Archives: Portfolios

June 19, 2019
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PERSONAL FINANCE, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, ANNUITIES, TAXES & FINANCIAL LITERACY

• Here’s the secret for living longer and loving retirement
• Looking for a Road Map for Retirement? Good Luck With That ; Here’s the ‘flawed advice’ the media’s been peddling about saving for retirement
• How Caring For Aging Loved Ones Could Endanger Your Own Retirement
• SECURE Act will require review of retirement plans
• How to Invest and Profit in the Next Recession ; Are interest rates going down? Trade war, stock market, vulnerable economy may press Fed
• How Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones are Weirdly Being Financed by Annuities ; Annuity sales surge as new pathways open for advisors ; Taming The Inflation Risk In Annuity Payouts ; Your Money: Millennials should shrug off annuities for now
• The Public’s Support for (and Doubts About) Higher Ed

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

• Trump could revolutionize the private health insurance market
• Massive Medical Data Breach Could Put MD Consumers At Risk ; LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics data breach under investigation. Did they do enough?
• Artificial intelligence could revolutionize medical care. But don’t trust it to read your x-ray just yet
• Why Your State Might Be Sabotaging Your Retirement Strategy

TECH, MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Technology Could Change Personal Finance, But Only if We Get Better at Using It
• Evite Admits Data Breach After Information Lands On The Dark Web
• Apple Really Wants to Win an Oscar
• Adobe has an ambitious plan to help the public spot fake images
• Facebook in worse regulatory position than peers
• Security Concerns Wearing Down Confidence in Paying With Wearables
• Samsung’s Lee Looks Beyond Next 10 Years With 6G, System Chips

401k, 403b, 457b, NONQUALIFIED, STATE-RUN PLANS & LITIGATION

• EBRI Studies Possible Impact of Extreme Changes to DC Plans
• Attys Seek $20M For ‘Historic’ 12-Year 401(k) Fight With ABB
• Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case on ERISA Statute of Limitations ; MFS settles 401(k) lawsuit for $6.9 million

PENSIONS

• House Committee Advances Multiemployer Pension Reform Bill
• Calpers’ Dilemma: Save the World or Make Money? ; CA Pension Fund Faces Crisis After Shunning Guns, Tobacco
• Connecticut teacher pension cost debate not over yet
• Illinois’ budget is billions out of balance
• St. Clare’s Pensioners Take Concerns to Capitol ; Rhode Island Moves Closer to Church Pension Transparency

INTERNATIONAL

• Pensions switching initiative passes target
• Older and wiser?—when governments get it wrong on pensions reform
• Brazil: The battle over pensions
• Unions voice support for Dutch pensions agreement
• Kuwait, Oman wealth funds being depleted to finance deficits

MARKETS

• Fitch: Fed expected to leave interest rates on hold in 2019 ; Opinion: A surprise interest-rate cut by the Federal Reserve could be its best decision
• Oil’s Slide Highlights Global-Growth Fears ; Crude Oil Going Nowhere Despite the Rising Tensions and Supply Cuts?
• Hundreds of Companies Descend on Washington to Fight Trump’s Tariffs
• Fault poor endowment decisions, not musicians, for BSO’s woes
• Investors demand climate risk disclosures from over 700 companies
• The Brexit challenge of Britain’s next prime minister

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

• Warnings over liquidity of alternative mutual funds ; India’s Exotic Funds Are a $40 Billion Time-Bomb for Investors
• No alpha in hedge funds’ average short positions – research
• Private equity leads in allocations by family offices
• Facebook’s Cryptocurrency: Great Idea, Wrong Company ; Crypto bulls hail Facebook’s reported move into digital assets as a key moment in tech history; South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges to be held liable for any lost assets in future
• NY feds charge East Greenwich man in $8-million venture-capital scheme
• Real estate top alternative asset for institutional investors: CIBC Mellon ; Real-Estate Stocks Rise To New Highs ; REIT sector rallies toward 4th-straight record as Treasury yields fall
• Wealthy families are adding forests to their portfolios

June 14, 2019
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PERSONAL FINANCE, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, ANNUITIES, TAXES & FINANCIAL LITERACY

• Women, Marriage, and the National Retirement Risk Index ; America’s retirement accounts are growing, but not fast enough ; Hourly Workers Are Falling Down on Emergency Savings
• The new paradigm of portfolio construction
• Time on your side: A guide to millennial investing
• Reg BI applies to rollover, account recommendations ; Securities Broker Jealousy Fuels Attacks on Annuities: Ohio Lawmaker ; Iowa Proposes NAIC Annuity Standard That Eclipses Suitability ; Here’s why advisors may urge retirees to load up on equities
• We must act today to address the hidden cost of financial illiteracy
• Modest Salary Hikes, Little Growth for Higher Ed Staff

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

• Lawmakers stuck on Obamacare in universal healthcare hearing ; Healthcare freedom or free everything?
• Can Wearables Convince Patients to Be More Proactive?
• Entry-Level Employees to Top Executives Need HSA Education

TECH, MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Fed Dwarfed by Trump on Twitter as Central Banks Go Social
• Artificial Intelligence Generates Humans’ Faces Based on Their Voices ; Is AI fundamental to the future of cybersecurity?
• Over 20M Patients Affected In Maryland Medical Data Breach, Attorney General Frosh Warns
• Amazon drone delivery is still ‘a couple years out,’ drone CEO says ; Amazon’s unique new credit card is a play for low-income Americans
• Consumer Survey Reveals Broader Need for Wearables with Emergency Response
• Wall Street Is Lending Billions to China’s Tech Unicorns

401k, 403b, 457b, NONQUALIFIED, STATE-RUN PLANS & LITIGATION

• Planning not to retire is the new retirement plan
• Plan Design, Participant Behavior Spark Improved Retirement Outlook
• Employers May Shy Away From Offering Annuities In 401(k)s
• Civilian Pay Raise Advances, TSP Prepares More Changes

PENSIONS

• How Not to Reform Teacher Pensions
• City to start making reductions across board
• A ‘real balanced budget’? Not in Illinois — despite what Gov. Pritzker says. ; Teacher pension ‘spiking’ is back — and we’ll all pay
• Bevin: House Democrats’ offer to meet and discuss pension crisis is a ‘political stunt’
• As New Jersey cuts hedge fund ties, CalPERS’ experience shows that can take years
• 47 Joliet Cops Get $100000 Pensions Or More
• How Long Will DB Funding Relief Last?
• With Lawyers Circling, Why Risk Mismanaging Retirement Funds?

INTERNATIONAL

• Canadian pension plans near 92% funding, shy away from equity
• Macron to Tackle French State Pensions in Mother-of-All-Reforms
• Universities staff threaten more strikes over pensions
• World’s biggest sovereign wealth fund to ditch fossil fuels

MARKETS

• Why optimistic stock-market investors and pessimistic bond traders are both wrong about trade wars
• Oil Prices Stumble on Fears of Falling Demand ; America Exports More ‘Freedom Gas’ Than Ever ; As the Price of Gas Tumbles, Even California Is Getting a Break
• US commodities regulator sees market risk from climate change, urges action
• Strategies for Establishing Capital Asset Renewal and Replacement Reserve Policies
• Central Banks Provide A Silver Lining To The Escalating Trade War
• Current-Account Deficits ; Japan’s fate could be everyone else’s, too ; Sweden’s Finance Chief Warns of Ballooning Welfare Shortfall
• EU executive says: be ready for “very possible” no-deal Brexit

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

• The New Wave of Alts Investors ; Spooked public investors reach fork in risky road as asset growth slows ; Spain: a frontrunner in using harmonised EU alternative investment funds
• Hedge funds down in May but 42% of funds book profits amidst re-escalating US-China trade war
• Three Main Constants In A Changing Private Equity Investment Landscape
• Cryptocurrency Is 10 Years Old, But Has It Really Grown Up? ; Brazil Central Bank Debuts IBM Blockchain Interbank ID System on Hyperledger
• Family offices grow in number and sophistication

June 13, 2019
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PERSONAL FINANCE, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, ANNUITIES, TAXES & FINANCIAL LITERACY

• How to Be Confident When Volatility Hits
• Retirement Calculators Spur Encouragement, Action ; DIY Retirement Savings Exacerbate American Families’ Already High Economic Instability
• Inside FIRE, millennials’ new plan for retiring decades early ; How Can Young People Prepare Themselves For Retirement? ; Nearly Half Of Millennials Have A Side Hustle Just To Pay The Bills, According To A New Report
• Financial planning for different types of careers
• Is it time to time your TSP moves?
• Will raising the age for required withdrawals from your retirement accounts make a difference?
• The Rolling Stones’ Newest Tour Opener? A Retirement Planning Lesson ; New 401(k) law could open door to both good and bad annuities ;Help Is Almost Here for Retirement Savers
• IRA trusts could become an estate planning disaster
• The Campus Innovation Myth

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

• Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs
• How Healthcare Providers Can Address Long-Term Harm
• Surprise billing, another healthcare market failure
• CVS and Amazon are the biggest threats to healthcare organizations
• The US health care system is full of monopolies
• Mount Sinai Launches New Center for Artificial Intelligence ; Hopkins course explores artificial intelligence and deep learning

TECH, MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Amazon beats Apple and Google to become the world’s most valuable brand
• US Customs And Border Patrol Data Breach Could Affect You More Than You Think ; The Biggest Data Breach Archive on the Internet Is for Sale
• Government No Longer Has to Choose Between Cybersecurity and Productivity       
• Rhode Island RFP Has Long List of Uses for Blockchain
• Big Tech vs. US Government — What Comes Next? ; House Starts Its Tech Antitrust Probe With a Focus on Free Press

401k, 403b, 457b, NONQUALIFIED, STATE-RUN PLANS & LITIGATION

• Understanding 3(16) and 3(38) Fiduciary Outsourcing
• Annuity in your 401(k) plan?
• A Not-So-SECURE ‘Act’?
• Supreme Court accepts 401(k) case about alternative investments in target-date funds
• What We Can Learn from the Anthem Settlement
• IRS Urged To Prioritize Guidance On Retirement Plans

PENSIONS

• Hedging May Have Buffered DB Plan Losses in May
• California retirees’ pensions restored — at least partially — after CalPERS cuts
• SLO has $150 million in unfunded pensions. Now it has a plan to wipe out that burden
• EMTs added to bill improving pensions for ill 9/11 volunteers
• With time running out, Matt Bevin wants to know which lawmakers support his pension bill
• SC can no longer hide from pension obligation
• Maine Township trustees clash with supervisor again over reinstating assessor’s pension
• Philadelphia’s Road to Pension Recovery
• UConn faces $19.6M deficit, driven largely by unfunded pensions
• Pension Rescue Plan Advances In House Amid Objections

INTERNATIONAL

• Pension deficits increase £63.5bn in May
• Legal & General Partners With Amazon to Use Blockchain for Pension Deals
• Regulator probes trustees on pension default funds
• New mums must be saved from gender pensions gap

MARKETS

• The stock market is closing in on its all-time high. Here’s what could clinch it
• Just How Tight Is the Labor Market?  ; Big global mobility trends to watch in 2019 and beyond
• Yield curve flattens after inflation edges higher
• What Investors Should Like About Global Trade Uncertainty
• Hold Up on the Fill-Up: Gasoline Is Set to Plunge at the Pump ; Oil edges further above $62 as OPEC cuts counter growth concerns ; Oil’s Next Great Deflationary Force: Taxes
• Central Banks Boost Holdings of Equities Beyond $1 Trillion ; Spooked public investors reach fork in risky road as asset growth slows
• Investors See ‘Material Risk’ in Ignoring ESG ; Investors Launch Climate Endowment to Invest in ‘Green Revolution’
• Machine learning still in early stages within asset management – report ; The Case for Combining Passive and Active Investing
• UK labor market strong despite Brexit uncertainties                                                    

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS             

• As NJ Cuts Hedge Fund Ties, Chatham Shows That Can Take Years ; Hedge Fund Secrets Shared With Regulators May Be at Risk
• Private equity will continue to perform well, but manager selection is critical ; Private Equity Managers Are Increasingly Turning to Loans Instead of Investors ; Australian Private Capital Levels Rise to Record A$30 Billion
• Philippines Central Bank Warns on Risks of Growing Cryptocurrency Use ; Coinbase Expands Cryptocurrency Visa Debit Cards Across Europe
• Many Investors in Venture Capital Say a Big Return Isn’t Enough ; VC Pot Investments Hit Record Highs in 2019
• ‘Sexy Access’ Lures Younger Bankers to Family Office Jobs

June 5, 2019
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PERSONAL FINANCE, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, ANNUITIES, TAXES & FINANCIAL LITERACY

• We Have Better Gadgets but Much More Debt ; Americans Have Set Own Savings Thresholds for Retirement Preparedness
• 10 signs you’re succeeding at managing your money
• AAA: Oil Prices Plummet to 4-Month Low
• It’s time to get over how much we hate annuities
• Tariffs on Mexican imports will ripple across the US economy ; What are all these tariffs doing to your 401(k)?
• Even wealthy clients struggle with financial literacy ; Americans Need A ‘Fitbit’ Of Banking
• ‘Jeopardy!’ champ James Holzhauer’s tax bill to cost him

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

• Churches Wipe Out Millions In Medical Debt For Others
• Why Healthcare Needs Price Transparency and Better Technology
• Immigrants Comprise More Than 18% of Healthcare Workers
• Robin Hood To Rescue Of Rural Hospitals? New Math Promised On Medicare Payments

TECH, MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA

• 11.9M Quest Diagnostics Patients Impacted by AMCA Data Breach
• Apple unveils privacy tools, iTunes changes
• Fintech start-ups are vying for partnership deals with the likes of Apple and Facebook
• Google and Amazon Shares Slide as Antitrust Concerns Mount ;  Facebook, Google Regulatory Woes Erode $137 Billion From FANGs
• Global wearable device shipments see 55% increase
• Artificial intelligence needs guardrails

401k, 403b, 457b, NONQUALIFIED, STATE-RUN PLANS & LITIGATION

• Do Annuities And 401(k) Plans Mix? ; Annuity, Stretch IRA Provisions Spark SECURE Act Concerns
• Supreme Court to hear 401(k) stock-drop case
• Bipartisan bill aims to keep an eye on retirement plans
• May Markets Undermine Average 401(k) Gains ; May proves dismal for TSP performance

PENSIONS

• Public Pensions Rebound in Q1 2019 ; Legal protections for public-sector pension benefits vary widely – Pew research ; Multiemployer Plans Faltered in Second Half of 2018
• Society of Actuaries releases preliminary update to longevity tables; data reveals trend to monitor
• The end of interest rate relief is coming
• Bevin, Lawmakers Differ On ‘Onus’ Of Rallying Pension Bill Support
• Tallahassee city pension funds get passing grades
• CalSTRS’s Plan to Reduce Fees
• RI high court strikes down challenge to Cranston pension cuts
• Hamden council passes pension transfer on the third time around
• Archdiocese of San Juan Asks Supreme Court to Weigh In on Pension Plan Judgement

INTERNATIONAL

• Dutch industry schemes combine DC accrual with collective benefits
• Inquiry demanded over governance of universities’ pension fund
• Gov’t council says pensions inadequate in aging society
• Pensions must do right thing on climate crisis, says minister

MARKETS

• Bullard says Fed may have to cut interest rates soon due to trade wars, low inflation ; Economists’ fears of a 2020 recession in the US surge ; US Factory Gauge Falls to Lowest Level of Trump Presidency ; Major Automakers Post US Higher May New Vehicle Sales
• Oil prices slide as trade wars roil financial markets ; June Weather Outlook ‘Decisively Cooler’ as Natural Gas Futures Called Lower
• Keep it easy! Emerging central banks keep cutting rates in May ; The World’s Lowest Interest Rate Could Be Going Even Lower
• The Scary Side of Europe’s Economic Data
• Who’s Afraid of a Few More Tariffs? ;China’s Oil Industry Braces For Worst-Case Trade War Scenario
• UK exports plummet and factories cut jobs after chaotic Brexit delay ; Brexit is messy but may lead to a better Britain

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

• Alternative Assets Can Help With Derisking DB Plans ; Why Cryptocurrency Tangibles Are The Future Of Alternative Investments          
• Hedge funds recorded fourth positive month of the year in April ; Hedge funds accelerate oil sales as economy worsens ; Hedge funds raise negative sterling bets as Trump wades into Brexit debate
• One of the most hated tax breaks in America just won’t die
• Bitcoin and alts climbing upwards ; Working Paper: Should Central Banks Issue Digital Currency?
• The Value Of Patient Capital For Family Offices

June 3, 2019
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PERSONAL FINANCE, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, ANNUITIES, TAXES & FINANCIAL LITERACY

• Young adults are told to save for retirement as soon as possible. But is this the best advice? ; Crisis coming on elder care finance
• A Financial Checklist for Your Newly Minted High School Graduate ; Interest rates for federal students loans going down
• Retirement Planning In The Two Economies World: One Out Of Three Isn’t Good
• The robo-advice market is growing, but changing ; Banking Automation & Roboadvisors market scrutinized in new research
• 1Q Delivers Sluggish Growth For Life Insurance New Premium

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

• Hospitals Accused Of Paying Doctors Large Kickbacks In Quest For Patients
• A Colorado plan to dramatically lower health insurance prices for some now awaits federal approval ; Surprise! Demand for healthcare is rising at the VA ; 250000 CalPERS members at risk of ‘surprise’ medical bills
• 20% of hospitals meet maternity care performance measures
• Social Component Important to Physical Wellness Programs
• Health Plan Deductibles Triple in 10 Years ; Employees Need to Plan for Greater Health Costs in Retirement

TECH, MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Wall Street’s sheriff opens investigation of First American data breach
• What advisors get wrong about tech
• Is it Safe to Transition to Electronic Debit and Credit Cards?
• Tech investors are buying the dip, even as trade concerns unsettle the overall stock market
• Why high tech firms like Google go heavy on contract workers
• US Justice Department prepares antitrust investigation of Google – sources

401k, 403b, 457b, NONQUALIFIED, STATE-RUN PLANS & LITIGATION

• Is Roth participation in DC plans being suppressed by record keepers? ; Wow, Did We Get a Lot of Questions About the Roth 401(k)
• SECURE Act: Key Changes for Plan Sponsors and Employers ; SECURE Act will give Main Street workers needed security;  SECURE’s real purpose is not aimed at retirement but at annuity sales
• Jump in Hardship Withdrawals Tied to Bipartisan Budget Act
• Senators Booker, Young Reintroduce Federal Retirement Commission Act ; Federal employees soon will have more options to withdraw money from their retirement accounts
• Money Managers’ Own Plans Have Higher Balances, More Choices
• Supreme Court to consider taking on 2 retirement cases ; Supreme Court declines to review ruling dismissing Chevron fiduciary case ; 403(b) Participants Denied Second Attempt to Sue Georgetown University

PENSIONS

• $5.2 Trillion Of Government Pension Debt Threatens To Overwhelm State Budgets, Taxpayers
• Bill Modestly Cutting Oregon Public Employee Pensions Narrowly Passes House After Initial Failure ; We can’t fix PERS until we agree on its goal
• Bond Titan Spurns Illinois Rally Over ‘Pension Beasts’
• After tight vote, governor to get pension reform bill
• Clock Is Ticking For Bevin To Call Special Session On Pensions
• Legal Protections for State Pension and Retiree Health Benefits
• Pension watchdogs warn Prop B reforms could be scuttled
• Battling pension requirements, city of Henderson eyes tax hikes
• Wells Fargo Settles Derivatives Lawsuit with Pensions for $320 Million
• A new front in battle over gig workers
• Nashville union musicians put on notice: Pensions could soon be slashed
• Puerto Rico board asks for investigation of delinquent DC transfers
• Thousands of Philadelphia area Acme workers at risk of losing their pensions

INTERNATIONAL

• FTSE 350 dividends trump pensions 14 times
• Pension reform talks may restart, minister stresses need for progress
• Airport workers set date for strike over pensions
• FCA regulations deter 69% from providing DB advice
• Few pension fund managers publicly disclose ESG voting rules

MARKETS

• Growth picked up in first quarter of 2019, but April showed signs of slowdown  ; US Inflation Picks Up the Most in 15 Months ; US Consumer Sentiment Pares Earlier Gains From May
• Clarida says low inflation, global risks could get Fed to cut interest rates
• Trump administration lifts summer restrictions on higher-ethanol gasoline ; US oil heads for worst May since 2012 and worst monthly decline since November
• Pending home sales unexpectedly slip in April, marking 16 straight months of annual declines
• ICI: MMFs Up 6th Week; Monthly Trends Shows Treasuries Lower in April ; Will ETFs Ever Replace Mutual Funds?
• Europe leads the $31tn charge on sustainable investing
• Brexit nerves set pound on track for biggest monthly drop in a year ; UK consumer sentiment jumps to eight-month high in May
• Trump slaps tariffs against all imports from Mexico, rattling investors

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

• Hedge funds recorded fourth positive month in of the year in April ; Hedge funds lower performance fees, volatility; New Jersey Votes to Slash Hedge Fund Allocation — Again ; China-Focused Hedge Funds Post Big Gains Despite Trade Tensions  
• Venture, PE Investors Warn of Tough `New Normal’ With Trade War
• Listed Private Equity Firms Are More Aggressive, Data Show
• Cryptocurrency Firms Renew Push to Break Free From SEC Rules ; G-20 Progressing on Registry for Cryptocurrency Exchanges to Stop Money Laundering ;US Ivy League University Rolls Out Online Course in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
• In The Future Of Real Estate, Nice Guys Will Finish First
• Assessing Investment Opportunities In The REIT Sector
• How New Wealth, Few Rules Fuel Family Office Boom

May 31, 2019
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PERSONAL FINANCE, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, ANNUITIES, TAXES & FINANCIAL LITERACY

• Lack of Emergency Savings Among Biggest Financial Regrets ; What clients don’t know can hurt their retirement ; 7 Key Mistakes People Make When Retiring Abroad
• Can financial wellness programs improve Americans’ retirement readiness? ; Don’t Let the Online Retirement Calculators Scare You Away From Investing
• Are robo-advisers the way forward for retail investors?
• Retirees, Ladder Annuities to Hedge Your Bets
• Cash Remains King: New Survey Confirms What Others Have Said for Years ; I have 8 bank accounts — here’s how they help me control my spending and savings
• Most Americans Plan to Travel This Summer
• How this former Google employee earned 10 million credit card points

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

• US healthcare spending to grow 4% in 2019
• 2020 HSA Limits Rise Modestly, IRS Says       
• Senate HELP Proposes Incentivizing Healthcare Cybersecurity Adoption
• How Healthcare Companies Have Embraced Digitalization

TECH, MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Under GDPR, UK Data Breach Reports Quadruple
• Law Firm Sues First American Over Data Breach ; Lawyer Claims Redtail May Have Broken State Laws in Handling Data Exposure
• Alexa, please explain the dark side of artificial intelligence
• Google bans apps used to help buy marijuana
• Apple fights back as regulatory scrutiny intensifies
• Apple Pay, Google Pay will work with MTA’s tap and pay system for NYC transit

401k, 403b, 457b, NONQUALIFIED, STATE-RUN PLANS & LITIGATION

• Were Participants Shaken or Stirred in 2018?
• A warning to all 401(k) plan sponsors who assume too much
• Will Multiemployer Plans Solve the Small Business Retirement Gap? ; How The Secure Act Will Impact The Millennials And Gen Z’ers Retirement
• Supreme Court Denies Chevron Stable Value ERISA Litigation Review

PENSIONS

• The public pension crisis is an especially big threat to women ; Do pension benefit cuts encourage public employees to leave?
• Trahan, Scott support legislation to ensure pensions will not be lost
• Syracuse cop, firefighters blew chance to fix low pensions, aide says
• Deal for Easton teachers: Retire now and we’ll help pay for your health benefits              
• Warwick schools lawyer warns against raiding pension plan
• State Again Pares Role of Hedge Funds in Pension Holdings
• Musicians’ union pension fund preparing MPRA application to reduce benefits
• Why Terminating a Pension Plan May Be Unaffordable ; Pension Risk Transfer Volume Continues to Head Toward Sky ; Don’t Fear Lump Sum Payments for Defined Benefit Plans

INTERNATIONAL

• Norway’s Largest Pension Fund Divests From Alcohol, Gambling Investments
• State pension age: Another hurdle for pensions reform

MARKETS

• Strong labor market boosts US consumer confidence ; Dollar hovers close to two-year peak on trade war, growth worries
• Investors wade back in to US stocks as trade concerns mount ; Municipal bonds are 2019’s hottest asset
• Gasoline, TVs, Cars: The Surprising Things Rare Earths Help Make
• Many Institutional Investors Confuse ESG with Socially Responsible Investing
• European Central Bank sends Italy a warning over debt
• Venezuela Reports Grim Details of Hyperinflation, GDP Plunge ; Deluded and Disappointed, Economists Rethink Brazil’s Future
• Brexit: How the timetable to 31 October could unfold

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

• Asia hedge funds struggle to benefit from investor enthusiasm
• Report to Congress ponders a future of cryptocurrency over cash ; President of Germany’s Central Bank Warns of Serious Outcomes of Digital Currencies  ; Associated Press Rules ‘Crypto’ Isn’t a Substitute for ‘Cryptocurrency’
• Are REITs the Hottest Stocks of 2019?
• Asian family offices build the case for more ESG

May 25, 2019                                                                                     
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• The Weekly Pulse for Sunday, May 19, 2019 In this episode: (1) A look at the latest ETF (Exchange Traded Funds) trends, (2) Disney takes over Hulu, what’s it all mean? The impact on financial news?, (3) BitCoin surges and the current state of cryptocurrency, (4) positive economic data, market volatility and a collared Fed?, (5) Grant checks in about his concluded book tour and has an announcement, (6) new retirement legislation from Portman-Cardin and Senator Wyden grabs attention and (7) the impact of tariff-talk on real estate and American consumers. This week’s special guest is Direxion‘s Sylvia Jablonski.
• The Morning Pulse Academy | A Shift in the CryptoCurrency Narrative
• Global Survey Shows Many Workers See Retirement As Unattainable
• Secure Act Retirement Bill Set for House Vote This Week
• Borrowing from your 401(k) is easy. But should you really break open that piggy bank? ; Participant Loans: A Fiduciary Storm Brewing?
• A Call for Mandated Financial Literacy Programs in the Workplace
• On Senate Floor, Portman Highlights His Bipartisan Retirement Security & Savings Act ; Bill calling for retirement commission to guide Congress reintroduced
• Using Automatic Features to Maximize Participant Success ; Retirement Communications—The Digital Opportunity
• AICPA Reminds Plan Sponsors of Record Retention Rules
• Retirement Income Investment Options Change 401ks
• Auditing 401(k) Plans ; Stealing from Colleagues? Fraud and Embezzlement in 401(k) Plans
• New Retirement Bill Would Boost RMD Age to 75 ; Retirement Bill Competes With ‘Hair on Fire’ Issue for Senators’ Attention ; Sen. Grassley Raises Concerns On Part-Time 401(k) Proposal
• Money manager-sponsored 401(k) plans have higher balances, contribution rates ; SEI Investments Settles Suit Over Affiliated 401(k) Funds ; Greystar Management sued over its 401(k) plan’s investment fees
• Small 401(k) Plan Faces Excessive Fee Lawsuit
• Northrop Grumman Defends Expert in 401(k) Fee Class Action
• Total US Voluntary Market Grows 3% in 2018
• Retirement Plan Participants’ Trust in Providers Could Improve
• House Committee Considers Challenges Faced by Older Workers
• IBM 401(k) Case Lands at High Court Amid Warnings of Rush to Sue
• Are record keepers friend or foe to 401(k) advisers? ; RPAs seeking revenue streams ; Benefits of cross-selling are too big for RPAs to ignore
• Beware of ’10-year’ market returns

May 22, 2019
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PERSONAL FINANCE, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, ANNUITIES, TAXES & FINANCIAL LITERACY

• The ‘best life hack’ for Americans looking to escape the grind? Pack your bags ; Where to Live If You Want the Highest Salary and Disposable Income
• US consumers will pay the price for Trump tariffs
• 6 tips to save on summer travel this year ; A staycation could be the budget-friendly vacation you need this summer
• Don’t lowball your retirement income like these Americans ; US adviser banned after $1m client funds fraud allegations
• Here’s how many millennials actually have enough emergency savings to last 3 months
• When it comes to required minimum distributions, a mistake can be costly
• Eight Things You Need To Know About The Death Tax Before You Die ; Estate Planning for Single Parents

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

• Healthcare spending appears to accelerate in Q1: report ; Let’s get real about health costs in retirement
• A shortage of data scientists could be holding back advances in healthcare
• Private Equity is a Driving Force Behind Devious Surprise Billings

TECH, MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA

• New Verizon Data Breach Report Outlines Changing Cyber Threat Landscape
• Fast-food workers can now be paid same-day via apps
• Agents As Influencers: How Instagram Has Changed Real Estate Marketing
• Amazon Faces Investor Pressure Over Facial Recognition
• Apple, Amazon, Google, and others sued for selling thousands of pirated recordings
• Yes, Google tracks and collects your online purchases through Gmail. But why?
• Do Hedge Funds Still Love the FAANG Stocks?

401k, 403b, 457b, NONQUALIFIED, STATE-RUN PLANS & LITIGATION

• Global Survey Shows Many Workers See Retirement As Unattainable
• Secure Act Retirement Bill Set for House Vote This Week
• Borrowing from your 401(k) is easy. But should you really break open that piggy bank? ; Participant Loans: A Fiduciary Storm Brewing?
• A Call for Mandated Financial Literacy Programs in the Workplace
• Northrop Grumman Defends Expert in 401(k) Fee Class Action
• Total US Voluntary Market Grows 3% in 2018

PENSIONS

• The Coming Pension Crisis Is So Big That It’s A Problem For Everyone
• New Jersey pension overhaul proposal faces strong opponents
• Chicago Sues State Comptroller over Pension Intercepts
• Kansas governor signs budget but vetoes pension payment
• How Oregon State Pension Mismanagement Led To $26 Billion Underfunding ; Oregon Democrats Offer Pension Peace Treaty to Revolting Republicans
• Should public pensions invest in Uber and Lyft? Yes, says the man who pushed to divest in guns
• Pension fund execs urge more accommodations for disabled workers

INTERNATIONAL

• FTSE 100 chiefs in spotlight over pensions gap
• Regulators probe claims about university pension plan
• Brazil pension committee chief says government still well short of pension reform votes

MARKETS

• Consumer sentiment at highest reading in 15 years prior to trade breakdown with China ; The Reluctant Recession
• Volatility Is Here to Stay, Some Investors Wager
• The Global ‘Oil Addiction’ Shows Few Signs of Decline
• Californians ‘very stretched economically,’ significant numbers fleeing: survey
• Biggest Nordic money managers hoard banks in laundering scandals
• Vast gasoline lines form in oil-rich Venezuela

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

• ETF providers seek opportunities in dying hedge fund industry ; Hollywood does its bit for diversity in hedge funds ; Workers concerned by hedge fund influence over casinos
• As private equity moves into trailer parks, rents rise
• EU Central Bank Comes Around on Crypto, Says They Pose No Financial Threat
• Commercial property no threat to US expansion ; When To Invest In A Non-Traded REIT

May 16, 2019
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PERSONAL FINANCE, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, ANNUITIES, TAXES & FINANCIAL LITERACY

• Will Fear Of The Stock Market Leave Gen X Broke At Retirement?
• Are you over-investing in the TSP?
• Young kids learn about financial literacy
• Four big mistakes you might make when hiring a financial advisor ; How Do you Know if Your Financial Advisor is Acting in Your Best Interests? ; Wealth Industry M&A Accelerating Steadily                                                                      
• Why St. Louis is among the easiest places to save for emergencies
• The recent graduate’s guide to navigating credit ; An excellent credit score can help you save money on bills
• Reforming the Tax Code to Make It Pro-Soup Kitchen

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

• How Will 5G Wireless Impact Healthcare?              
• Newsom’s tough sell on healthcare: persuading public on fines for those without coverage
• Not texting in healthcare? Here’s why you should
• Employer coverage is a barrier to free market healthcare, and a bulwark against socialism

TECH & SOCIAL MEDIA

• Digital wallets apps — are they safe?
• This government agency wants to partner with fintech firms. But a gift rule is blocking it
• WhatsApp Has Exposed Phones To Israeli Spyware — Update Your Apps Now ; Why Some Restaurants Call Food Delivery Apps A ‘Necessary Evil’
• Attention, Amazon Shoppers: Google Wants Some of Your Spending Money ; Walmart takes on Amazon with next-day delivery

401k, 403b, 457b, NONQUALIFIED, STATE-RUN PLANS & LITIGATION

• The average 401(k) soared 466% over the past 10 years
• How to Get More Intelligent With 401(k) Design
• Experts agree with Senate on retirement security solutions at hearing
• Senate Dems float bill to allow matching contributions for workers repaying student loans
• Greystar Latest Company Accused of High Fees in Smaller 401(k)

PENSIONS

• Institutional Plan Returns Rebound in Q1 2019 ; Public Pension Funds Falling Short of Needed Returns This Year
• Commentary: Getting public pension funds on target
• Tax levy may support Omaha schools’ underfunded pensions
• New Mexico PERA puts staff raises on hold
• Georgia teacher pension board must decide if colleges owe big money
• Kentucky Retirement Systems asked to reconsider math that made pension costs skyrocket
• Treasury Approves Benefits Reduction for Pennsylvania Pension
• Four Challenges Pension Administrators Face ; Utilizing technology to help pension plans manage risk
• DB Plan Sponsors Must Include More Information in Reportable Events Filings 

INTERNATIONAL

• UK pension funds returns up in first quarter
• ‘Soaring’ public sector pensions widening intergenerational fairness
• Pensions discrimination ruling pushes Premier Foods to £43m loss

MARKETS

• Fed’s Williams Says Central Banks Should Prepare for Slow Growth ; Fed’s George says she sees no case for interest rate cut
• Oil Seems Remarkably Relaxed as Global Tensions Rise
• China Retaliates, US Prepares to Escalate ; Investors flee to safe havens as China retaliates
• Trump’s trade war with China doesn’t bode well for an already shaky US housing market
• British Steel seeks government loan for ‘Brexit issues’

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

• Hedge Funds Are Sticking to Time-Tested Blueprint for a Rattled Stock Market ;  Hedge funds return to net redemptions in March, but with a regional twist ; A Hedge Fund Offers to Share the Risk of Losses ; Public Vs Private Hedge Funds
• It’s Risky to Be a Creditor in This Private Equity World
• Bitcoin Surges Above $8000; Investors Say ‘Crypto Winter’ Is Over ; Bitcoin is up more than 100% in 2019 — why is no one Googling it?; Crypto Hedge Funds’ Average AUM Grew Three Times in Q1
• Riding high: Bold family offices diversify into alternative and co-investments
• Florida Legislature passes bill that could boost foreign investment in real estate

May 14, 2019SUBSCRIBE
PERSONAL FINANCE, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, ANNUITIES, TAXES & FINANCIAL LITERACY

• Here’s Why Early Retirement Sounds Like a Terrible Idea to Me
• Financial planning advice for ‘boomerang’ parents and kids ; The latest victims of the student debt crisis — parents
• What Women Really Think About Retirement
• Lack of urgency lamented in repairing Social Security
• Millions of Americans have errors on their credit reports — do you?

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

• Teva, drugmakers, accused of price-fixing
• Record keepers take front seat on HSA bandwagon
• How Can Health Care Innovate With Cybersecurity in Mind? ; Rattled by Cyberattacks, Hospitals Push Device Makers to Improve Security
• Medicare for All makes sense and would cost less and give better healthcare to Americans | Opinion ; Washington Passes a Public Option, But Insurance Companies Will Still Get Their Cut
• Adapt wearable technology to expand penetration of health insurance
• Violence Against Healthcare Workers: A Rising Epidemic

TECH & SOCIAL MEDIA

• G7 countries to simulate cross-border cyber attack next month: France ; Nasdaq Lawsuit Over Cybersecurity ETF Fees Goes to Trial
• Fintech Companies Are Shifting Gears and Focusing on the Elderly
• Why Rewards for Loyal Spenders Are ‘a Honey Pot for Hackers’ ; Marriott hasn’t paid the price for its massive data breach
• Uber fares are cheap, thanks to venture capital. But is that free ride ending? ; Uber, Lyft: Gig economy employees are facing a heightened retirement crisis
• San Francisco mulls ‘IPO tax’ to share tech riches
• Amazon’s shift to one-day Prime shipping could prove a big challenge to 2 breeds of retailers

401k, 403b, 457b, NONQUALIFIED, STATE-RUN PLANS & LITIGATION

• None

PENSIONS

• Baseball’s pension rules changed after legally blind pitcher last played. Now he needs help.
• Judge: Pension plan analysis wrongfully withheld from public
• Gov. Lamont’s plan to fund teacher pensions could hit towns and cities hard
• Editorial | Tax measures revisited amid new budget shortfalls
• Oregon Democrats propose pension reform amid Republican walkout
• AK Steel union leadership ‘appalled and shocked’ by Machinists’ pension fund cuts

INTERNATIONAL

• Be warned: the State Pension is under direct attack
• The lost £19bn: how to trace those forgotten pension pots
• Number of public sector pensioners on £100k trebles in seven years
• Croatian unions say they have enough support for referendum on retirement age
• Sri Lanka to defuse the pension payment time bomb
• EU red tape ‘threatens pension schemes at small businesses’
• Currency aided Danish pension funds in first quarter
• Nigeria: From Jumbo Pay to Life Pension
• Members ‘blissfully’ unaware of pension minefield ahead

MARKETS

• Why the stock market is at the mercy of the US consumer ; How Far Is The Next Recession? Experts Debate Yield Curve Inversion
• Trump’s new tariff war with China boosts speculation the Fed may cut US interest rates later this year
• Oil prices mixed amid US-China trade impasse
• ADR case will test reach of investors on overseas firms
• Muni Bond Market Heats Up As Fund Inflows Swell
• Investment firms see cannabis as a growth industry
• Asian Economies Set to Dominate 7% Growth Club During 2020s
• China Invites US Negotiators to Continue Trade Talks
• Fight to replace PM May complicating Brexit talks ; Europe’s populist nightmare won’t end with Brexit

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

• Investors still stalwart despite 2018 setback
• Crypto hedge funds live to fight another day ; Lawsuit Over KRS Hedge Fund Investments Being Pushed and Pulled in Court
• Private equity’s allure poses big risks for the stock market and its investors in the next recession ; Buyout bonus boom – the gift that keeps giving ; Private equity lets no opportunity go to waste
• Why the Bitcoin price defines the cryptocurrency market ; US investor awarded $75 million in cryptocurrency crime case ; Hackers allegedly stole $2.4 million in cryptocurrency in a six-month SIM hijacking spree
• Return of Volatility Emphasizes Need for Smart Beta Strategies ; Smart beta suffers from crisis of intuition
• What’s Behind the REIT Rebound?