September 2023

Messaging on ESG strategies becoming critical, money managers say

Amid a continuing political backlash against the use of ESG in asset management — both as a term and as a part of the investment process itself — global money managers are taking action to fine-tune the language used in their messaging and engagement with clients and prospects. But it's not just in the U.S. where some money managers said they are thinking carefully about how they label their processes. Increased regulation in Europe has also put a spotlight on...

The Future of Retirement: Predictions and Trends

Traditionally, retirement has been viewed as a time for relaxing, enjoying the fruits of your labor, and taking a break from work. It is likely, however, that retirement will look very different in the future. Here, we will analyze some of the trends shaping retirement’s future. In addition, we will offer some predictions about the future of retirement. 1. The retirement savings gap is widening. Future retirees face a growing retirement savings gap as one of their biggest challenges. Based on Census...

US. Fed holds interest rates steady

Federal Reserve officials on Sept. 20 held interest rates steady and signaled one more rate increase this year as the central bank continues its quest to tamp down inflation without overcooling the economy. The Federal Open Market Committee left the federal funds rate unchanged at a range of 5.25% to 5.5% following its two-day meeting. The committee in recent months has alternated between hikes and pauses — it approved a quarter-point increase at its last meeting in July but did...

US. Retirement plan derailed: 40% forced to stop working earlier than expected

However carefully you may plan for your retirement, the actual event might still catch you off guard. Financial advisers across the industry report that 40% of their retired clients were forced into retirement, according to a recent survey by Edward Jones. And 97% of the financial advisers surveyed agreed with the statement that retirement involved more surprises and challenges than their clients expected. The biggest financial shocks for retirees were cost-of-living increases (29%), having to provide financial assistance for family or...

U.S. falls to 20th in Natixis retirement security index; Norway retains top spot

The U.S. now ranks 20th globally for retirement security, according to Natixis Investment Managers' 2023 Global Retirement index, dropping two spots from last year, due to such factors as high inflation, steep public debt and a sharp decline in U.S. health scores. These factors offset improvements in employment and income inequality, lowering the U.S. on a relative basis in the 44-country index, said a Sept. 13 news release. Natixis IM created the index in collaboration with Core Data Research and focuses...

Mobile Apps Emerge as a Critical Tool for Retirement Plan Providers

Amid ongoing market volatility, it’s little wonder that plan participants are keeping a close eye on their retirement account balances, and they increasingly are doing so via mobile apps. As a result, mobile apps have taken center stage as critical tool for retirement investors, according to J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Retirement Plan Digital Experience Study released Sept. 14. And while improved market performance has helped lift overall satisfaction with retirement plan digital tools, for firms that want to differentiate and increase customer...

US. Fox Sued by New York City Pension Funds Over Election Falsehoods

New York City’s pension funds sued the Fox Corporation and its board on Tuesday, accusing the company of neglecting its duty to shareholders by opening itself up to defamation lawsuits from the persistent broadcasting of falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election. The lawsuit, filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, is the most significant shareholder action since Fox settled a blockbuster defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems in April for $787.5 million. The city’s five pension funds represent nearly...

US Corporate Pension Funding Levels Dropped in August

US. corporate pension funding levels fell last month, matching a drop in global equities, according to analysts.The August report from LGIM America’s Pension Solutions Monitor estimated that the average U.S. corporate funding ratio decreased to 103.6% through August from 104.9% at the end of July.Global equities declined 2.8%, with the S&P 500 decreasing 1.6%. Portfolios in plans with a 50/50 allocation declined 2.5%, while liabilities declined 1.4%. The decrease in assets outpaced the decline in liabilities, leading to lower...

New Report Finds Public Pensions Play a Critical Role in Delivering Retirement Security for Older Americans While Reducing Wealth Inequality by Race and Gender

A new report finds that defined benefit pensions play a critical role in delivering adequate retirement income for older Americans while providing a key buffer against economic hardship for women, Blacks, Latinos, and those without a four-year college degree. The report also finds that the wealth value of lifetime pension income, particularly from public pensions, is distributed more equitably by race and gender than other private financial assets, thereby narrowing the wealth gap among older families. For example, public...

US. Traditional pension plans are pretty rare. But here’s who still has them and how they work

The phrase “pension benefits” may come up a lot in the next several days as negotiations between the United Auto Workers union and the Big Three automakers go down to the wire to avert a strike. But for most private-sector US workers, pensions disappeared long ago. In a traditional pension, employers contribute, invest and manage retirement funds for their workers, who then receive guaranteed monthly checks for life after they retire. But over the past several decades, employers have either...