Advisor Sales Strategies

Nationwide's survey finds that only 14 percent of women-owned small businesses currently offer their employees a 401(k) or other employee-funded retirement plan. And only 5 percent offer a company-funded defined benefit plan.

Millimans Pension Funding Index showed that the 100 large defined benefit pension plans it tracks increased their pension deficit by $236.4 billion in 2011, as corporate pensions faced record underfunding.

The Principal Financial Group is expanding its investment fiduciary support to include ERISA 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services provided by Wilshire Associates Inc.

INGs U.S. Retirement division devised a new asset allocation program to help 401(k) plan participants convert their savings to a guaranteed stream of income that will last through retirement.

Schwab Retirement Plan Services Inc. launched a new 401(k) plan designed to lower costs, simplify investing and help workers better prepare for retirement.

Credit Suisse may act as the lender to the employee fund, and the reduction in so-called risk-weighted assets will reduce Credit Suisses capital requirements