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Articles on TZE

  • Schwab Mutual Funds Beat out ETFs

    04/06/2011

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    Retirement investing is a "hair on fire" problem -- especially for baby boomers for whom retirement is a near and present danger. There is a real lack of consistent, unbiased information that a retiree can use to help improve risk adjusted returns. Blogger Jenny Hollingworth has been teaching herself about investing and has come to the point where she is going to choose a plan and make her first investments.

    In her recent post New Steps she sorted through a list of alternatives and chose the Schwab OneSource Select List Funds.

    The reason for her choice was:

    • The highest possible rating for each plan is 5 stars.  So I bypassed anything that didn’t have 5 (because really, why go for less?)
    • Picked out a name I knew: Schwab.  Specifically: Schwab OneSource Select List Funds. I selected it.  
    • This is an application to Charles Schwab's OneSource Select List mutual funds. These funds are  No Load and No Transaction Fee (NTF) mutual funds. Based on Schwab's policy, the no load NTF funds have 90 days redemption fee period. As of 1/1/2010, there are total  140 OneSource Select List funds available from Schwab.

    We are going to review the Schwab OneSource Select List Funds  to see whether she chose a good plan. The plan consists of 137 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 6 major assets: US Equity, Commodity, Foreign Equity, REITs, Emerging Market Equity, Fixed Income.

     

    Asset Class Ticker Name
    LARGE VALUE AAGPX American Beacon Lg Cap Value Inv
    Foreign Large Value AAIPX American Beacon Intl Equity Inv
    Retirement Income AANPX American Beacon Retire Inc & Apprec Inv
    High Yield Muni ABHYX American Century High-Yield Muni Inv
    Inflation-Protected Bond ACITX American Century Infl-Adj Bond Inv
    Muni National Long ACLVX American Century Long-Term Tax-Free Inv
    MID-CAP VALUE ACMVX American Century Mid Cap Value Inv
    Conservative Allocation AONIX American Century One Choice: Vry Cnsrv I
    MID-CAP VALUE ARDEX Aston/River Road Dividend All Cap Val N
    Target Date 2011-2015 ARFIX American Century LIVESTRONG 2015 Inv
    Retirement Income ARTOX American Century LIVESTRONG Inc Inv
    Target Date 2021-2025 ARWIX American Century LIVESTRONG 2025 Inv
    Target Date 2031-2035 ARYIX American Century LIVESTRONG 2035 Inv
    SMALL VALUE AVPAX American Beacon Small Cp Val Inv
    EUROPE STOCK AXEAX Threadneedle European Equity A
    Muni National Interm BMBSX Baird Intermediate Muni Bd Inv
    Technology BOGSX Black Oak Emerging Technology
    Small Growth BSCFX Baron Small Cap
    Moderate Allocation BUFBX Buffalo Balanced
    Technology BUFTX Buffalo Science & Technology
    DIVERSIFIED EMERGING MKTS CEMVX Causeway Emerging Markets Investor
    MID-CAP BLEND CHTTX Aston/Optimum Mid Cap N
    Intermediate Government CPTNX American Century Government Bond Inv
    Small Growth CSMVX Century Small Cap Select Inv
    REAL ESTATE CSRSX Cohen & Steers Realty Shares
    Long-Short CVSIX Calamos Market Neutral Income A
    SMALL BLEND DISSX Dreyfus Small Cap Stock Index
    Bank Loan EABLX Eaton Vance Floating Rate Adv
    Conservative Allocation EXDAX Manning & Napier Pro-Blend Cnsrv Term S
    Foreign Large Blend EXWAX Manning & Napier World Opportunities A
    Moderate Allocation FAGSX First American Strat Growth Allc A
    Financial FBRSX FBR Small Cap Financial
    ULTRASHORT BOND FEUGX Federated Adjustable Rate Secs Instl
    Intermediate Government FICMX Federated Income Instl
    Muni National Interm FIMTX Federated Intermediate Municipal Instl
    LARGE BLEND FMIHX FMI Large Cap
    Long-Short FMLSX Wasatch-1st Source Long/Short
    SHORT GOVERNMENT FSGVX Federated US Govt 1-3 Yr Instl
    Muni Short FSHIX Federated Shrt-Interm Dur Muni Instl
    Short-Term Bond FSTIX Federated Short-Term Income Instl
    Intermediate-Term Bond FTRFX Federated Total Return Bond Instl Svc
    SMALL BLEND GABSX Gabelli Small Cap Growth AAA
    Communications GABTX GAMCO Global Telecommunications AAA
    LARGE GROWTH HCAIX Harbor Capital Appreciation Inv
    Foreign Large Blend HIINX Harbor International Inv
    WORLD STOCK HLMGX Harding Loevner Global Equity Advisor
    Foreign Large Growth HLMNX Harding Loevner International Equity Inv
    Equity Energy ICENX ICON Energy S
    China Region ICHKX Guinness Atkinson China & Hong Kong
    LARGE VALUE INDZX RiverSource Diversified Equity Inc A
    Moderate Allocation JABAX Janus Balanced T
    Health JAGLX Janus Global Life Sciences T
    LARGE GROWTH JAMRX Janus Research T
    Small Growth JATTX Janus Triton T
    Foreign Large Blend JETAX Artio International Equity II A
    Target Date 2021-2025 JNSAX JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2025 A
    LARGE BLEND JRMSX INTECH Risk-Managed Core T
    Target Date 2011-2015 JSFAX JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2015 A
    Target Date 2026-2030 JSMAX JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2030 A
    Target Date 2016-2020 JTTAX JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2020 A
    LARGE BLEND JUEAX JPMorgan US Equity A
    LARGE VALUE JVLAX JHancock3 Disciplined Value A
    Small Growth KGSCX Kalmar Growth-with-Value Small Cap
    LARGE GROWTH LGILX Laudus Growth Investors US Large Cap Gr
    WORLD BOND LIFNX Laudus Mondrian Intl Fixed Income
    Foreign Large Blend LISOX Lazard Intl Strategic Equity Open
    Multisector Bond LSBRX Loomis Sayles Bond Retail
    DIVERSIFIED PACIFIC/ASIA MAPIX Matthews Asia Pacific Equity Income
    PACIFIC/ASIA EX-JAPAN STK MAPTX Matthews Pacific Tiger Investor
    China Region MCHFX Matthews China Investor
    Muni National Interm MITFX Marshall Intermediate Tax-Free Inv
    JAPAN STOCK MJFOX Matthews Japan Investor
    Foreign Large Blend MKIEX McKee International Equity Instl
    DIVERSIFIED PACIFIC/ASIA MPACX Matthews Asia Pacific Investor
    High Yield Bond MWHYX Metropolitan West High Yield Bond M
    Short-Term Bond MWLDX Metropolitan West Low Duration Bond M
    Intermediate-Term Bond MWTRX Metropolitan West Total Return Bond M
    MID-CAP BLEND NMMCX Northern Multi-Manager Mid Cap
    SMALL VALUE NOSGX Northern Small Cap Value
    Muni National Long NOTEX Northern Tax-Exempt
    Small Growth NSPAX ING Small Cap Opportunities A
    Foreign Small/Mid Value OAKEX Oakmark International Small Cap I
    WORLD STOCK OAKGX Oakmark Global I
    COMMODITIES BROAD BASKET PCRDX PIMCO Commodity Real Ret Strat D
    Emerging Markets Bond PEMDX PIMCO Emerging Markets Bond D
    LARGE BLEND PEOPX Dreyfus S&P 500 Index
    WORLD BOND PFODX PIMCO Foreign Bond (USD-Hedged) D
    Intermediate-Term Bond PGBOX JPMorgan Core Bond A
    Multisector Bond PONDX PIMCO Income D
    LARGE BLEND PRBLX Parnassus Equity Income - Inv
    Inflation-Protected Bond PRRDX PIMCO Real Return D
    SMALL VALUE PSOAX JPMorgan Small Cap Value A
    Intermediate-Term Bond PTTDX PIMCO Total Return D
    SMALL BLEND RYTFX Royce Total Return Svc
    Intermediate-Term Bond SAMIX RidgeWorth Intermediate Bond I
    Foreign Large Blend SICNX Schwab International Core Equity Inst
    Foreign Large Blend SIEIX RidgeWorth Intl Equity Index I
    ULTRASHORT BOND SIGVX RidgeWorth US Gov Sec Ultra-Short Bd I
    Target Date 2031-2035 SRJAX JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2035 A
    DIVERSIFIED EMERGING MKTS SSEMX SSgA Emerging Markets Instl
    High Yield Bond STHTX RidgeWorth High Income I
    Muni National Interm STTBX RidgeWorth Investment Grade T/E Bond I
    LARGE BLEND SWANX Schwab Core Equity Inv
    Global Real Estate SWASX Schwab Global Real Estate Select
    Target Date 2026-2030 SWDRX Schwab Target 2030
    LARGE VALUE SWDSX Schwab Dividend Equity
    Financial SWFFX Schwab Financial Services
    Target Date 2011-2015 SWGRX Schwab Target 2015
    Intermediate Government SWGSX Schwab GNMA
    Long-Short SWHEX Schwab Hedged Equity
    Health SWHFX Schwab Health Care
    Target Date 2021-2025 SWHRX Schwab Target 2025
    Intermediate-Term Bond SWIIX Schwab Premier Income Instl
    Foreign Large Blend SWISX Schwab International Index
    Retirement Income SWKRX Schwab Monthly Income Enh Payout
    Retirement Income SWLRX Schwab Monthly Income Max Payout
    LARGE GROWTH SWLSX Schwab Large-Cap Growth
    Foreign Large Growth SWMIX Laudus International MarketMasters Sel
    Small Growth SWMSX Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Select
    Muni National Interm SWNTX Schwab Tax-Free Bond
    Moderate Allocation SWOBX Schwab Balanced Inv
    LARGE BLEND SWPPX Schwab S&P 500 Index
    SMALL BLEND SWSSX Schwab Small Cap Index
    LARGE GROWTH TGCNX TCW Select Equities N
    Mid-Cap Growth TGDNX TCW Growth Equities N
    EQUITY PRECIOUS METALS TGLDX Tocqueville Gold
    LARGE BLEND TICRX TIAA-CREF Social Choice Eq Retail
    LARGE GROWTH TIRTX TIAA-CREF Large-Cap Growth Retail
    LARGE GROWTH TWCGX American Century Growth Inv
    Muni National Interm TWTIX American Century Interm-T Tx-Fr Bd Inv
    SHORT GOVERNMENT TWUSX American Century Short-Term Govt Inv
    LARGE VALUE TWVLX American Century Value Inv
    Foreign Large Value TWWDX Thomas White International
    Foreign Large Growth UMBWX Scout International
    SMALL VALUE VSFAX Federated Clover Small Value A
    Mid-Cap Growth WTMGX Westcore MIDCO Growth
    LARGE VALUE YAFFX Yacktman Focused

     

    Asset Class Number of funds
    Balanced Fund 21
    REITs 2
    Fixed Income 34
    Commodity 1
    Sector Fund 9
    Foreign Equity 18
    Emerging Market Equity 7
    US Equity 41
    Other 4
    Total 137


    As of Apr 5, 2011, this plan investment choice is rated as above average 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:

    Diversification -- Rated as great (98%)
    Fund Quality -- Rated as average (54%)
    Portfolio Building -- Rated as great (86%)
    Overall Rating: above average (80%)

    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 6 asset SIB (Simpler Is Better) plan . This SIB plan has the following candidate index funds and their ETFs equivalent:

    US Equity: SPY or VTI
    Commodity: DBC
    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 Apr 5, 2011)

    Performance table (as of Apr 5, 2011)

    With six asset classes and a wide number of funds, the returns beat the six asset class benchmark. With high scores in all categories, this plan delivers portfolios that have produced strong historical returns.

    Symbols: SPY, VTI, EFA, VEU, EEM, VWO, IYR, VNQ, ICF, AGG, BND, DBC, HYG, JNK, PHB, AOM, AOK, CIU, BIV, ITM, MUB, TFI, PZA, MLN, IYH, IXJ, VHT, XBI, PBE, DBR, RYH, EFG, IXP, PTE, DGG, LTL, MTK, PTF, DBT, RYT, ROM, GWL, PFA, IVE, IWW, JKF, VTV, ELV, PWV, RPV, SCHV, SCZ, EFV, PID, DWM, IYF, VFH, IPF, PFI, DRF, RYF, IFGL, RWX, TZE, TZG, TZI, TZO, TZL, IGOV, BWX, WIP, IVV, IYY, IWV, VV, DLN, RSP, SCHX, IOO, VT, SHY, SHV, VGSH, PLK, USY, IEV, VGK, PEF, DEB, 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, IJS, IWN, JKL, VBR, DSV, PWY, RZV, UVT, IJR, IWM, JKJ, VB, DSC, PJM, DES, SAA, UWM, SCHA, GMM, PXH, DEM, SCHE, GBF, LAG, PCY, CSJ, BSV, VCSH, ITE, IXC, IPW, DBE, RYE, DKA, IEI, VGIT, IJK, IWP, VOT, EMG, PWJ, RFG, UKW, IJT, IWO, JKK, VBK, DSG, PWT, RZG, UKK, TIP, DBP, EPP, VPL, GMF, PAF, AAXJ, DND, EWJ, JPP, PJO, DXJ, GSG, BIL

    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.

    Originally from the UK, Jenny Hollingworth lives with her husband and two sons in Northern California. She is a wife, mother, writer, theatre director, coffee drinker, avid reader, keen walker, movie watcher, Jane Austen lover and observer of life, in no particular order. MyPlanIQ has no formal relationship with Jenny Hollingworth.

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  • Samsung's Excellent 401K Plan, Pushes the ETF Benchmark Hard

    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.

    Asset Class

    Number of funds

    US

    11

    International

    2

    Sector

    2

    Balanced

    1

    Fixed income

    4

    Emerging Markets

    1

    Commodities

    0

    Real estate

    1

    Target Date

    11



    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)

    Portfolio Name 1Yr AR 1Yr Sharpe 3Yr AR 3Yr Sharpe 5Yr AR 5Yr Sharpe
    Samsung 401K Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate 10% 83% 11% 104% 14% 122%
    Samsung 401K Strategic Asset Allocation Moderate 11% 118% 3% 15% 7% 43%
    Five Core Asset Index ETF Funds Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate 9% 66% 7% 59% 14% 93%
    Five Core Asset Index ETF Funds Strategic Asset Allocation Moderate 13% 102% 4% 15% 8% 35%

    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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  • Peabody Energy 401K Plan Provides Reasonable Investment Choices

    12/06/2010

    This report reviews PEABODY WESTERN-UMWA 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 PEABODY WESTERN-UMWA 401(K) PLAN can achieve reasonable investment results using asset allocation strategies.

     

    Plan Review and Rating

     

    Peabody Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, mining, and production of coal worldwide.

    PEABODY WESTERN-UMWA 401(K) PLAN consists of 18 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 4 major assets: US Equity, Foreign Equity, Emerging Market Equity, Fixed Income. The list of minor asset classes covered:

    Diversified Emerging Mkts: EEM, GMM, PXH, DEM, SCHE
    Foreign Large Blend: EFA, VEU, GWL, PFA
    Foreign Large Value: EFV, PID, DWM
    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
    Retirement Income:
    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

    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 (74%)
    Portfolio Building -- Rated as (67%)
    Overall Rating: (65%)

     

    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 PEABODY WESTERN-UMWA 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 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)
    Emerging Market Equity: (EEM or VWO)
    Fixed Income: (AGG or BND)

    Performance chart (as of Dec 2, 2010)

    Performance table (as of Dec 2, 2010)

    Portfolio Name1Yr AR1Yr Sharpe3Yr AR3Yr Sharpe5Yr AR5Yr Sharpe
    PEABODY WESTERN-UMWA 401(K) PLAN Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate 3% 21% 6% 56% 12% 98%
    PEABODY WESTERN-UMWA 401(K) PLAN Strategic Asset Allocation Moderate 9% 94% 2% 13% 7% 44%
    Four Core Asset ETF Index Funds Emerging Markets Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate 1% 6% 6% 49% 12% 78%
    Four Core Asset ETF Index Funds Emerging Markets Strategic Asset Allocation Moderate 10% 75% 2% 6% 7% 31%

    Currently, asset classes in US Equity (SPY,VTI), Foreign Equity (EFA,VEU) and Emerging Market Equity (EEM,VWO) are doing relatively well. These asset classes are available to PEABODY WESTERN-UMWA 401(K) PLAN participants.

    To summarize, PEABODY WESTERN-UMWA 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:BTU,SPY,VTI,EFA,VEU,EEM,VWO,AGG,BND,CIU,BIV,GWL,PFA,IVE,IWW,JKF,VTV,ELV,PWV,RPV,SCHV,EFV,PID,DWM,TZD,TZE,TZG,TZI,TZL,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,GMM,PXH,DEM,SCHE,IJT,IWO,JKK,VBK,DSG, ,

     

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  • Bristol-Myers Can Broaden Its 401K Plan Investment Choices By Offering Emerging Market or REIT Funds

    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,

     

    comments(0)  Share/Bookmark

  • Baker Hughes 401K Plan Provides Adequate Investment Choices

    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, ,

     

    comments(0)  Share/Bookmark

  • Allegheny Energy Can Improve Diversification By Offering More Choices in Its 401K Plan

    12/06/2010

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    11/02/2010

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