the Investment Company Institute shows, yet many millions of Americans are unable to participate in the growth.

Why and How the OCIO Model Is Moving Up Market
Sources say it’s partly due to the growing popularity of ESG investing, but there’s a lot more going on to fuel the trend, from increasing market complexity to the emergence of new regulations.
Some Experts Foresee ‘Supercharged’ Recovery Coming
Sources say 2021 was already coming together as a year of very strong economic growth, and with the passage of an additional $1.9 trillion in fiscal stimulus support, a broad-based recovery could come sooner than later.

Senators Talk GameStop, Meme Stocks, Payment for Order Flow and More
Who gets to define best execution? Is T+1 or T+2 better for market stability? What even is payment for order flow? The Senate Banking Committee tackled all these questions and more at a dynamic Tuesday morning hearing.

SEC Chair Gensler’s Confirmation Hearing Displays Parties’ Priorities
Democrats used Gary Gensler’s confirmation hearing to speak to issues of racial and wealth inequality exacerbated by the pandemic—which has killed more than 500,000 Americans and caused a surge in unemployment—while Republicans focused squarely on the potential of government overreach.
For Pre-Retirees, It’s Always Important to Watch for Bubbles
While there is certainly room for optimism about where the equity and bond markets are heading, experts say it is still crucial to focus on sequence of returns risk for those near and in retirement.
Commitment to Low Rates Eases Stock Bubble Fears (for Many)
Assessing the relationship between interest rates and debatably inflated stock prices is a useful exercise, sources say, especially at a time when stocks are about as ‘expensive’ as they have ever been.

Market Watchers Hope Steadier Leadership Will Propel Growth
Speaking on the day of Joe Biden’s inauguration as the 46th U.S. president, sources say the markets and the economy should benefit from steadier, informed leadership.
Remember to Give the Gift of Rebalancing
As one expert tells PLANADVISER, repositioning portfolios after the recent run-up in risk asset prices could help mitigate future volatility.

Are Your Clients Carrying Uncompensated Risk Into 2021?
Equity Market Records Always Raise Questions
In the same way that significant dips in equity prices cause head scratching and consternation, new market records also present a moment of pause, especially during a pandemic that seems to be worsening once again.

Vaccine Hopes Buoy Markets and Retirement Investors
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.
Another Uneventful Fed Meeting Unfolds
As a highly contentious presidential election plays out in the U.S., the Federal Reserve is working to project a message of stability and consistency to support the markets.
Assessing the Latest Market Jitters
One market watcher says optimism about the end of the coronavirus pandemic drove markets up, but a newly prevailing sense of reality has delivered a commensurate adjustment.

Interest Rates’ ‘New Normal’
Coronavirus Rocks Long-View Capital Market Assumptions
Comparing asset managers’ five-year capital market assumptions published in late 2019 and early 2020 with the newly updated versions being circulated today is an eye-opening exercise that underscores the staggering economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Market Observers Mixed on Where Stocks Go From Here
While the S&P 500 has recovered all its losses from the first quarter plunge, the comeback hasn’t been equal across all sectors. What comes next is anyone's guess.