Diversions July 28, 2011

You Know You Have a Winning Product When…

Thirty-five percent of respondents in an online consumer survey said they plan to buy Apple’s iPhone 5—even though no details about the smartphone have been released.   
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Rumors are out that the next generation of the iPhone—will make its appearance on shelves this fall. Apparently, that’s all Apple needs to get people pumped up. (And yes, the iPhone 4 was just released last summer.)   

PriceGrabber, an online retailer, surveyed 2,852 U.S. online consumers from July 1–11.  Of the 35% that intend to buy the iPhone 5, 51% said they will buy it within the first year of release, 30% will purchase it before the end of 2011, 14% will buy it within the first month, and 7% will buy it within the first week.

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You may think that by now, iPhones should be cooking meals for people and taking dogs for walks.  Not quite. When it comes to the new features shoppers are hoping for in the iPhone 5, 59% want a better battery life, and 55% would like it to have a smaller price tag. Forty-six percent said that 4G network compatibility was important to them, 45% are hoping for a larger screen, and 42% would like an improved camera.

“Our survey data confirms the strong following Apple has built around its iPhone, with more than one-third of consumers planning to upgrade to the latest model only a little over a year following the release of the iPhone 4,” said Graham Jones, general manager of PriceGrabber. “Anticipation and brand loyalty are certainly high, but in today’s 24-7 work culture and uncertain economic environment, consumers are cautious to look for a reasonably priced phone that will perform optimally over an extended time period.”

 

Products July 27, 2011

MassMutual Enhances Target-Date, Target-Risk Offerings

MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has enhanced its investment offerings in its target date (lifecycle) and lifestyle (risk aware) categories to “better serve retirement plan market needs”.  

 

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According to the announcement, MassMutual has expanded its risk-based Journey series investment options, which were formerly only available as separate investment accounts (“SIAs”) through a group annuity contract, with newly created RetireSMART mutual funds that it says employ the same investment strategy. The new RetireSMART lifestyle series is being offered for the first time as a mutual fund solution for registered plans in addition to the SIAs that MassMutual says have long been available for group annuity contract plans.  

Portfolios within both the target date and lifestyle series utilize a “fund-of-funds” approach that combines mutual funds offered by MassMutual into professionally managed strategies, which consider an investor’s expected retirement date (RetireSMART target date) or an investor’s comfort with risk (RetireSMART lifestyle).  

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According to MassMutual, the new investment offerings, implemented in June, are designed to position MassMutual’s target date and lifestyle funds more competitively and make them available to more retirement investors in a wider range of plans. MassMutual’s portfolio management team for both fund groups remains unchanged.  

As part of the initiative, MassMutual has renamed its Select Destination (target date) and Journey (lifestyle) fund series to capture the brand focus of its overall MassMutual RetireSMART(SM) participant platform. 

“These enhancements give MassMutual an even more compelling and competitively priced offering in a category critical to retirement investors and to our continued strong momentum within the retirement services industry,” noted Eric Wietsma, senior vice president, Investment Services, MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division in announcing the changes. 

A table of the changes can be found on the next page. 

MassMutual notes that their target date options do not reach their most conservative allocation until after their target date, and explains that investors should consider their own personal risk tolerance, circumstances and financial situation. 

 

 

 

Previous Select Destination Retirement  

Fund Target Date Series 

New RetireSMART(SM)  

Target Date Series 

 

Select Destination Retirement Income Fund 

RetireSMART In Retirement Fund 

 

Select Destination Retirement 2010 Fund 

RetireSMART 2010 Fund 

 

Select Destination Retirement 2015 Fund 

RetireSMART 2015 Fund 

 

Select Destination Retirement 2020 Fund 

RetireSMART 2020 Fund 

 

Select Destination Retirement 2025 Fund 

RetireSMART 2025 Fund 

 

Select Destination Retirement 2030 Fund 

RetireSMART 2030 Fund 

 

Select Destination Retirement 2035 Fund 

RetireSMART 2035 Fund 

 

Select Destination Retirement 2040 Fund 

RetireSMART 2040 Fund 

 

Select Destination Retirement 2045 Fund 

RetireSMART 2045 Fund 

 

Select Destination Retirement 2050 Fund 

RetireSMART 2050 Fund 

 

Previous Journey Lifestyle Series 

New RetireSMART Lifestyle Series 

 

Conservative Journey Fund 

RetireSMART Conservative Fund 

 

Moderate Journey Fund 

RetireSMART Moderate Fund 

 

Aggressive Journey Fund 

RetireSMART Moderate Growth Fund 

 

Ultra Aggressive Journey Fund 

RetireSMART Growth Fund 

 

 

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