Mutual Funds Enjoy Big Comeback in April

Assets in U.S. mutual funds got a 2.9% boost in April to $12.1 trillion, according to the latest Investment Company Institute (ICI) data.

Long-term funds—stock, bond, and hybrid funds—had a net inflow of $31.3 billion in April compared with a March outflow of $449 million, according to an ICI press release.

According to ICI, stock funds enjoyed a $12.2-billion asset infusion in April, compared with an outflow of $9.43 billion in March. Among stock funds, world equity funds (U.S. funds that invest primarily overseas) posted an inflow of $5.99 billion for the month, while funds that invest primarily in the U.S. had an inflow of $6.22 billion.

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Hybrid funds posted an inflow of $2.31 billion in April, compared with an inflow of $193 million in March.

Bond funds had a $16.7-billion April inflow compared to an inflow of $8.78 billion in March. Taxable bond funds had an inflow of $13.3 billion, while municipal bond funds had an inflow of $3.45 billion.

The losers in April were money market funds, which posted an outflow of $47.8 billion, compared with an inflow of $56.6 billion in March. Funds offered primarily to institutions had an outflow of $14.2 billion, and funds offered primarily to individuals had an outflow of $33.6 billion.

The ICI data is available here.

Lincoln Puts Out 403(b) Service Suite

Lincoln National Corp. unveiled a suite of services designed to help 403(b) sponsors comply with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations.

A Lincoln press release said its 403(b)e SURE offering is also aimed at helping sponsors simplify their plan administration. According to the release, the service includes representatives specializing in disciplines such as law, compliance, and account management.

The offering provides plan document services, including a sample document for non-ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) plans and custom document services for ERISA plans. The Lincoln Unifier Service is included in the offering to help employers meet the administrative burden of bringing their plan into compliance.

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The release said the service also includes Lincoln LifeSpan, a participant learning program that offers customized tools and materials designed to help employees build their investment skills.

“While the new 403(b) regulations increase employer responsibility, the Lincoln 403(b)e SURE Advantage solution can ease their burden by providing a streamlined, simplified solution, ” said Wes Thompson, president of Lincoln Employer Markets, in the release. “Lincoln’s suite of services enable employers to meet the new administrative requirements while allowing their participants to reach a more secure retirement.”

More information is available at http://www.LincolnFinancial.com.

See New 403(b) rules may offer opportunities for advisers to have “a client touch’.

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