Investing

At a recent PLANSPONSOR webinar, investment experts reviewed market performances throughout 2021 so far and key rules for plan sponsors to follow with investment lineups.

They tend to sell off during downturns, but, researchers say, if they remain invested even for a few years, they can recoup their losses due to the funds’...

With PBGC dictating interest rate assumptions and permissible investments, there are steps plan sponsors should take to make the relief work as intended.

Experts anticipate a rise in sustainable investments following the Thrift Saving’s Plan decision to add ESG funds to its lineup in 2022.

The Pension Research Council recommends that pension plan sponsors develop processes to identify, measure and manage environmental, social and governance-related downside risks.

The agency identified how retirement plans for public and private-sector employees in other countries are already assessing their risk.

Panelists discussed what fiduciaries should consider when rounding out their investment selections and how to determine whether the investment fees their participants are paying are reasonable.

A PSNC session explored participant demand for retirement income, the types of guaranteed solutions available and a process for evaluation and implementation. 

The time is now for retirement plans to view their participants as investors deserving high-touch, personalized retirement income assistance.

They can reduce volatility and provide higher returns than other assets, and cash flow needs can be still be managed while using these generally illiquid investments.

Experts discussed how a rise in health care digitalization and increased consumer demand for sustainability could lead to new opportunities.

Asset managers say applying ESG screens to fixed income opportunities offers another prism of assessing risk.

Data uncovers motivations for considering environmental, social and governance factors in investments, as well as which factors investors are more concerned about.

As desire for sustainable investments increases, retirement plan sponsors are still cautious about offering ESG funds while regulatory guidance is stalled.

Speakers during a Broadridge webinar discussed steps to evaluate the instruments, as well as what elements plan sponsors should consider.