Products June 15, 2010

MetLife Enhances Enrollment Materials

MetLife has intrduced its online Open Enrollment Toolbox.
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The company said in a news release that the product is designed to help employers engage their workforce during open enrollment, implement new strategies, and optimize the value of their group benefits programs.

“Benefits programs can be a key differentiator for employers–especially during a down economy when employees are looking to the workplace for help in mitigating their financial exposure,” said Ronald Leopold, vice president, U.S. Business, MetLife.

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MetLife said it worked with Benz Communications, a benefits communication firm, to create new resources in the Open Enrollment Toolbox, including guides for employers and brokers on how to simplify benefits, ways to make enrollment more effective, trends to watch, and how to get started with social media.

The new offering includes a podcast series on improving open enrollment experience, including programs about:

  • Benefits communication: Leopold and Jennifer Benz, CEO of Benz Communications, discuss the business value of having an effective benefits communications strategy and provide suggestions for improving employee benefits communications.
  • Tips for maximizing employee participation and engagement: Todd Katz, executive vice president, U.S. Business for MetLife, discusses a few strategic steps employers can take now with respect to benefits to make a significant impact on their upcoming open enrollment period.
  • Utilizing wellness programs: Leopold discusses comparatively inexpensive and easily implemented health and wellness programs that can encourage a healthier, more productive workforce.

More information is here.

The Markets June 15, 2010

April Fund Flows Total $126B

Investors pumped $126 billion into equity/mixed, bond, and other long-term mutual funds in April on a net basis.
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This marked the third month of $100+ billion inflows in 2010, according to data from Strategic Insight (SI), an Asset International company.

According to the SI data, the total long-term fund flows for the month included $59 billion into U.S. funds, $35 billion in International/Offshore funds, $12 billion for Europe local funds, and $18 billion in Asia funds.

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Fixed income products still dominated long-term flows with $78 billion for the month, including $29 billion into U.S. funds, $23 billion into International/Offshore, $4 billion into Europe local, and $23 billion into Asia funds.

In addition to the April fixed income fund flows, equity funds saw a net $28 billion inflow, mixed funds got $11 billion, and other funds got $9 billion, according to SI.

Long-term funds in the U.S. enjoyed a net $31 billion inflow, SI said.

This represented the highest monthly volume since October 2007, as signs of economic improvement in the U.S. whetted investors’ risk appetites. However, recent concerns over European sovereign debt could put downside pressure on equity fund flows globally as well as bond fund flows in Europe in the coming months, according to SI.

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