New Book Encourages Investors to Join The “Index Revolution”
Charley Ellis’ new book “The Index Revolution: Why Investors Should Join It Now” discusses how the investment landscape has changed and how investors are better served with passive, indexed strategies than active management. A few stats investors should consider: Trading volume on the New York Stock Exchange increased from three million to five billion shares […]
MassMutual will pay $31M for 401(k) lawsuit
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. will pay nearly $31 million to settle a lawsuit claiming that it mismanaged its 401(k) plan, according to recently filed court documents ( Gordan v. Mass. Mutual Life Ins. Co. , D. Mass., No. 3:13-cv-30184, motion for preliminary settlement approval filed 6/15/16 ). The lawsuit, filed in 2013 by a […]
DC Plans Slow to Adopt Liquid Alts…But Why?
A recent article on Wealth Management.com titled “Liquid Alts in DC Plans? Don’t Hold Your Breath” discusses the relatively slow adoption of Liquid Alts by defined contribution (DC) Plans relative to what Defined Benefit Plans (DB) have done. The arguments for liquid alts, as the article presents, include managing return and risk management, managing volatility, […]
Skill Sets for Students Seeking Careers as a Financial Adviser
College graduates looking for a career in financial planning or for an investment adviser would do well to focus on taking courses and building a skill set that extends beyond investments or analytical skills. Certainly a passion for investments and the financial markets is something just about everyone that enters this business possesses. But that’s […]
Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged This Week
This week saw one of the more widely anticipated Fed announcements in recent years as investors looked to see if the “zero” interest rate environment would begin to be put behind us. As was widely publicized yesterday, the Fed elected to do nothing based upon concerns of an economic global slowdown. First Trust’s economic team […]
Comments on Recent Equity Market Volatility
Bob Doll’s comments on recent equity market volatility share many of our same viewpoints: Possible reasons for recent market decline: Multi-month decline in earnings Widening credit spreads Economic weakness from China/devaluation of the Yuan Slowing growth and commodity price weakness (deflation fears) Fed Policy uncertainty Market technicals Investor nervousness, skepticism, and uncertainty Near term thoughts- […]
3 Things Every Plan Committee Member Should Know
1. You are an ERISA fiduciary 2. As an ERISA fiduciary, your liability is personal 3. You are responsible for the actions of other plan fiduciaries. Your responsibilities are to act solely in the interest of plan participants. Following plan documents, diversifying investments to minimize the risk of large losses, and ensuring the plan’s expenses […]
ETF Model SolutionsTM Named Finalist for Wisconsin Innovation Awards
Appleton, WI. August 13, 2015. APPLETON, Wis.—ETF Model SolutionsTM and its affiliate, Endowment Wealth ManagementTM have been named finalists for the Wisconsin Innovation Awards based on their development of the Endowment IndexTM(symbol: ENDOW) and related index-based investment strategies. The Endowment IndexTM calculated by Nasdaq OMX® has created national awareness, assisted in the development of new strategic partnerships, attracted investors in the […]
“What’s In My Target Date Fund?” Isn’t The Only Question That Needs To Be Asked About TDFs
Given the large amounts of money flowing into target date funds, more effort by plan sponsors and participants should be devoted to understanding the methodology that the managers of the funds are using to manage the “glide path” of the fund. The reason that TDFs are so popular is because of the belief that these […]
Largest University Endowments Afford Their Schools Competitive Advantage
A recent article by CNBC economics reporter John W. Schoen provides an in-depth look into reasons behind the rising cost of higher education in the U.S. It’s a complicated issue, with many moving parts. The after-effects of the 2008 recession, expanding student services, required budgetary expansion in state budgets, such as pensions, healthcare and Medicaid, […]
