Portfolio

Participation in 401(k)s has dropped to 73%, its lowest number since 1991.

Pax World Balanced Fund last week introduced a contribution program whereby investors can contribute dividends and capital gains for humanitarian aid to Iraqi citizens affected by the ongoing war.

Half full? In these dire times, we tend to think half empty, if not drained, when it comes to our retirement plans. Over the last three years, the downturn has eradicated at least $678 billion in U.S. retirees' savings, according to the University of Michigan.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Communication, education, strategic partnerships and outsourcing are the name of the game for the "401(k) sales champions" who took to the podium to share their expertise with attendees at the American Society of Pension Actuaries (ASPA) here.

Merrill Lynch will start a donor-advised fund in April that will link the New York brokerage firm with a national network of community foundations to boost its charitable-giving assets.

PlusFunds Group of New York has created a hedge fund for the co-called "mass affluent" that addresses the issue of transparency for investors by being based on the Standard & Poor's Hedge Fund Index.

ICMA Retirement Corp. (ICMA-RC) of Washington, is one of the first to boldly jump into what it's dubbing the "Sidecar IRA," technically known as the "deemed IRA."

Is Gary Winnick, chairman of beleaguered telecom Global Crossing, trying to save his own hide by making a public pledge of $25 million to those among his employees who lost large sums of their 401(k)s plan during the recent telecom bust? Or, is he, as he recently told Congress, trying to set a precedent in corporate moral responsibility?

Craig Callahan thinks he has something that investors want: a little peace of mind.

Most 401(k) investors took a hands-off approach to their retirement plans last year, declining to make trades or adequately diversify their assets.