Search the News Archive

Public Pensions Should Capitalize on Strong 2024 Returns to Build Long-Term Stability

"Most public pensions benefited significantly from strong equity returns in 2024. According to Reason Foundation's data, the average total asset return reached 9.9%, compared to the average assumed rate of return of 7%. This positive financial momentum for most public pension plans provides a critical opportunity for policymakers to address unfunded liabilities, safeguard retirement benefits, and reduce the potential burden on taxpayers."

New Annuity Products Capitalize on Market Forces

"Current market conditions -- rising interest rates, spikes in market volatility, and continuing aftershocks from COVID supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine -- have made fixed annuities especially attractive to investors. Insurers offered competitive rates with the guarantee of a safe harbor for investors' savings."

Companies Race to Top Off Pension Plans to Capitalize on Tax Break

"Pension contributions made through mid-September can be deducted from income on tax returns being filed for 2017 -- when the U.S. corporate tax rate was still 35%.... With the deadline less than three months away, corporations are preparing to top off their pension plans to take advantage of the beneficial tax treatment. This one-time incentive is helping corporations close a pension funding gap that topped $680 billion for S&P 1500 companies after the financial crisis[.]"

How H&R Block Plans to Capitalize on Obamacare

"The vast majority of its consumers receive a refund; all told, their 26.5 million customers received $50 billion in refunds in 2012. The [ACA] could change that: It charges a tax penalty to Americans who do not carry health insurance coverage.... Now, during this tax season, H&R Block is rolling out a Health Care Review product, a no-charge assessment of the subsidies and penalties they will likely face in 2014."

Advisors Set to Capitalize on 403(b) Market's Growth, Cerulli Says

New regulations that are shifting the 403(b) market from highly individualized and retail-focused to one that is more efficient and institutionalized present new opportunities for advisors, third-party administrators (TPAs), and investment-only asset managers, according to new research by Cerulli Associates.

Third Time No Charm in 'Forgotten Account' Fantasy

"For the third time running, an 'analysis' of extrapolated and imputed data and assumptions -- compounded -- claims that roughly 20% of all 401(k) assets are ... forgotten.... Capitalize ... also conclude[s] that 'forgotten and mismanaged 401(k) accounts could end up costing an individual over $500,000 dollars in foregone savings over a career in a worst-case scenario.' In other words, they'd be better off in a low-fee, well-managed account -- like the ones Capitalize ostensibly supports."

Quantifying the Problem of 'Forgotten' 401(k)s

"There are about 31.9 million 'forgotten' 401(k) accounts, totaling about $2.1 trillion, according to a recent report from Capitalize.... Capitalize's estimate is likely overestimated. Or more precisely, they inappropriately include accounts left behind at a previous employer as 'forgotten.' "

Comparing For-Profit and Not-For-Profit Health Insurers: How Capital and Surplus Are Managed

"Generally, for-profit health insurers operate in their local jurisdiction with a lower capital and surplus level, reporting lower RBC ratios, while their increased leverage leads to higher returns on equity. This management approach usually entails larger and more frequent contributions of capital to the insurer by its ultimate owners, as well as more frequent dividends being paid out by the insurer. In contrast, nonprofit or not-for-profit insurers have less access to outside capital and therefore must effectively manage business requirements and risk by holding more capital and surplus on their own balance sheet."

The Next Frontier for Employee Ownership: Access to Capital Markets Through AORA

"[T]he American Ownership and Resilience Act (AORA) [HR 3248; S 1645] would expand pools of investment capital necessary to grow the field while respecting the original intentions of the founders of ESOP legislation to create not ephemeral employee ownership but stable, long term employee ownership which broadens participation in business ownership and strengthens the American economy."

Applying Sun Capital: District Court Finds Private Equity Fund Liable for ERISA Withdrawal Liability

"This decision ... is arguably the first time a district court applied the 'investment plus' and 'partnership-in-fact' tests for determining potential withdrawal liability in the private equity context since the First Circuit issued its rulings in Sun Capital ... in 2013 and 2019." [Longroad Asset Management LLC v. Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust, No. 23-0738 (W.D. Mo. Aug. 19, 2025)]