Products January 2, 2013

Prudential Debuts LIVESTRONG Portfolios

Prudential Retirement added American Century Investments’ line-up of target-date funds to its guaranteed income solution for defined contribution (DC) plans.
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Prudential IncomeFlex Target with LIVESTRONG Portfolios is available immediately. LIVESTRONG Portfolios are diversified, time-based portfolios that automatically adjust as their target goal date approaches—the approximate year investors plan to start withdrawing their money.

The principal value of the investment is not guaranteed at any time, including at the target date. Each target-date portfolio seeks the highest total return consistent with its asset mix. The asset mix and weightings are adjusted annually to be more conservative.

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As the target year approaches, the portfolio generally becomes more conservative by decreasing the investment in stocks, and increasing bonds and money market instruments. By the time each fund reaches its target year, its target asset mix will become fixed and will match that of the LIVESTRONG Income Portfolio.

“Prudential Retirement is pleased to be able to help place more and more American workers on a secure path to and through retirement by increasing the number of target-date fund platforms that can be used to meet their guaranteed lifetime income needs,” said Srinivas Reddy, senior vice president of Prudential Retirement’s institutional income. “These income guarantees combined with the benefits of target-date funds offer investors protection from market downturns and help protect their future retirement income.”

Products January 2, 2013

J.P. Morgan Debuts Investment Blog

A new blog shines a light on the weekly strategy meetings of J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s global fixed-income, currency and commodity group.
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Institutional clients gain direct communication about market and investment views from the group’s global network of portfolio managers and research analysts. Blog posts are drawn directly from the investment team’s weekly strategy meetings, giving readers unusual access to the team’s market dialog and investment discussions.

According to Bob Michele, global chief investment officer for the group, the blog brings the investment conversation and the team’s commentary directly to clients. “In making our thought leadership available in this interactive, dynamic channel, we’re excited about its potential to strengthen our client dialogue,” Michele said.

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Blog posts from the group cover a range of market topics, including the investment implications of global monetary policy, insights on currency moves, fixed-income asset allocation, relative value trading opportunities and fixed-income asset class outlooks. A video library of strategy insights from portfolio managers and client portfolio managers is also available.

Some recent blog posts have included:

  • What’s Next for EMD?, a road map for the first quarter of 2013 by Pierre-Yves Bareau, head of emerging market debt.
  • QE and Helicopter Money by David Tan, head of global rates.
  • Muddle Through—Chinese Style. Stephen Chang, head of Asian fixed income, examines the government response to the slowdown in China’s economy.
  • Opportunity Knocks, a preview of what fixed-income sectors might hold in 2013, by Nick Gartside, international chief investment officer.

The Global Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities blog can be accessed here.  

J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s global fixed-income, currency and commodities team has assets under management of $158 billion as of September 30, 2012.

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