Description: Article comparing stable value and money market funds in terms of income production and risk level for defined contribution DC pension plan participants.

Description: A discussion of the market opportunities for offering Stable Value Funds across the world.

Description: Full version of International Section News, October 1999, Issue No. 20.

Description: The article describes the factors that should determine the asset allocation of an employer's QDIA, especially Target Date Funds, and suggests that in general QDIAs have insufficient equity in retirement asset allocations.

Description: Explains different disclosure requirements that apply to costs characterized as part of the "spread" and those that are part of the contract "fees". An example illustrates these concepts

Description: The article discusses the characteristics of the high-yielding bank loan asset class.

Description: Measuring Fair Value for Participation Units of Stable Value Pooled Funds

Description: The article endorses broader use of lifetime income in DC plans. It explains why the use of DB plans will continue to decline. The article points out that plans sponsors will not willingly take on additional ERISA fiduciary exposure. The article endorses three regulatory reforms that would increase the use of lifetime income in DC plans. 1. A robust annuity issuer safe harbor that would free employers from fiduciary exposure for putting an annuity provider on the DC platform. 2. A requirement that a plan offer a lifetime income option to qualify for the 404(c) safe harbor. 3. A revision to 404(c) to allow plan sponsors to allocate part or all of the employer match to lifetime income.

Description: An overview of the state old age pension systems in four European countries that is intended to provide additional international context for a discussion of possible design and financing reforms for US social security.