- Access To Guaranteed Lifetime Income Boosts Employee Confidence, Retirement Savings
More than 30 percent of employees increased their retirement savings contributions in 2020; Popularity of in-plan lifetime income solutions grows among 401(k), 403(b) plan sponsors
Helping employees save for retirement remains a priority for a substantial majority (74 percent) of employers and, despite economic uncertainty, more than three in ten employees say they increased their retirement savings contributions in the last year, according to the TIAA Retirement Insights Survey.
read more - Majority Of Working Americans Are Optimistic About Their Financial Future, Even While Lacking Savings
If we’ve learned anything from 2020, it is ‘be prepared'
New polling released today finds more than half (58%) of working Americans believe their financial situation will be better in the future. Younger (69%), Black (75%) and Hispanic (69%) workers are the most optimistic, despite the fact that half (49%, 52% and 49%, respectively) report having two months or less of spending in savings on…
read more - US FinTech Will Expand Cryptocurrency Use Case, But Unknowns Remain
Several factors could limit widespread acceptance
FinTech companies such as PayPal, Visa, Square, Mastercard and others are expanding cryptocurrency (crypto) and blockchain capabilities but several factors could limit widespread acceptance in the near term, says Fitch Ratings. We expect strategic crypto investments to have a limited near-term effect on credit profiles, given modest capital deployed and the long ramp time. However,…
read more - The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Improved in February
However, the Expectations Index fell marginally
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® improved again in February, after increasing in January. The Index now stands at 91.3 (1985=100), up from 88.9 in January. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—climbed from 85.5 to 92.0. However, the Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business,…
read more - MassMutual Joins UN-Supported Principles For Responsible Investment
To incorporate responsible practices into its investment strategy for the benefit of the environment, policy owners and society
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) today announced that it has become a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), an international global network of asset managers, owners and service providers working together to put responsible investment into practice.
read more - US Dividends Climb 2.6% To Record High $503.1 Billion In 2020
Globally, pandemic caused $220bn of dividends cuts
During the worst crisis since World War II, US dividends proved resilient, increasing 2.6% year-over-year to a record high of $503.1 billion in 2020, as just one in fourteen US companies cancelled its dividend between April and December according to the latest edition of the Janus Henderson Global Dividend Index.
read more - Work-From-Home A Winner
70% of customer service and support employees want to continue working from home post-Covid
In September 2020, Gartner surveyed 5,000 employees, including 550 customer service professionals, and found that service employees who traditionally did not have many opportunities to WFH are now used to it and like it, and they wish to continue in some capacity once the pandemic is over. This is in line with most service leaders…
read more - Behold The New Diversification Strategy… From The ‘Old Person On The Block’
Four good reasons to look closer at closed-end funds
by Steve Selengut
The S & P 500 struck 33 new "All Time High" (ATH) levels in 2020, a year that also saw a major market value melt down in March and significant volatility throughout. This year began with ten new highs and more chatter about a serious, extended, correction than I've heard over the course of this…
read more - Model Portfolios On The Rise As Financial Advisory Firms Emphasize Client Experience
Fund managers agree: Model portfolios provide an added layer of discipline and oversight to investment decision-making
Model portfolios are nearly ubiquitous on US investment advisory platforms, with assets set to rise amid an expanding array of model options, according to a survey by Natixis Investment Managers of the central gatekeepers, or professional selectors of the funds available on their firm’s investment platform. Eighty-four percent of fund selectors in the US and…
read more - Post COVID, Insurers Pressed To Support Emerging Consumer Needs
Most who were financially impacted now prioritize mitigating future financial uncertainty
Consumer priorities have changed significantly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly half (45%) of consumers surveyed planning to save more and those most impacted financially seeking to mitigate future financial uncertainty. This is according to the EY Global Insurance Consumer Survey, a survey of more than 2,700 consumers across Europe and North…
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