Target-Date Fund Topics

Target-date funds are a hot topic with plan sponsors these days. PSCA's National Conference will feature several sessions about these types of investment options. Here is a preview of a couple of these sessions:

The Next Generation of Target Date Investing: How Can We Deliver Better Outcomes?
Presented by Jeffrey L. Knight, Putnam Investments
Over 15 years since the inception of target-date funds, forward-thinking plan sponsors are now seeking to provide more thoughtful choices for their participants.

• What asset classes should be included - or avoided?
• How can we provide more consistent returns?
• How do we avoid repeating the volatility of the past 24 months, especially when used as default options?
• As a plan fiduciary, what is your obligation to look beyond your provider's standard offering?

In this session, leading investment consultants and asset managers will discuss these issues, how the industry is evolving to address them, and welcome your questions.

Target-Date Funds: To or Through Strategies
Presented by Doug Prince, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.
Target-date funds have grown dramatically as a core investment options in many retirement plans. The reality is that, unlike other investment options, comparison between two different funds is not relatively easy due to a number of variables. One of the differences between options is basic – is the fund structured as a to retirement date portfolio, or a through retirement portfolio? Listen to the rationale of which strategy may be more appropriate for your participants.

National Conference Keynote Speakers

PSCA has a record number of nine keynote presentations lined up for this year's National Conference. In addition to familiar faces, like PSCA's own David Wray and Ed Ferrigno, a variety of financial industry experts will present on relevant topics that are affecting today's plan sponsors. Here are two presentations that you will see at the National Conference:

Exploring Retirement Income Strategies: Why Plan Sponsors Must Understand Retirement Income Products

Presented by Mendel Melzer, CIO and President, Newport Group Securities, Inc. on Thursday, September 23, 2010 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

This panel discussion will address the three topics that plan sponsors must understand about the new class of retirement income products:

• Why are Retirement Income products needed, and why must plan sponsors consider them for their plans?

• What types of solutions are available today and what are their pros and cons?

• What’s standing in the way of widespread adoption?

Should these be obstacles? Bring the questions you have about retirement income products!

An Overview of Research Studies

Presented by Jodi DiCenzo, Principal, Behavioral Research Associates on Friday, September 24, 2010 from 8:40-9:40 a.m.

Reviewing pertinent data helps plan sponsors to better understand where their plan stands today and how to better plan for tomorrow. It is also important to review industry survey information to get a macro view of the mega trends in retirement, as they may drive plan design change. Jodi DiCenzo, Principal of Behavioral Research Associates, will review the major research studies released in 2009, including PSCA’s Annual Survey of Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plans, PSCA’s 403(b) Plan Survey, and others to provide a composite picture of what is happening in the world of retirement benefits.

Conferences Help In Many Ways

PSCA exhibited this year at SHRM’s National Conference in San Diego. We are impressed with the depth and breath of the program. SHRM is a great association and offers many benefits to its members. Another great conference and association is PSCA’s National Conference where you are exposed to the latest ideas, products and thinking in the industry. You meet others – just like yourself – with similar challenges and through this network sometimes discover innovative solutions. By actively participating in PSCA’s National Conference, you are also doing due diligence and bringing back to your firm ideas, information, strategies and ideas that can improve how you manage your benefit plan. As a fiduciary, you fulfill part of your responsibility on being a prudent expert through the continual learning provided by the General Sessions and Workshops