Blog

Charts of the Week: Consumer Sentiment, Mortgage Rates, and Home Sales

Scott Middleton — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:39:29 +0000

Click here for charts from CalculatedRisk on consumer sentiment, 30-year mortgage rates, and sales of existing homes.

The DOL’s Surprising Answer in Fee Disclosure Guidance

Richard M. Todd — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:14:45 +0000

When reading Field Assistance Bulletin 2012-02, relating to participant fee disclosures, some industry experts are particularly surprised by the Department of Labor’s (DOL) response to Question 30. Question 30 asks whether an investment platform offered by a retirement plan is considered a designated investment alternative when the platform includes many registered mutual funds of multiple fund families to which participants and beneficiaries may direct the investment of assets held in or contributed to their individual accounts. It adds that although the plan fiduciary selected the platform provider, the fiduciary did not designate any of the funds on the platform as “designated investment alternatives” under the plan. Click here for a Plan Sponsor article.

403(b)s Making Cultural Improvement

Richard M. Todd — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:28:07 +0000

Sponsors of 403(b) retirement plans continue to adapt to regulations from the Department of Labor (DOL) and continue to make plan improvements. The latest 403(b) plan sponsor survey from the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA), shows more stability and less uncertainty among 403(b) plan sponsors. Click here for an article from Plan Sponsor.

BlackRock's Weekly Investment Commentary

Douglas Inglee — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:29:21 +0000

Please click here to view BlackRock's investment commentary for the week beginning May 14, 2012.

Charts of the Week: States' Unemployment, Capacity Utilization, and Housing Starts

Scott Middleton — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:36:12 +0000

Click here for this week's charts from Calculated Risk on state-by-state unemployment, capacity utilization, and housing starts.

Is More Banking Regulation Needed?

Scott Middleton — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:59:08 +0000

Click here for Wharton Professor Jeremy Siegel's views on whether J.P. Morgan's $2 billion trading loss calls for further regulation.

BlackRock's Weekly Investment Commentary

Douglas Inglee — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:52:47 +0000

Please click here to view BlackRock's investment commentary for the week beginning May 7, 2012.

Charts of the Week: Small Business Optimism, Unemployment Claims, and Consumer Sentiment

Scott Middleton — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:55:30 +0000

Click here for charts of the week from CalculatedRisk on small business optimism, unemployment claims, and consumer sentiment.

SEC Charges Pension Fiduciaries with Soliciting Gifts

Richard M. Todd — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:10:03 +0000

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged former top Detroit officials in an influence peddling scheme. Former Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick, former city treasurer Jeffrey W. Beasley, and the investment adviser to the city’s public pension funds were charged with being involved in a secret exchange of lavish gifts to peddle influence over the funds’ investment process. Click here for details.

Ohio Looks to Make Major Pension Reforms

Richard M. Todd — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:04:37 +0000

A sweeping overhaul of public employee pensions in Ohio was proposed this week. The bills, one for each public retirement system, would require state workers to work longer before retiring, contribute more to their pensions and accept less generous benefits, reports the Dayton Daily News. Click here for the story.