Hartford Adds PIMCO, TIAA Funds to DC Platform
The Hartford is expanding its defined contribution platform with a trio of new managers and a slew of funds for retirement plan sponsors and participants.
Two new investment managers, Calamos Investments and Delaware Investments, have been added to retirement plans for both corporate and nonprofit sponsors. A third manager, TIAA-CREF, has been added for nonprofit sponsors, including schools, charities, government entities and others.
In addition, 16 new investment options, including the PIMCO Total Return III Fund and the Invesco Real Estate Fund, are now available from the new and existing managers.
The Hartford's open architecture platform now offers some 294 funds available through 80 fund managers.
Arrow's New ETF Aims Far and Wide
Olney, MD-based Arrow Investment Advisors, LLC last week unveiled its maiden exchange traded fund, dubbed the Arrow Dow Jones Global Yield ETF (NYSE Arca:GYLD), which the firm touts as the only fund to track the Dow Jones Global Composite Yield Index.
Arrow's new ETF takes a global approach to making bets on various assets, including equities, fixed income and alternative investments. It sports an expense ratio of 75 basis points.
Arrow currently manages some $700 million in assets across five mutual funds providing exposure to commodities, managed futures, absolute return and relative strength momentum-based strategies.
NOVA Fund Operations Awards Program Under Way
Money Management Executive has launched the 10th Annual NOVA Fund Operations Awards program, recognizing leadership and innovation in asset management firms.
The 2012 NOVA Awards for fund operations innovation are conducted in conjunction with awards co-sponsor NICSA, which represents nearly 10,000 services professionals from within the global investment management industry.
The NOVAs recognize creative, effective and operationally efficient efforts by fund companies that strive to serve their clients, build business and improve services delivered by the asset management firms serving the fund industry.
All nominees are employed by asset management firms; they can be nominated individually or as a team.
Nominees may include operations executives and/or teams at mutual funds, separately managed accounts firms, alternative investment fund operators, hedge funds, in-house 401(k) administrators or service providers, or any other type of firm that serves shareholders and/or the retirement savings and income industries, as long as the nominees do so in their capacity as a money management or investment management business executive and/or teams.
Asset management firms as well as their service partners and technology suppliers can submit nominations.
The four categories of awards are:
* Visionary Leadership
* Innovation in Customer Experience
* Innovation in Back Office Efficiencies
* Creativity in Marketing Operations
The NOVAs will be presented on October 18 during NICSA's General Membership Meeting in Boston.
Please visit: http://www.mmexecutive.com/nova_awards for more information.
