Portfolio

Financial advisors are in huge demand among insurance companies that create the broad array of insured retirement income products. But if product creators want to succeed with that group, they need to get a few ground rules clear, a panel of financial advisors said during the Insured Retirement Institute’s annual conference on Tuesday.

Investors appear to have switched gears from focusing on replenishing their balances from 2008’s market downturn to taking all of the responsible steps to prepare for retirement.

The TCW Group has launched the MetWest Unconstrained Bond Fund, a mutual fund with the flexibility to invest across a wide array of global fixed income sectors.

BOSTON -- Top economists who spoke here at the Insured Retirement Institute annual conference told attendees to brace for fundamental paradigm shifts as they wait for global and domestic economies to stabilize.

Putnam Investments has launched the Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund, a ’40 Act mutual fund that uses the “risk parity” approach of its successful Putnam Total Return portfolio for institutional investors, which has delivered average annual returns of 9% since inception five years ago.

Loomis Sayles rolled out the Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund, aimed at navigating changing economic cycles by taking a flexible approach to investing in bank loans and other credit instruments.

Eaton Vance and Richard Bernstein Advisors have launched the Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein All Asset Strategy Fund, with Richard Bernstein, CEO and CIO of the eponymous firm serving as manager of the fund.

HSBC Global Asset Management has launched the HSBC Frontier Markets Fund, whose aim is long-term capital appreciation by investing in companies located in or economically tied to frontier market countries.

DoubleLine Funds Trust has launched the DoubleLine Low Duration Bond Fund.

Financial advisors are going play a bigger role in how the annuity industry gets it products to customers, according to industry officials presenting at the Insured Retirement Institute's 2011 annual conference. But consumers will be leading the charge.