Hot Off the Presses

Sponsor and Participant Tools 

Schwab Retirement Plan Services Inc. launched a 401(k) plan solution called Schwab Index Advantage. This 401(k) plan offer is designed to lower costs, simplify investing and help workers better prepare for retirement. 

The Principal Financial Group expanded its investment fiduciary support to include ERISA 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services. The new services will enhance support by providing a level of fiduciary protection for selection and monitoring of investment options for retirement plans.

The 403(b) Transparency Taskforce—the National Education Association (NEA), the National Tax Sheltered Accounts Association (NTSAA) and The American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA)—launched the 403(b) Model Disclosure Form—transparency standards for disclosure of fees and services in the public school 403(b) marketplace. The form provides school district staff a simple, uniform tool to make comparisons among their 403(b) retirement plan investment options.

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) launched ETF Fact or Fiction, a website that provides individual investors with a resource for exchange-traded fund (ETF) education. It is designed to help investors better understand what SSgA says is one of the fastest-growing investment vehicles.

USI Consulting Group launched guaranteed lifetime retirement income solutions through Highland Capital Brokerage Inc. The addition of USI Annuity retirement income solutions helps plan participants improve their retirement income planning by providing a rollover solution for participants who aren’t sure how to choose income annuity options or determine their retirement income needs on their own.

The Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) introduced a new website and education opportunities for members. The new PSCA educational programs include PSCA’s Online ERISA Fiduciary Training Program, The Hueler Income Solutions Platform and a focus on the 403(b) community.

Great-West Retirement Services enhanced its websites for plan sponsor clients, advisers and third-party administrator (TPA) partners. Some of the enhancements include participant search capabilities on every screen, daily balance summaries updated after each market close and the ability to submit bank account information online.

ING’s U.S. Retirement division launched the ING Lifetime Income Protection Program, which will help 401(k) plan participants convert their savings over time into guaranteed income that lasts throughout retirement.

CPI Qualified Plan Consultants released its rebranded website at cpiqpc.com. The redesigned site is better adapted to internet trends, including the increased usage of mobile devices. It has improved navigational features, layout, presentation and functionality.

A report from Broadridge Financial Solutions provides insights designed to help firms successfully navigate the new fee disclosure regulation being implemented by the Department of Labor.

Adviser Tools  

Dalbar introduced a Fee Disclosure Certification program for the evaluation of plan provider services, that it says values the intangibles of services, provides an independent evaluation to plan sponsors and creates a critical role for advisers and third-party administrators (TPAs). Service providers with successful plans, high-quality service and active investment management are evaluated on these factors, not just the cost of the offering.

Pershing Advisor Solutions developed a new guidebook called Developing a Sustainable Business and Succession Plan: An Independent Advisor’s Guide. The guidebook examines the critical elements of business and succession plans.

Paychex Inc. launched Paychex Advisor Select 401(k) for fee-based financial advisers. Paychex Advisor Select 401(k) provides online account administration for employer-plan sponsors and their employee-plan participants.

Independent registered investment advisers (RIAs) have access to a series of new technology assessment tools, educational content and coaching programs from TD Ameritrade Institutional.

The 12th edition of the “401k Averages Book” is available for $95 at www.401ksource.com. Advisers may purchase an annual individual license, which allows them to use the data in their client reports.

New York Life partnered with Anova for a benchmarking service called Consensus, to help retirement plan advisers gauge client satisfaction.

FiPath for Advisors, an online marketing solution for financial advisers, is partnering with Arkovi, a financial services social media solution for archiving, compliance and market intelligence. The partnership enables FiPath to integrate social media archiving capabilities into its online platform.

Investments  

Aria Retirement Solutions launched the first of its series of RetireOne guaranteed income solutions. These solutions serve independent registered investment advisers (RIAs) operating fee-only practices to retain and actively manage investments on behalf of their clients.

Brown Advisory added a new mutual fund called the Brown Advisory Equity Income Fund. The fund is focused on delivering income and dividend growth through investments in high-quality companies.

Robeco Investment Management launched two mutual funds. The Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund (BPGRX) and the Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund (BPQRX) are based on similar strategies that Boston Partners has offered to institutional investors: Global Equity since 2005 and International Equity since 2007.

Granite Investment Advisors introduced The Granite Value Fund, an actively managed equity value fund. The fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in equity securities of approximately 40 companies that the adviser thinks are undervalued.

Ariel Investments launched two all-cap no-load mutual funds. The Ariel International Equity Fund will invest in companies outside the U.S. in developed markets, and the Ariel Global Equity Fund will invest in companies both within and outside the U.S., including developed and emerging markets. 

Allianz Global Investors Capital (AGIC) is offering investors managed volatility investment strategies designed to lower expected portfolio risk while achieving above-benchmark returns. The AGIC systematic portfolio management team applies a quantitative approach to structuring Global Managed Volatility and U.S. Large-Cap Managed Volatility portfolios.

Vanguard launched the Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Fund. The fund will provide age-appropriate exposure to domestic and international stocks, as well as domestic bonds, for investors who plan to retire and leave the workforce in or within a few years of 2060 or are roughly 18 to 20 years old.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America launched the Allianz 365i Annuity and Income Maximizer Rider, an FIA with optional rider that is exclusive to Field Marketing Organizations and agents associated with the Allianz Preferred distribution model.