In Practice

Almost half (46%) of middle market plan sponsors who switched providers in 2011 say they did so to upgrade their plan, according to a recent Spectrem Group study.

Employer-sponsored retirement plans continue to shift away from defined benefit (DB) plans toward defined contribution (DC) and Roth 401(k) savings plans, according to SHRM’s 2011 Employee Benefits report.

While innovation is considered to have produced mixed results over the last decade, asset owners have retained an appetite for innovation, as long as specific principles are met.

In the first half of fiscal 2011(1H11), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) settled with 344 defendants, bringing predictions for the full year to 688 settlements, compared with...

In a recent white paper, J.P. Morgan explains that participants want income replacement projections, but don’t know how to translate their 401(k) savings into retirement income. 

Multiple employer plans (MEPs) can provide not only business growth for advisers, but can also help close the coverage gap in America, said Jim Kais, vice president and...

An Allianz Life Insurance Company survey found that by nearly a four to one margin, Boomers remain more attracted to guarantees for their retirement savings over potentially higher...

Cerulli Associates has published a report detailing what can cause high-net worth (HNW) investors to leave their financial adviser.  

The Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America (PSCA) and Boston Research Group have released findings from a survey of non-qualified plans.

As the price of a longevity annuity increases and as longevity risk grows, more initial retirement wealth is needed and the degree of annuitization needs to be increased,...

A Transamerica retirement survey found that the majority (67%) of  unemployed or underemployed respondents are less confident in their ability to achieve a financially secure retirement since the...

A recent report from Financial Research Corporation (FRC) reveals that sub-adviser firms polled say their primary source of manager search information is the manager itself.

Nearly 30% of participants in 401(k) retirement plans at Vanguard are in automatic, professionally managed investment programs, according to Vanguard’s How America Saves 2011.

A Fidelity survey found that advisers who provide comprehensive retirement income planning

Bank of America is hiring advisers to cater specifically to the “Preferred customer” segment of Bank of America’s client base - those with investable assets of $50,000 to...

A nationwide survey found that although the majority of Americans ages 29 to 49 worry about their retirement prospects, many have not yet begun to save or plan...

In a Bank of America (BofA) Merrill Lynch Webcast focused on women and retirement, the idea was broached that women simply need to save more money than men...

A study by Bankrate.com found that only 24% of Americans have a six-month emergency savings cushion, and another 24% have no emergency savings at all.

A Northwestern Mutual survey asked people in what areas do they most frequently set goals; financial goals were more common than family, fitness, or work-related goals. 

A panel of experts at the PLANSPONSOR National Conference this week discussed practical ways to engage and involve retirement plan participants.