Research 

Deconstructing the Mechanics and Market Implications of Financial Repression

White Paper

03/22/2013

Governments around the world are using financial repression to reduce their debt burdens—but their success comes at the expense of savers and investors. Download our white paper to learn how financial repression works and how to combat it.

Short-Duration High-Yield Bonds: An Attractive Solution for a Low-Yield, Rising-Rate Environment

White Paper

03/22/2013

Treasuries aren't providing enough yield for today's investors—but high-quality short-duration high-yield bonds provide income, hold up well when rates rise and can help reduce volatility. Download our white paper to learn more.

Moving Toward a Banking Union

White Paper

01/08/2013

Europe’s leaders use the term "banking union" to describe the idea of a single supervisory mechanism for all European financial institutions. What does this mean and what role will the European Central Bank play?

The Evolution of High-Yield Bonds into a Vital Asset Class

White Paper

12/31/2012

High-yield bonds have turned into a legitimate asset class that is larger, better established and less risky than in years past, providing evergreen benefits that make them a sound addition to most diversified portfolios.

Specification of Constraints in Managed Volatility Strategies

09/30/2012

Careful specification of portfolio constraints is essential in achieving an optimal minimum variance portfolio.

Strategies to Generate a Diversified Income Stream in a Low Yield Environment

White Paper

06/30/2012

A recent study shows income-generation in retirement remains the top priority for the majority of investors, yet many don’t know what to do with their bond allocations. Here are several alternatives to diversify income sources across asset classes.

The Fiduciary Considerations of Selecting the Right Target-Date Fund for Your Plan

White Paper

03/14/2012

As target-date fund offerings continue to expand, and as their popularity with plans and participants grows, it is essential that the plan fiduciary understands these differences and considers them as part of a prudent selection process.

The Future of Emerging Markets

02/28/2012

A focus on the emerging market consumer may be the best way to capitalize on future growth opportunities in these countries.

The Illusion of Precision in Target-Date Fund Glidepaths

10/01/2011

Target-date funds automatically vary the asset allocation for the participant. Like any asset allocation problem, determining how to change the asset mix over time in a target-date fund is, at its core, a Markowitz-type optimization problem.