Research, news and events
For institutional investors
Retirement plan insights and industry events
Our clients often share that one of the most valuable aspects of their relationship with us is our understanding of the retirement plan industry and the investment landscape.
QDIA: Managed Accounts
In this paper, we review evidence of retirement under-saving and potential solutions, as well as empirical evidence regarding investor reaction to negative market returns.
Learn moreQDIA: GRI allocations
Most retirement savers both under-save for retirement and potentially face a serious return drag from sub-optimal, market chasing behavior—Guaranteed Retirement Income (GRI) products can help.
Learn moreThe case for re-enrollment
Proactive plan design elements, such as auto-enrollment and auto-escalation, represent industry best practice and have become the norm among plan sponsors. Their presence results in better participant outcomes, particularly when used in an opt-out fashion.
Learn moreTarget Date Funds: An industry overview
Target Date Funds (TDFs) are often used in a QDIA setting as a means of providing retirement savers with a one-stop solution. We provide an overview of asset class allocations for the TDF lifecycle glide paths and benchmarks.
Learn morePutting value on “Peace of Mind”
We propose an innovative evaluation framework for Guaranteed Retirement Income (GRI) products based on their individual merits and compare them to retirement income strategies constructed from ordinary investments that a typical investor would use within a defined contribution plan.
Learn moreInflation hedges: Portfolio implications
Financial assets, in general, perform very poorly in high inflation environments, with negative inflation-adjusted (real) returns being the norm. This paper reviews a variety of potential inflation hedge strategies including TIPS, specific equity sectors (like energy), commodities and REITs.
Learn moreInternational asset allocation
In this paper, we use 50 years of MSCI data to examine international investing in the context of asset allocation and mean variance optimization.
Learn moreLeaders in lifetime income
Chris O’Neill talks about the importance of integrating lifetime income into the default solution through custom target date funds that have a guaranteed income sleeve.
Inflation hedges: Portfolio implications
Financial assets, in general, perform very poorly in high inflation environments, with negative inflation-adjusted (real) returns being the norm. This webinar reviews a variety of potential inflation hedge strategies including TIPS, specific equity sectors (like energy), commodities and REITs.
Stable Value Funds: Benefits in an inflationary environment
This webinar explores the role that stable value investments play in a retirement portfolio in an inflationary and rising interest rate environment.
Mesirow participates in Retirement Income Forum
September 2023: During the State Street Global Advisors Retirement Income Forum in Boston, Christopher O'Neill was joined by Jimmy Veneruso, Head of DC product at SSGA to discuss the benefits and considerations of various insurance product types within the Guaranteed Retirement Income product landscape.
Mesirow participates in SPARK 2021 Forum
November 2021: Christopher O’Neill participated in a retirement income panel discussion entitled “Is your 401k a savings plan or a retirement plan?” He discussed how recordkeepers can incorporate guaranteed income to enhance 401k plan design from a retirement savings vehicle to a retirement income provider.
SVIA Fall Forum: Trends in DC Investments
October 2021: Christopher O’Neill, Chief Investment Officer and Director of Quantitative Research, recently participated in a lively panel discussion entitled Trends in DC Investments: A Fiduciary Point of View at the Stable Value Investment Association (SVIA) Fall Forum. Chris discussed relevant plan design trends within the DC landscape, including custom default solutions, growing adoption of ERISA 3(38) services and the role of stable value within menu and portfolio construction.
New York Stable Value Investments and UBS: Capital Preservation Options
October 2021: Christopher O’Neill recently partnered with New York Stable Value Investments to host a webinar for UBS retirement plan consultants on Capital Preservation Options for Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans. Chris discussed a variety of stable value product structures and criteria for their evaluation and selection for an investment lineup.
How can 401(k)s best integrate retirement income into an investment lineup?
February 4, 2021: Vincent Vicidomini, SVP with Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions, recently joined Prudential Retirement to share their thoughts on the current state of retirement income products following the 2020 SECURE Act. Thanks to the Retirement Advisor Council (RAC) for hosting this important event.
Mesirow named 3(38) for Paychex Pooled Employer Plan (PEP)
December 2020: Paychex announced the launch of a Pooled Employer Plan to help businesses nationwide provide a cost-effective retirement plan option for their employees. Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions serves as the 3(38) investment fiduciary.
Mesirow named 3(38) fiduciary for Everyday 401(k) by JPMorgan
October 2020: JPMorgan Chase announced the launch of Everyday 401(k) by J.P. Morgan, giving the firm's thousands of small business clients and their employees the ability to simply plan, save and invest for retirement. All plans will have a single investment menu that is created and monitored by Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions, which serves as an independent fiduciary under Section 3(38) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
Neither principal nor the underlying assets of target date investments are guaranteed at any time, including the target date, and investment risk remains at all time. There is no assurance that the recommended asset allocation will either maximize returns or minimize risk or be the appropriate allocation in all circumstances for every investor with a particular time horizon. Advisory services offered by Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., an SEC-Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through Mesirow Financial, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC. Advisory Fees are described in Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.’s Part 2A of the Form ADV. Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc.