04/04/2011

This article is part of a series of case studies we are conducting for various 401K plans. In this article, we will discuss how participants in NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PROGRAM can achieve reasonable investment results using asset allocation strategies. We will also discuss how those portfolios are positioned in today’s market environment.

National Semiconductor Corporation, a semiconductor company, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits and sub-systems. It is one of the oldest semiconductor companies in Silicon Valley.

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PROGRAM's 401K plan consists of 30 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 3 major assets: US Equity, Foreign Equity, Fixed Income. Three Core Asset ETF Benchmark's 401K plan consists of 3 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 3 major assets: US Equity, Foreign Equity, Fixed Income.

As of Apr 1, 2011, NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PROGRAM investment choice is rated as above average and Three Core Asset ETF Benchmark investment choice is rated as poor based on MyPlanIQ Plan Rating methodology that was designed to measure how effective a plan's available investment funds are . It has the following detailed ratings:

The chart and table below show the historical performance of moderate model portfolios employing strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies (SAA and TAA , both provided by MyPlanIQ). For comparison purpose, we also include the moderate model portfolios of a typical 3 asset SIB (Simpler Is Better) plan . This SIB plan has the following candidate index funds and their ETFs equivalent:

US Equity: SPY or VTI
Foreign Equity: EFA or VEU
Fixed Income: AGG or BND

Performance chart (as of Apr 1, 2011)

Performance table (as of Apr 1, 2011)

Currently Commodities, US Equity and Real Estate are doing well. Only US Equity is available to NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PROGRAM participants.

Even though National Semiconductor plan falls into what we call 'U.S. centric' catogories because of the only three asset classes it covers (U.S. equity, Foreign equity and fixed income), it compensates its lack of diversification by its excellent fund choices. In the large cap U.S. stock categoriy, it provides

Davis New York Venture A (NYVRX) -- Large-cap blend

Dodge & Cox Stocks (DODGX) -- Large-cap value

Fidelity Contrafund (FCNTX) -- Large-cap growth

All of them are excellent funds. In the mid cap category, it again has its three styles covered by high quality funds. These include

Fidelity Low Priced Stocks (FLPSX) -- Mid-cap blend

Lord Abbett Mid-Cap Value (LAVLX) -- Mid-cap value

Janus Funds Enterprise (JMGRX) -- Mid-cap growth

Three small cap funds are provided for small cap stocks. In foreign stock category are American Funds Euro-Pacific (RERFX) and Dodge & Cox Foreign Stocks (DODFX), both are well known and solid performers.

To summarize, NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PROGRAM participants can achieve reasonable investment returns by adopting asset allocation strategies that are tailored to their risk profiles. The company could further expand its fund coverage to other major asset classes such as emerging market stocks to allow better diversification.


Disclosure:

MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.

Symbols:nnsm, SPY, VTI, EFA, VEU, AGG, BND, AOM, CIU, BIV, GWL, PFA, IVE, IWW, JKF, VTV, ELV, PWV, RPV, SCHV, EFV, PID, DWM, TZD, TZG, TZL, TZV, IVV, IYY, IWV, VV, DLN, RSP, SCHX, IVW, IWZ, JKE, VUG, ELG, QQQQ, RPG, SCHG, IJJ, IWS, JKI, VOE, EMV, PWP, RFV, UVU, IJH, IWR, JKG, VO, MDY, EMM, PJG, DON, EZM, MVV, IJR, IWM, JKJ, VB, DSC, PJM, DES, SAA, UWM, SCHA, IJK, IWP, VOT, EMG, PWJ, RFG, UKW, IJT, IWO, JKK, VBK, DSG, PWT, RZG, UKK, TIP

Exchange Tickers: (nsm), (SPY), (VTI), (EFA), (VEU), (AGG), (BND), (AOM), (CIU), (BIV), (GWL), (PFA), (IVE), (IWW), (JKF), (VTV), (ELV), (PWV), (RPV), (SCHV), (EFV), (PID), (DWM), (TZD), (TZG), (TZL), (TZV), (IVV), (IYY), (IWV), (VV), (DLN), (RSP), (SCHX), (IVW), (IWZ), (JKE), (VUG), (ELG), (QQQQ), (RPG), (SCHG), (IJJ), (IWS), (JKI), (VOE), (EMV), (PWP), (RFV), (UVU), (IJH), (IWR), (JKG), (VO), (MDY), (EMM), (PJG), (DON), (EZM), (MVV), (IJR), (IWM), (JKJ), (VB), (DSC), (PJM), (DES), (SAA), (UWM), (SCHA), (IJK), (IWP), (VOT), (EMG), (PWJ), (RFG), (UKW), (IJT), (IWO), (JKK), (VBK), (DSG), (PWT), (RZG), (UKK), (TIP)

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12/14/2010

Samsung is an aggressive and innovative company. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of semiconductors, LCDs, telecommunication products, and digital media products. It has operations in Korea, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and China. The company was founded in 1938 and is based in Seoul, South Korea

Their 401K plan is one of the best we have seen and demonstrates employee concern. This report reviews Samsung 401K plan. We will discuss the investment choices and present the plan rating by MyPlanIQ.

Plan Review and Rating

Samsung 401K's plan consists of 33 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 5 major assets: US Equity, Foreign Equity, Emerging Market Equity, REITs, Fixed Income.

With 11 target date funds, there are plenty of alternatives for those who don't want to mess with investments but there is also plenty of upside for those who do.

The list of minor asset classes covered:

Diversified Emerging Mkts: EEM, GMM, PXH, DEM, SCHE
Equity Precious Metals: DBP
Foreign Large Blend: EFA, VEU, GWL, PFA
Global Real Estate: IFGL, RWX
High Yield Bond: HYG, JNK, PHB
Intermediate-term Bond: AGG, CIU, BIV, BND
Large Blend: IVV, IYY, IWV, VTI, VV, SPY, DLN, RSP, SCHX
Large Growth: IVW, IWZ, JKE, VUG, ELG, QQQQ, RPG, SCHG
Large Value: IVE, IWW, JKF, VTV, ELV, PWV, RPV, SCHV
Mid-cap Blend: IJH, IWR, JKG, VO, MDY, EMM, PJG, DON, EZM, MVV
Mid-cap Growth: IJK, IWP, VOT, EMG, PWJ, RFG, UKW
Mid-cap Value: IJJ, IWS, JKI, VOE, EMV, PWP, RFV, UVU
Natural Resources: IYM, IGE, VAW, XLB, XME, PYZ, DBN, RTM, UYM
Retirement Income:
Short Government: SHY, SHV, VGSH, PLK, USY
Small Blend: IJR, IWM, JKJ, VB, DSC, PJM, DES, SAA, UWM, SCHA
Small Growth: IJT, IWO, JKK, VBK, DSG, PWT, RZG, UKK
Small Value: IJS, IWN, JKL, VBR, DSV, PWY, RZV, UVT
Target Date 2000-2010: TZD
Target Date 2011-2015: TZE
Target Date 2016-2020: TZG
Target Date 2021-2025: TZI
Target Date 2026-2030: TZL
Target Date 2031-2035: TZO
Target Date 2036-2040: TZV
Target Date 2041-2045:
Target Date 2050+:

As of Dec 13, 2010, this plan investment choice is rated as great based on MyPlanIQ Plan Rating methodology that measures the effectiveness of a plan's available investment funds. It has the following detailed ratings:

Diversification -- Rated as above average (80%)
Fund Quality -- Rated as great (97%)
Portfolio Building -- Rated as great (98%)
Overall Rating: great (92%)

Keys to the success of this portfolio

• US funds ideal balance in terms of the number of range of choices
• Strong fixed income choices
• Five asset classes in total
  

Current Economic and Market Conditions

With the current market uncertainties with bonds and stocks going through continuous shifts, it is even more critical to properly diversify and respond to market changes.

The Samsung 401K plan is well positioned to provide strength in equities and fixed income classes and to provide a great platform for building a high performance portfolio.

MyPlanIQ offers two asset allocation strategies: strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies (SAA and TAA for participants in Samsung 401K).

Strategic Asset Allocation is based on well known modern portfolio theory and its key features include: diversification, proper fund selection and periodically re-balancing.

Tactical Asset Allocation works on a diversified array of assets provided by funds in a plan and adjusts asset mixes based on market conditions such as asset price momentum utilized by TAA.

Portfolio Discussions

The chart and table below show the historical performance of moderate model portfolios employing strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies. For comparison purpose, we also include the moderate model portfolios of a typical 5 asset SIB (Simpler Is Better) plan . This SIB plan has the following candidate index funds and their ETFs equivalent:

US Equity: SPY or VTI
Foreign Equity: EFA or VEU
REITs: IYR or VNQ or ICF
Emerging Market Equity: EEM or VWO
Fixed Income: AGG or BND

Performance chart (as of Dec 13, 2010)

Performance table (as of Dec 13, 2010)

The five asset SIB is one of the best performing benchmarks and over the long haul, the Samsung plan has beaten the benchmark although in recent months, the five core SIB has slightly outperformed the Samsung 401K plan.

Currently US Equity, Commodities and Emerging Market are doing well. US Equity and Emerging Market are available to Samsung 401K participants.

In summary, Samsung are to be congratulated in putting together such a good plan for the US employees. Those who don't want to get involved with any investing decisions have several choices and those who want to get involved will certainly be rewarded for their efforts.

labels:investment,

Symbols:SPY,VTI,EFA,VEU,EEM,VWO,IYR,VNQ,ICF,AGG,BND,HYG,JNK,PHB,CIU,BIV,IYM,IGE,VAW,XLB,XME,PYZ,DBN,RTM,UYM,GWL,PFA,IVE,IWW,JKF,VTV,ELV,PWV,RPV,SCHV,TZD,IFGL,RWX,TZE,TZG,TZI,TZO,TZL,TZV,IVV,IYY,IWV,VV,DLN,RSP,SCHX,SHY,SHV,VGSH,PLK,USY,IVW,IWZ,JKE,VUG,ELG,QQQQ,RPG,

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12/06/2010

This report reviews BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PROGRAM plan. We will discuss the investment choices and present the plan rating by MyPlanIQ. Current economic and market conditions are discussed in the context of the investment portfolios in the plan. We will then show how participants in BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PROGRAM can achieve reasonable investment results using asset allocation strategies.

Plan Review and Rating

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, a global biopharmaceutical company, engages in discovering, developing, and delivering medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. The company focuses on areas of serious unmet medical need, such as affective (psychiatric) disorders, Alzheimers/dementia, cardiovascular (primarily atherosclerosis/thrombosis), diabetes, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, obesity, oncology, rheumatoid arthritis and related diseases, and solid organ transplant.

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PROGRAM consists of 26 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 3 major assets: US Equity, Foreign Equity, Fixed Income. The list of minor asset classes covered:

Foreign Large Blend: EFA, VEU, GWL, PFA
Foreign Large Growth: EFG
Intermediate-term Bond: AGG, CIU, BIV, BND
Large Blend: IVV, IYY, IWV, VTI, VV, SPY, DLN, RSP, SCHX
Large Growth: IVW, IWZ, JKE, VUG, ELG, QQQQ, RPG, SCHG
Large Value: IVE, IWW, JKF, VTV, ELV, PWV, RPV, SCHV
Mid-cap Blend: IJH, IWR, JKG, VO, MDY, EMM, PJG, DON, EZM, MVV
Mid-cap Growth: IJK, IWP, VOT, EMG, PWJ, RFG, UKW
Mid-cap Value: IJJ, IWS, JKI, VOE, EMV, PWP, RFV, UVU
Retirement Income:
Small Blend: IJR, IWM, JKJ, VB, DSC, PJM, DES, SAA, UWM, SCHA
Target Date 2000-2010: TZD
Target Date 2011-2015: TZE
Target Date 2016-2020: TZG
Target Date 2021-2025: TZI
Target Date 2026-2030: TZL
Target Date 2031-2035: TZO
Target Date 2036-2040: TZV
Target Date 2041-2045:
Target Date 2050+:

As of Dec 2, 2010, this plan investment choice is rated as based on MyPlanIQ Plan Rating methodology that measures the effectiveness of a plan's available investment funds. It has the following detailed ratings:

Diversification -- Rated as (30%)
Fund Quality -- Rated as (45%)
Portfolio Building -- Rated as (54%)
Overall Rating: (44%)

Current Economic and Market Conditions

We have experienced an uncertain 2010: plenty of worries on whether the US economy will climb out of the great recession and recover.

• The Federal Reserve embarked on Quantitative Easing II (QE2) to stimulate the economy.
• The housing market is still at its low but largely stabilized.
• The unemployment rate is stuck at 9%.

Americans continue to face an uncertain future, given (among others) the high unemployment rate, large federal and local government debts and global trade imbalance. With such an economic backdrop, the stock and debt markets are going to be volatile. Despite this, markets have been resilient and appear positioned to rebound.

In this market it is even more critical to properly diversify and respond market changes. MyPlanIQ offers two asset allocation strategies: strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies ( SAA and TAA for participants in BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PROGRAM).

Strategic Asset Allocation is based on well known modern portfolio theory and its key features include: diversification, proper fund selection and periodically re-balancing.

Tactical Asset Allocation works on a diversified array of assets provided by funds in a plan and adjusts asset mixes based on market conditions such as asset price momentum utilized by TAA.

Portfolio Discussions

The chart and table below show the historical performance of moderate model portfolios employing strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies. For comparison purpose, we also include the moderate model portfolios of a typical 3 asset SIB (Simpler Is Better) plan . This SIB plan has the following candidate index funds and their ETFs equivalent:

US Equity: (SPY or VTI)
Foreign Equity: (EFA or VEU)
Fixed Income: (AGG or BND)

Performance chart (as of Dec 2, 2010)

Performance table (as of Dec 2, 2010)

Currently, asset classes in US Equity (SPY,VTI), Foreign Equity (EFA,VEU) and Fixed Income (AGG,BND) are doing relatively well. These asset classes are available to BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PROGRAM participants.

To summarize, BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PROGRAM plan participants can achieve reasonable investment returns by adopting asset allocation strategies that are tailored to their risk profiles. 

labels; investment

Symbols:BMY,SPY,VTI,EFA,VEU,AGG,BND,CIU,BIV,EFG,GWL,PFA,IVE,IWW,JKF,VTV,ELV,PWV,RPV,SCHV,TZD,TZE,TZG,TZI,TZO,TZL,TZV,IVV,IYY,IWV,VV,DLN,RSP,SCHX,IVW,IWZ,JKE,VUG,ELG,QQQQ,RPG,SCHG,IJJ,IWS,JKI,VOE,EMV,PWP,RFV,UVU,IJH,IWR,JKG,VO,MDY,EMM,PJG,DON,EZM,MVV,IJR,IWM,JKJ,V,

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12/06/2010

This report reviews BAKER 401(k) PLAN. We will discuss the investment choices and present the plan rating by MyPlanIQ. Current economic and market conditions are discussed in the context of the investment portfolios in the plan. We will then show how participants in BAKER 401(k) PLAN can achieve reasonable investment results using asset allocation strategies.

Plan Review and Rating

Baker Hughes Incorporated and its subsidiaries supply wellbore related products, and technology services and systems for drilling, formation evaluation, completion and production, and reservoir technology and consulting to the oil and natural gas industry worldwide. It operates in two segments, Drilling and Evaluation, and Completion and Production.

BAKER 401(k) PLAN consists of 30 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 3 major assets: US Equity, Foreign Equity, Fixed Income. The list of minor asset classes covered:

Foreign Large Blend: EFA, VEU, GWL, PFA
Intermediate-term Bond: AGG, CIU, BIV, BND
Large Blend: IVV, IYY, IWV, VTI, VV, SPY, DLN, RSP, SCHX
Large Growth: IVW, IWZ, JKE, VUG, ELG, QQQQ, RPG, SCHG
Large Value: IVE, IWW, JKF, VTV, ELV, PWV, RPV, SCHV
Mid-cap Blend: IJH, IWR, JKG, VO, MDY, EMM, PJG, DON, EZM, MVV
Moderate Allocation: AOM
Retirement Income:
Small Blend: IJR, IWM, JKJ, VB, DSC, PJM, DES, SAA, UWM, SCHA
Small Growth: IJT, IWO, JKK, VBK, DSG, PWT, RZG, UKK
Target Date 2000-2010: TZD
Target Date 2011-2015: TZE
Target Date 2016-2020: TZG
Target Date 2021-2025: TZI
Target Date 2026-2030: TZL
Target Date 2036-2040: TZV
Target Date 2041-2045:
Target Date 2050+:
World Stock: IOO, VT

As of Dec 2, 2010, this plan investment choice is rated as based on MyPlanIQ Plan Rating methodology that measures the effectiveness of a plan's available investment funds. It has the following detailed ratings:

Diversification -- Rated as (51%)
Fund Quality -- Rated as (75%)
Portfolio Building -- Rated as (75%)
Overall Rating: (68%)

Current Economic and Market Conditions

We have experienced an uncertain 2010: plenty of worries on whether the US economy will climb out of the great recession and recover.

• The Federal Reserve embarked on Quantitative Easing II (QE2) to stimulate the economy.
• The housing market is still at its low but largely stabilized.
• The unemployment rate is stuck at 9%.

Americans continue to face an uncertain future, given (among others) the high unemployment rate, large federal and local government debts and global trade imbalance. With such an economic backdrop, the stock and debt markets are going to be volatile. Despite this, markets have been resilient and appear positioned to rebound.

In this market it is even more critical to properly diversify and respond market changes. MyPlanIQ offers two asset allocation strategies: strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies ( SAA and TAA for participants in BAKER 401(k) PLAN).

Strategic Asset Allocation is based on well known modern portfolio theory and its key features include: diversification, proper fund selection and periodically re-balancing.

Tactical Asset Allocation works on a diversified array of assets provided by funds in a plan and adjusts asset mixes based on market conditions such as asset price momentum utilized by TAA.

Portfolio Discussions

The chart and table below show the historical performance of moderate model portfolios employing strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies. For comparison purpose, we also include the moderate model portfolios of a typical 3 asset SIB (Simpler Is Better) plan . This SIB plan has the following candidate index funds and their ETFs equivalent:

US Equity: (SPY or VTI)
Foreign Equity: (EFA or VEU)
Fixed Income: (AGG or BND)

Performance chart (as of Dec 2, 2010)

Performance table (as of Dec 2, 2010)

Currently, asset classes in US Equity (SPY,VTI), Foreign Equity (EFA,VEU) and Fixed Income (AGG,BND) are doing relatively well. These asset classes are available to BAKER 401(k) PLAN participants.

To summarize, BAKER 401(k) PLAN plan participants can achieve reasonable investment returns by adopting asset allocation strategies that are tailored to their risk profiles.

labels:investment,

Symbols:BHI,SPY,VTI,EFA,VEU,AGG,BND,AOM,CIU,BIV,GWL,PFA,IVE,IWW,JKF,VTV,ELV,PWV,RPV,SCHV,TZD,TZE,TZG,TZI,TZL,TZV,IVV,IYY,IWV,VV,DLN,RSP,SCHX,IOO,VT,IVW,IWZ,JKE,VUG,ELG,QQQQ,RPG,SCHG,IJH,IWR,JKG,VO,MDY,EMM,PJG,DON,EZM,MVV,IJR,IWM,JKJ,VB,DSC,PJM,DES,SAA,UWM,SCHA,IJ, ,

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12/06/2010

This report reviews ALLEGHENY ENERGY EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP AND SAVINGS PLAN . We will discuss the investment choices and present the plan rating by MyPlanIQ. Current economic and market conditions are discussed in the context of the investment portfolios in the plan. We will then show how participants in ALLEGHENY ENERGY EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP AND SAVINGS PLAN can achieve reasonable investment results using asset allocation strategies.

Plan Review and Rating

Allegheny Energy, Inc. owns and operates electric generation facilities, and delivers electric services to customers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. The company owns or contractually controls coal-, gas-, and oil-fired generation facilities, as well as hydro generation facilities.

ALLEGHENY ENERGY EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP AND SAVINGS PLAN's 401K plan consists of 28 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 3 major assets: US Equity, Foreign Equity, Fixed Income. The list of minor asset classes covered:

Foreign Large Blend: EFA, VEU, GWL, PFA
Inflation-protected Bond: TIP
Intermediate-term Bond: AGG, CIU, BIV, BND
Large Blend: IVV, IYY, IWV, VTI, VV, SPY, DLN, RSP, SCHX
Large Growth: IVW, IWZ, JKE, VUG, ELG, QQQQ, RPG, SCHG
Large Value: IVE, IWW, JKF, VTV, ELV, PWV, RPV, SCHV
Mid-cap Blend: IJH, IWR, JKG, VO, MDY, EMM, PJG, DON, EZM, MVV
Mid-cap Growth: IJK, IWP, VOT, EMG, PWJ, RFG, UKW
Mid-cap Value: IJJ, IWS, JKI, VOE, EMV, PWP, RFV, UVU
Multisector Bond: AGG, GBF, BND, LAG
Retirement Income:
Short Government: SHY, SHV, VGSH, PLK, USY
Small Blend: IJR, IWM, JKJ, VB, DSC, PJM, DES, SAA, UWM, SCHA
Small Growth: IJT, IWO, JKK, VBK, DSG, PWT, RZG, UKK
Target Date 2000-2010: TZD
Target Date 2011-2015: TZE
Target Date 2016-2020: TZG
Target Date 2021-2025: TZI
Target Date 2026-2030: TZL
Target Date 2031-2035: TZO
Target Date 2036-2040: TZV
Target Date 2041-2045:
Target Date 2050+:

As of Dec 2, 2010, this plan investment choice is rated as based on MyPlanIQ Plan Rating methodology that measures the effectiveness of a plan's available investment funds. It has the following detailed ratings:

Diversification -- Rated as (11%)
Fund Quality -- Rated as (58%)
Portfolio Building -- Rated as (48%)
Overall Rating: (40%)

Current Economic and Market Conditions

We have experienced an uncertain 2010: plenty of worries on whether the US economy will climb out of the great recession and recover.

• The Federal Reserve embarked on Quantitative Easing II (QE2) to stimulate the economy.
• The housing market is still at its low but largely stabilized.
• The unemployment rate is stuck at 9%.

Americans continue to face an uncertain future, given (among others) the high unemployment rate, large federal and local government debts and global trade imbalance. With such an economic backdrop, the stock and debt markets are going to be volatile. Despite this, markets have been resilient and appear positioned to rebound.

In this market it is even more critical to properly diversify and respond market changes. MyPlanIQ offers two asset allocation strategies: strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies ( SAA and TAA for participants in ALLEGHENY ENERGY EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP AND SAVINGS PLAN).

Strategic Asset Allocation is based on well known modern portfolio theory and its key features include: diversification, proper fund selection and periodically re-balancing.

Tactical Asset Allocation works on a diversified array of assets provided by funds in a plan and adjusts asset mixes based on market conditions such as asset price momentum utilized by TAA.

Portfolio Discussions

The chart and table below show the historical performance of moderate model portfolios employing strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies. For comparison purpose, we also include the moderate model portfolios of a typical 3 asset SIB (Simpler Is Better) plan . This SIB plan has the following candidate index funds and their ETFs equivalent:

US Equity: (SPY or VTI)
Foreign Equity: (EFA or VEU)
Fixed Income: (AGG or BND)

Performance chart (as of Dec 2, 2010)

Performance table (as of Dec 2, 2010)

Currently, asset classes in US Equity (SPY,VTI), Foreign Equity (EFA,VEU) and Fixed Income (AGG,BND) are doing relatively well. These asset classes are available to ALLEGHENY ENERGY EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP AND SAVINGS PLAN participants.

To summarize, ALLEGHENY ENERGY EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP AND SAVINGS PLAN plan participants can achieve reasonable investment returns by adopting asset allocation strategies that are tailored to their risk profiles.

labels:investment,

Symbols:AYE,SPY,VTI,EFA,VEU,AGG,BND,CIU,BIV,GWL,PFA,IVE,IWW,JKF,VTV,ELV,PWV,RPV,SCHV,TZD,TZE,TZG,TZI,TZO,TZL,TZV,IVV,IYY,IWV,VV,DLN,RSP,SCHX,SHY,SHV,VGSH,PLK,USY,IVW,IWZ,JKE,VUG,ELG,QQQQ,RPG,SCHG,IJJ,IWS,JKI,VOE,EMV,PWP,RFV,UVU,IJH,IWR,JKG,VO,MDY,EMM,PJG,DON,EZM, ,

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12/06/2010

12/06/2010

12/06/2010

11/03/2010

11/02/2010

10/24/2010

12/03/2010

This report reviews Apartment Investment and Management Company 401(k) Retirement Plan plan. We will discuss the investment choices and present the plan rating by MyPlanIQ. Current economic and market conditions are discussed in the context of the investment portfolios in the plan. We will then show how participants in Apartment Investment and Management Company 401(k) Retirement Plan can achieve reasonable investment results using asset allocation strategies.

Plan Review and Rating

Apartment Investment and Management Company 401(k) Retirement Plan's 401K plan consists of 22 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 4 major assets: US Equity, Foreign Equity, REITs, Fixed Income. The list of minor asset classes covered:

Foreign Large Growth: EFG
Inflation-protected Bond: TIP
Intermediate-term Bond: AGG, CIU, BIV, BND
Large Blend: IVV, IYY, IWV, VTI, VV, SPY, DLN, RSP, SCHX
Large Growth: IVW, IWZ, JKE, VUG, ELG, QQQQ, RPG, SCHG
Large Value: IVE, IWW, JKF, VTV, ELV, PWV, RPV, SCHV
Mid-cap Blend: IJH, IWR, JKG, VO, MDY, EMM, PJG, DON, EZM, MVV
Real Estate: IYR, ICF, VNQ
Retirement Income:
Small Blend: IJR, IWM, JKJ, VB, DSC, PJM, DES, SAA, UWM, SCHA
Small Growth: IJT, IWO, JKK, VBK, DSG, PWT, RZG, UKK
Small Value: IJS, IWN, JKL, VBR, DSV, PWY, RZV, UVT
Target Date 2000-2010: TZD
Target Date 2016-2020: TZG
Target Date 2026-2030: TZL
Target Date 2036-2040: TZV
Target Date 2050+:

As of Dec 2, 2010, this plan investment choice is rated as based on MyPlanIQ Plan Rating methodology that measures the effectiveness of a plan's available investment funds. It has the following detailed ratings:

Diversification -- Rated as (76%)
Fund Quality -- Rated as (36%)
Portfolio Building -- Rated as (87%)
Overall Rating: (68%)

Current Economic and Market Conditions

We have experienced an uncertain 2010: plenty of worries on whether the US economy will climb out of the great recession and recover.

• The Federal Reserve embarked on Quantitative Easing II (QE2) to stimulate the economy.
• The housing market is still at its low but largely stabilized.
• The unemployment rate is stuck at 9%.

Americans continue to face an uncertain future, given (among others) the high unemployment rate, large federal and local government debts and global trade imbalance. With such an economic backdrop, the stock and debt markets are going to be volatile. Despite this, markets have been resilient and appear positioned to rebound.

In this market it is even more critical to properly diversify and respond market changes. MyPlanIQ offers two asset allocation strategies: strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies ( SAA and TAA for participants in Apartment Investment and Management Company 401(k) Retirement Plan).

Strategic Asset Allocation is based on well known modern portfolio theory and its key features include: diversification, proper fund selection and periodically re-balancing.

Tactical Asset Allocation works on a diversified array of assets provided by funds in a plan and adjusts asset mixes based on market conditions such as asset price momentum utilized by TAA.

Portfolio Discussions

The chart and table below show the historical performance of moderate model portfolios employing strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies. For comparison purpose, we also include the moderate model portfolios of a typical 4 asset SIB (Simpler Is Better) plan . This SIB plan has the following candidate index funds and their ETFs equivalent:

US Equity: (SPY or VTI)
Foreign Equity: (EFA or VEU)
REITs: (IYR or VNQ or ICF)
Fixed Income: (AGG or BND)

Performance chart (as of Dec 2, 2010)

Performance table (as of Dec 2, 2010)

Currently, asset classes in US Equity (SPY,VTI), Foreign Equity (EFA,VEU) and REITs (IYR,VNQ,ICF) are doing relatively well. These asset classes are available to Apartment Investment and Management Company 401(k) Retirement Plan participants.

To summarize, Apartment Investment and Management Company 401(k) Retirement Plan plan participants can achieve reasonable investment returns by adopting asset allocation strategies that are tailored to their risk profiles.

Symbols: AIV , SPY , VTI , EFA , VEU , IYR , VNQ , ICF , AGG , BND , CIU , BIV , EFG , IVE , IWW , JKF , VTV , ELV , PWV , RPV , SCHV , TZD , TZG , TZL , TZV , IVV , IYY , IWV , VV , DLN , RSP , SCHX , IVW , IWZ , JKE , VUG , ELG , QQQQ , RPG , SCHG , IJH , IWR , JKG , VO , MDY , EMM , PJG , DON , EZM , MVV , IJS , IWN , JKL , VBR , DSV , PWY , RZV , UVT , IJR , IWM , JKJ , VB , DSC , PJM , DES , SAA , UWM , SCHA , IJT , IWO , JKK , VBK , DSG , PWT , RZG , UKK , TIP

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03/21/2011