Defined Benefits

A proposed ballot measure that would allow California cities to change the retirement benefits of current government employees drew a quick, sharp response from CalPERS, the states retirement system.

The funds 10 investment beliefs read more like a series of principles to guide socially responsible investing and have been met by more than a hint of scorn by some in the investment world.

The municipal bankruptcy of Vallejo, Calif., might be viewed as a cautionary tale for other cities that fail to get a handle on their pension costs.

The latest evidence of the march to alternatives comes from Cerulli Associates, which expects that alternative mutual funds will comprise close to 14 percent of all mutual fund assets in the next 10 years.

A companys detailed paper trail saved it from a lawsuit and subsequent appeal by former union employees who felt they were denied promised retirement benefits, a court has ruled.

Common wisdom might suggest otherwise, but a properly managed defined contribution plans can be as cost-effective as defined benefit pension plans, according to a study by the TIAA-CREF Institute.