Market Insights

Decorative pattern

Market Insights

Active or Passive

The mutual fund industry is inundated with misleading numbers. In particular, you’ve likely read an article or two that refers to some study that has shown how most actively managed funds have failed to beat their benchmarks over the long term. The inevitable conclusion would have been that everyone should buy low-fee, index-tracking exchange-traded funds […]

By David O'Leary and Brian O'Neill |April 29, 2009

5 min read

Decorative pattern

Market Insights

Climate concerns are opportunities for insurers

The latest report from Lloyd’s of London — the insurer that made its name producing products for high-risk businesses — highlights the threats and opportunities climate change will present to corporations. Released on April 28, 2009, the report offers an analysis of risk and opportunity on major issues significantly impacted by climate change, including: Water, […]

By Romana King |April 28, 2009

4 min read

Decorative pattern

Market Insights

Waning interest dogs money market funds

Money market funds have been one of the great success stories of cash management. Started in the early 1970s as a way to earn higher interest rates than regulated bank deposits in the U.S., they brought in burgeoning assets from conservative investors and eventually from corporate treasurers looking to get a yield. But the Great […]

By Scot Blythe |April 8, 2009

4 min read

Decorative pattern

Market Insights

Income planning case studies

Proper retirement planning requires planning for the worst, so deciding what to focus on in a retirement plan is no easy task. More often than not, financial planners think in terms of accumulation. But, once you switch from the accumulation stage to the distribution stage, the math is entirely different. While you can talk about […]

By Jim Otar |April 7, 2009

4 min read