Using annual return data for large-capitalization stocks and corporate bonds from 1926 through 2011, researchers from Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research studied the distribution of historic returns and then used that distribution to determine optimal consumption and portfolio asset... READ MORE

While most DC plan participants are passive investors interested in pre-diversified products like target-date funds and managed accounts, there’s a second, smaller group of more sophisticated investors who want to take an active role in diversifying their portfolios.These “diversify it yourself”... READ MORE

Who are America's fastest-growing class of millionaires? Police officers, firefighters and teachers, Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard noted recently. Doubt it? Then ask yourself: What is the net present value of an $80,000 annual pension payout with additional full health benefits? Working backward... READ MORE

The IRS recently announced the new tax withholding tables resulting from the American Taxpayer Relief Act, a.k.a the fiscal cliff legislation. Employers should begin withholding Social Security tax at the rate of 6.2% percent following the expiration of the temporary two-percentage-point payroll... READ MORE

Are employer-sponsored Health Savings Accounts the new “401(k) plans for health care”? According to a Fox Business report they may well be. Money going in and out of HSAs — if spent on medical expenses — is tax free and grows tax free. And unlike health flexible spending accounts, unspent funds... READ MORE

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Gardner & White, an employee benefits consultant based in Indianapolis specializing in the health care industry. Last week Gallagher announced two other acquisitions, including Michigan-based Eriksen Group and Minnesota-based Unisom.... READ MORE

The Wall Street Journal picked its 2012 winners and losers after a year that showed steady gains with low volatility amid worries and uncertainty like the fiscal cliff, European debt and China’s slowing growth. The S&P (counting dividends) was up 15%, the DJIA 6%, NASDAQ almost 14% and junk... READ MORE

Just two weeks after it was started, the NAPA LinkedIn group has grown to more than 500 retirement plan professionals — many of whom are participating actively in discussion threads. As of today, for example, there were 22 posts in a wide-ranging discussion sparked by a commentary about the pending... READ MORE

This may be news only to the president and Congress, but not only do American workers think the government should take steps to enhance tax incentives for retirement plans like 401(k)s, but most don’t expect to rely on Social Security — which younger workers don’t even think will be around when... READ MORE