Investment Instruments

All in all, the major asset classes identified have experienced negative returns in about 25 percent to 40 percent of the 120 calendar quarters covering the last 30 years. The more asset classes included in a portfolio, the lower the risk.

Demand at the U.S. auction of $35 billion of five-year notes from a group that includes pension funds and insurers approached the highest level in almost a year amid speculation on the Federal Reserves agenda and turmoil in Ukraine.

Sixty-seven percent of TDF investors said they are comfortable deciding how much to invest in their DC plan, compared to 52 percent of non-TDF investors.

Reference pricing is receiving more attention and consideration today because of growing plan sponsor interest in managing health care costs, but the approach is still relatively new.

The key question one faces after retirement is the determination of whether or not funds should be moved from an ERISA-governed plan to an IRA.

The unit will reportedly be headed by Kent Hiteshew, a veteran public-finance banker at JP Morgan Chase.