Retirement planning

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox and US Secretary of Labor Elaine L Choa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize and strengthen the cooperation and relationship between their two agencies. The purpose of the MOU is to share information, related to investments and retirement, to help protect Americans’ $5.8 trillion in retirement assets.

Fund management firm Philam Asset Management Inc. (PAMI), a division of American International Group, is now offering investors a Personal Investment Program (PIP), aimed at offering investors an affordable savings plan for their future.

TIAA-CREF’s ads for its Individual Retirement Accounts inferred that government and military employees who contributed to their Thrift Savings Plan were up against a time clock because the TSPs “retire.” Fidelity’s ads simply call the TSP “old.” TIAA-CREF has pulled its ads, but Fidelity, claiming all of its communications go through legal review, is still running them.

John Hancock Variable Annuities has launched a new value-added program that aims to help advisors expand their business by developing guaranteed retirement income plans for their clients.

Despite difficult market conditions, Americans continued to save more for retirement last year, according to the Investment Company Institute.

BOSTON - Excessive fees in some 401(k) plans are hurting the reputation of all 401(k) plans and shaking investor confidence in what most financial experts agree is a great way for the majority of Americans to save for retirement.

BOSTON - Workers love pension plans, but providing 20 to 30 years of benefits to a huge retired workforce can cripple most companies' profits.

In his last public appearance as a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commissioner Paul Atkins said that, with regards to shareholder rights, the agency “would be wise to continue to respect the principles of federalism and avoid the temptation to exceed the limitations on its authority delegated by the Congress.”

To show workers the long-term impact of cashing out their 401(k) savings when they change jobs or retire, a firm that provides rollover services for plan sponsors now offers a free “Cash-Out Calculator.”

After AARP pared down its more than 33 funds at one point during its 21-year relationship with Scudder Investments to a mere five in 2005, sub-advised by State Street Global Advisors, the new chief of its funds unit now wants to expand those offerings, with a new focus on retirement income.

Baby Boomers preparing to fund their retirement years have fueled an annuity sales boom at banking companies since the spring of 2007, and regulators are stepping up their scrutiny of financial services institutions that sell them.

Barclays is planning to launch a family of target-date and target-risk exchange-traded funds, drawing from its existing iShares, Dow Jones reports. The percentage of equity holdings will range from 91% to 58%.

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NAVA has teamed with IBM to launch a tool establishing an automated standardized process that streamlines the sale of annuities.

Supporters of pension funds argued before Congress that the plans play a critical role in ensuring retirement security and stimulating the economy.

Bruce R. Bent, founder and chairman of Reserve Management Corp., defended his company’s debit cards linked to 401(k) plans Thursday by saying that they encourage employees to sign up for the retirement accounts and that they reduce the dollar amount of loans taken out against them.

Hard times, unemployment and medical emergencies are leading more and more workers to take loans from their 401(k) retirement plans.

Prudential Financial recently announced an insurance program targeted at the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

AARP has appointed Richard Hisey as the new president of AARP Financial Inc. and AARP Funds. Formerly, Hisey served as the CIO of AARP Financial and treasurer of AARP Funds.

Financial experts seem to be in agreement that we are now in a bear market, but will that bad news shake investors’ traditional buy-and-hold strategy with 401(k)s – particularly older investors?