Though TDF assets grew 20% in 2012, according to a joint report from Brightscope and TD Analytics, the net number of TDFs dropped from 50 to 48, a first since the rating agencies started covering... Read More
Advertisement
Target Date Funds
BY Fred Barstein | 7/5/2013
As more assets flow into TDFs, analysis of how they are created is becoming essential to advisors and plan sponsors. There are numerous tools available from firms like Allianz, Pimco and JP Morgan to... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 7/2/2013
Morningstar has released a comprehensive and far-reaching review and analysis of the TDF market that includes results from Q1 2013. Some of the findings are not surprising, including the continued... Read More
BY John Ortman | 6/27/2013
Citing TDFs’ benefits to participants and the safe harbor protection offered to fiduciaries under the QDIA rules, Fred Reish and Bruce Ashton of Drinker Biddle advise plan fiduciaries to add TDFs to... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 6/26/2013
Though TDF assets grew 20% in 2012, the net number of TDFs dropped from 50 to 48, according to a 200-page report from Brightscope and TD Analytics. This marked the first drop in that number since the... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 6/19/2013
In a panel of TDF providers at the 401konvergence conference in New York this week, managers from JP Morgan, MFS and Franklin Templeton were asked to opine about the next generation of QDIAs. When... Read More
BY John Ortman | 6/10/2013
While re-enrollment programs have (of necessity) been around more or less since the invention of participant choice, a new BNY Mellon white paper points out, the first really massive wave of re-... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 5/16/2013
Even with the exponential growth and popularity of TDFs — and maybe because of it — columnist Ronald l. Delegge cautions advisors about the dangers in a recent article on AdvisorOne. Delegge’s... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 5/15/2013
TDFs continue to break records, with an estimated $518 billion in AUM, according to a report from Morningstar’s Ibbotson. The $23 billion in Q1 2013 was a 44% increase from the previous record of $16... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/29/2013
Could a rise in interest rates create a problem for short term TDFs? With many TDFs moving to bonds for safety as their target dates approach, they’re vulnerable to losses if interest rates rise and... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 4/16/2013
A recent research report from Vanguard breaks down the growth trend for target date funds and their impact on DC plan investment strategies. In 2012, the report found, 27% of Vanguard participants... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/11/2013
Claiming that TDFs are the biggest prospecting opportunity in today’s DC market, Glenn Dial, head of Allianz’s DCIO team, highlighted questions plan advisors should be asking when evaluating TDFs at... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 3/29/2013
Target date funds continue to grow in popularity as QDIAs and as part of a lineup of designated investments offered to participants. After the financial problems of 2008, the DOL and the SEC became... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 3/14/2013
According to the Callan DC Index, asset flows into TDFs dominated last year, at the expense of large, small and mid-cap equity funds and company stock. The equally weighted index, based on 79 plans... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 3/11/2013
At a breakout session at the NAPA/ASPPA 401(k) Summit in Las Vegas last week, industry experts discussed whether it’s more prudent to select the TDF before the record keeper. With more TDFs being... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 3/5/2013
In a relatively far-reaching report, the DOL issued a briefing that outlines steps plan sponsors should take when considering and monitoring TDFs. The most interesting one is their recommendation... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 2/22/2013
Russell Investments recently announced “Adaptive Retirement Accounts,” which it heralded as the next generation of TDFs. Using data available from record keepers, Russell designs customized... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 2/19/2013
Target date funds continue to grow in popularity, both as QDIAs and as designated investments for participants to choose. After the financial problems of 2008, the DOL and the SEC became concerned... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 2/15/2013
By John M. Miller, CFA Use of “passively” managed target date funds in 401(k) plans is on the rise. Why is this? Most would suggest that the primary driver is lower fees. I tend to agree. However,... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 2/11/2013
Asset flows into TDFs showed no sign of slowing down in the fourth quarter of last year, as AUM reached new highs of $485 billion — a 29% increase over the previous year — according to a report by... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 1/25/2013
While the Wall Street Journal took a shot at TDFs this week, especially regarding the 2015 funds, Morningstar has a contrary view, noting that overall the category performed well — even the 2015... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 1/23/2013
With all their popularity — which only seems to be growing — there are a lot of critics of the current crop of target date funds, as evidenced by a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. While... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 1/9/2013
Editor’s Note: This is the latest in a series of posts by speakers at the 2013 NAPA/ASPPA Summit, March 3-5, 2013 in Las Vegas. Richard A. Weiss of American Century discusses reevaluating existing... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 12/31/2012
Fred Reish, Drinker Biddle’s resident ERISA expert, provides an investment policy guide to plan fiduciaries when selecting and monitoring TDFs. Though TDFs are similar in nature to other plan... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 12/3/2012
You can never underestimate the irrationality of participants. Assuming that they will act in their best interests – or even act at all – can lead to bad decisions about TDFs. Based on research... Read More
Recent Comments