Retirement planning

Fidelity Investments reported that its sales of defined contribution plans to small- to medium-sized firmst grew 40% in 2011, reaching commitments of $6.6 billion in assets by year’s end.

Fidelity Investments reported strong sales growth last year of defined contribution plans to small and midsized employers in 2011.

About 60% of those with SIMPLE-IRAs were not aware that employer tax filing is not required.

Wade D. Pfau will oversee Retirement Management Analyst designation program as curriculum director.

Pasadena, Calif.-based Retirement Revolution, a recordkeeping and custodial service provider to third party administrators and plan sponsors, has named Frank Bruno as its new national sales director. Bruno will be in charge of managing the sales team for all of Retirement Revolution products.

Wells Fargo is using Twitter to spread the word about saving for retirement. The banking giant has been promoting “America Saves Week” by using its Twitter account, @Ask_WellsFargo.

As the Baby Boom generation heads for retirement, the traditional notion that turning 65 automatically triggers retirement is changing.

Almost three-quarters (71%) of target-date fund investors say that target-date funds have made them feel more confident they were making good investment decisions, according to a study.

This week, IRA expert Ed Slott fields questions about recharacterization provisions for Roth IRAs and making contributions in a spouse’s name.

DST Systems has designed a new program, Retirement Income Clearing Calculator, which will widely distribute retirement income products to sponsors and participants of defined contribution plans.

The combination of Baby Boomers heading into retirement and the arrival of Echo Boomers into savings programs is about to put financial advisors on the ride of their professional lives, according to the fourth-largest distributor of mutual funds in the United States.

DST Systems has designed a new program, Retirement Income Clearing Calculator (RICC), which will widely distribute retirement income products to sponsors and participants of defined contribution plans.

T. Rowe Price has launched a new web-based retirement-planning tool that it says will help investors envision their lives in retirement.

Bank of America’s health savings account business rose 34% with the addition of 50,000 new accounts last year, as it also integrated that business in its institutional retirement business.

50% of Money Market Clients Fear NAV Fluctuation; Fixed-Income ETPs Experience Record Inflow; Vanguard Targets Gen Y Looking to Retire in 2060

Less than half -- 45% -- of Generation X and Y investors plan to contribute to Individual Retirement Account accounts for the 2011 tax year, according to survey results from T. Rowe Price.

A boost in United States and global equity markets led in January to a 1.7% increase in the funded status of the typical U.S. corporate pension plan, according to a newly released report from BNY Mellon Asset Management.

Only 20 years ago, more than half of all American workers said they were on track to retire before they reached the age of 65. Today, only about 23% of Americans say they’ll be able to retire by that age. Here are the seven largest obstacles standing between your clients and an early retirement.

These days, investors of all ages are understandably concerned about socking away enough income and making the best investments today to ensure a comfortable retirement later in life. Only 20 years ago, more than half of all American workers said they were on track to retire before they reached the age of 65. Today, only about 23% of Americans say they’ll be able to retire by that age. But for those investors – and the financial planners they rely upon – who still plan to retire early – maybe in their 50s or early 60s – here’s an interactive slide show featuring seven of the largest obstacles standing in their way. Source: RetirementEgg.com

This week, IRA expert Ed Slott tackles questions about how distributions from contributions including both pre- and post-tax dollars will be taxed.