401(k)

On August 10, 2012, Custom target-date strategies will hold 22% of 401(k) target-date assets by 2016, or $218 billion, according to research from Cerulli Associates. That will be a nearly four-fold increase from the 2011 asset level of $46.4 billion.

On August 10, 2012, Janus Capital Group has entered into a strategic alliance with the The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, in which Japan’s third largest life insurer will acquire up to 20% of Janus’s outstanding shares and invest at least $2 billion in Janus investment products

On July 6, 2012, The Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan, which is the world's largest public pension fund managing over 113 trillion yen, generated 2.32% return in the latest fiscal year.

On July 6, 2012, Money Management Executive recently spoke to Jim Jessee, president at MFS Fund Distributors, Inc., the distribution arm of the firm's U.S. fund business, and co-Head, Global Distribution, about the firm's "Building Better Insights" branding initiative and other trends he sees within and outside of the firm.

J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services, the retirement plan record keeping business of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, has hired Bill McDermott in a newly created role as head of Sales and Client Solutions.

On May 30, 2012, J.P. Morgan Asset Management has introduced a new tool for retirement plan advisors to facilitate 401(k) plan design conversations and enhance plan sponsor decisions.

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. last September put the brakes on its effort to sell its mutual-fund unit to private equity shop Clayton Dubilier & Rice LLC after banks cut back on lending for leveraged buyouts.

Jeffrey C. Boucek has joined Segal Rogerscasey’s Atlanta office as senior vice president, focusing on consulting, client relationship management and new business development.

Charles Schwab's Retirement Plan Services unit in January made waves by going passive.

On May 4. 3012, The findings of a BlackRock survey show that just over half, 51%, of retirees – but only one quarter, 25%, of today’s workers - are confident about having enough money to live comfortably in retirement.

May 7, 2012 story: Principal Funds has added three new regional directors to the firm's investment only team: Marcel Dawson, Gary Nakamura and Pamela Suing, focusing on growth within the registered investment advisor distribution channel.

On April 30, 2012, Prudential Annuity has unveiled two new asset allocation portfolios and two new sub-advisors.

On April 26, 2012, Prudential Retirement has four new plan sponsor clients: Clampitt Paper; the luxury travel agency Virtuoso; Fisher Auto Parts, and Trimac Transportation.

On April 25, 2012, TAMRO Capital launched the TAMRO Small Cap Collective Fund, which is sponsored by Global Trust Company and available to ERISA-only clients

On April 19, 2012, the financial research and consulting organization LIMRA has hired Alison Salka to serve as corporate vice president and director of its retirement research division.

On April 13, 2012, MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has added three new sales directors to its sales and client management organization: Dararith Ly; John Randall and Raymond Zittlow.

On APril 12, 2012 Two industry groups, the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (“DCIIA”) and the Retirement Income Industry Association (“RIIA”), are launching a joint effort to promote greater awareness and participation in retirement programs.

The usage of defined contribution plans and collective investment trusts is growing quickly, resulting in a big impact on the ways that pension holders invest for the future, according to research released by SEI.

Bank of Montreal Global Asset Management has moved its defined contribution business away from its Institutional Trust services arm and given it a new brand name, BMO Retirement Services.

A federal judge has declared that Fidelity Investments and the American unit of ABB, Inc. violated federal laws by making pension holders pay excessive 401(k) plan fees, and has ordered the defendants to pay $36.9 million in damages.