Russell Investments

Russell Investments’ Strategists: Soft-landing Still at Risk

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Banking, Professional Services, Finance, Real estate investment trust, Real estate investing, Overweight, Russell Investments, Uncertainty, Environment, Treasury, News, Trust, Quality, Investment, Optimism, Security (finance)

Russell Investments’ strategists believe soft-landing optimism can deliver more near-term market gains but the risks of a sharper economic slowdown later in the year are elevated.

Key Points: 
  • Russell Investments’ strategists believe soft-landing optimism can deliver more near-term market gains but the risks of a sharper economic slowdown later in the year are elevated.
  • In addition, default rates on credit cards and auto loans are above pre-pandemic levels.
  • In the corporate sector, high-yield default rates are picking up and commercial real estate delinquencies continue to rise.
  • Russell Investments’ key asset-class views at the beginning of Q2 2024 include the following:
    The equity market outlook is constrained by expensive valuation multiples, optimistic industry consensus earnings growth expectations, and overbought sentiment.

Cushman & Wakefield Appoints Jennifer McPeek and Raj Vennam to Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 18, 2024
Professional Services, Other Construction & Property, Commercial Building & Real Estate, Finance, Construction & Property, REIT, Janus, Russell Investments, McKinsey & Company, University, Central Florida, Private equity, Electrical engineering, Partnership, Trustee, SVP, Duke University, Electronics, McPeek, NN Group, PAG, Janus Henderson, Corporate finance, MBA, Trust, Jennifer, Old Dominion University, Engineering, CWK, Cushman & Wakefield, Multimedia, TPG, Economics, Management

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) today announced the appointments of Jennifer McPeek and Raj Vennam to its Board of Directors, effective March 18, 2024.

Key Points: 
  • Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) today announced the appointments of Jennifer McPeek and Raj Vennam to its Board of Directors, effective March 18, 2024.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318095052/en/
    Jennifer McPeek appointed to the Board of Directors of Cushman & Wakefield (Photo: Business Wire)
    McPeek brings more than 20 years of executive experience in the financial services industry.
  • McPeek currently serves on the board of directors of Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and on the Board of Trustees of First American Funds Trust.
  • “Jennifer and Raj are highly accomplished executives who bring a wealth of expertise in finance and strategy to Cushman & Wakefield.

Russell Investments’ Annual ‘$20 Billion Club’ Analysis: Pension Plan Funded Status Stalls as Liability Growth Outpaces Asset Returns

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Software, Networks, Internet, Finance, Professional Services, Technology, Apps, Applications, Fintech, Liability, Deficit, Russell Investments, History, Government

Even so, the average funded status for each corporation over the past three years was closer to the 100% threshold than any prior year since 2007.

Key Points: 
  • Even so, the average funded status for each corporation over the past three years was closer to the 100% threshold than any prior year since 2007.
  • Dubbed the $20 billion club, these large plans represent about 40% of all pension and liability assets of U.S. listed corporations.
  • The $20 billion club also experienced a funding deficit increase from $30 billion in 2022 to $43 billion.
  • Contributing factors included actuarial loss ($23.1 billion) partially offset by investment returns minus interest cost ($10.6 billion).

Pontera and AdvisorEngine Integration to Streamline Holistic 401(k) Management Capabilities for Advisory Firms

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Russell Investments, Retirement, JPMorgan Chase, Partnership, Financial adviser

NEW YORK, March 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pontera, the fintech company helping retirement savers receive professional 401(k) guidance from their trusted financial advisor, and AdvisorEngine®, the financial experience company, have announced a partnership to streamline expert retirement plan asset management.

Key Points: 
  • Through this integration, advisors using Pontera and the AdvisorEngine Wealth Platform, including AdvisorEngine CRM®, can offer investment management, performance reporting and billing across clients' entire portfolios, including 401(k)s, 403(b)s and other workplace retirement plan accounts.
  • AdvisorEngine is building the future of financial advice through powerful and intuitive technology for advisors that's connected, approachable and scalable.
  • "Our integration introduces new capabilities that provide advisors more clarity into their clients' workplace retirement savings plans," said Ned Dane , Chief Growth Officer, AdvisorEngine.
  • Through this integration, advisors using Pontera and AdvisorEngine can:
    Run performance reporting and billing across a client's financial picture, including retirement plan accounts, using AdvisorEngine's portfolio management tools.

A First of Its Kind: New Book Explains the Economic Forces that Have Shaped U.S. Financial History Since 1790

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Museum, Trustee, Noise, CFA, Learning, Emeritus, Russell Investments, COVID-19, Business, Knowledge, Economics, Research, Student

NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Most investors base their decisions only on their life experience, which causes them to overlook powerful forces that repeatedly reshape financial systems, economies, and securities markets. Investing in U.S. Financial History explains these forces by recounting the key events that shaped the financial history of the United States from 1790 to the present day. The work is the product of a nearly four-year research effort, and it stands alone as the first book to recount the entirety of U.S. financial history in a single volume.

Key Points: 
  • Investing in U.S. Financial History explains these forces by recounting the key events that shaped the financial history of the United States from 1790 to the present day.
  • The work is the product of a nearly four-year research effort, and it stands alone as the first book to recount the entirety of U.S. financial history in a single volume.
  • It stands alone as the first book to recount the entirety of U.S. financial history in a single volume.
  • Investing in U.S. Financial History is available for purchase through multiple online venues and in select bookstores throughout the world.

2024 Global Market Outlook: Russell Investments’ Strategists Warn Against Over-Optimism

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Finance, Consulting, Business, Banking, Professional Services, Risk, Treasury, Overweight, Quality, Russell Investments, Environment, Security (finance), Financial services

Russell Investments’ strategists expect elevated recession risks for 2024 and headwinds for equity markets, but a more positive environment for government bonds.

Key Points: 
  • Russell Investments’ strategists expect elevated recession risks for 2024 and headwinds for equity markets, but a more positive environment for government bonds.
  • “We expect 2024 will be the transition year that the industry consensus anticipated for 2023,” said Andrew Pease, Chief Investment Strategist at Russell Investments.
  • The bond market bullies are back.”
    Russell Investments strategists’ key asset-class views for 2024 include:
    Government bonds offer attractive value as yields trade well above expected inflation.
  • “As we look toward 2024, we see select opportunities within asset classes to build a slightly cautious stance in portfolios,” Pease said.

Russell Investments’ Report: 97% of Corporate Pensions Can Achieve Full Funding Without a Significant Draw on Corporate Cash

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Finance, Consulting, Business, Professional Services, Asset Management, Movement, Perception, Federal, Federal Reserve, Policy, Russell Investments, Fed, Pension, Africa-America Institute, Investment, Hall, Renewable energy, Life insurance

“Despite a challenging economic environment in 2023, pension plans continue on a positive trend for full funding,” said Michael Hall, Managing Director, Americas Institutional at Russell Investments.

Key Points: 
  • “Despite a challenging economic environment in 2023, pension plans continue on a positive trend for full funding,” said Michael Hall, Managing Director, Americas Institutional at Russell Investments.
  • In 2012, at a 5% contribution rate, 78% of plans required more than 10 years to achieve full funding.
  • Meanwhile, the gap between pensions in healthy funding situations and those in challenging funding situations narrowed considerably since last year’s report.
  • A prudent contribution rate and a prudent investment policy are key to achieving full funding, with limited impact on cashflows.”

Virtus Investment Partners Names Andra Purkalitis Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Finance, Banking, Professional Services, Legal, Asset Management, Russell Investments, Virtus Investment Partners, University, Growth, Management

Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ: VRTS), which operates a multi-boutique asset management business, today announced that Andra Purkalitis has joined the company as executive vice president, chief legal officer, general counsel, and corporate secretary.

Key Points: 
  • Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ: VRTS), which operates a multi-boutique asset management business, today announced that Andra Purkalitis has joined the company as executive vice president, chief legal officer, general counsel, and corporate secretary.
  • Purkalitis has more than 30 years of broad legal and regulatory experience in the asset management industry.
  • As Virtus’ chief legal officer, she will be responsible for developing and guiding the strategic direction of the legal, regulatory and compliance functions and also will provide counsel to the company’s Board of Directors on corporate governance matters.
  • She previously was regional chief executive officer and chief legal officer at Aviva Investors Americas, and, earlier, chief administrative officer and general counsel at Old Mutual Capital, a division of Old Mutual Asset Management (now BrightSphere Investment Group).

Russell Investments Announces Management Fee Reductions

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Professional Services, Communications, Finance, Asset Management, Banking, Public Relations, Investor Relations, Head, Russell Investments, Series, Real assets, Video game, Financial adviser

Similar reductions also will take effect for the Series O units or shares of the Funds.

Key Points: 
  • Similar reductions also will take effect for the Series O units or shares of the Funds.
  • “We continuously strive to provide Canadian investors with competitive solutions.
  • These new fee reductions follow our recent change to lower purchase minimums to $500 for all retail funds,” said Brad Jung, president, Russell Investments Canada Limited and head of North America Advisor & Intermediary Solutions at Russell Investments.
  • “As part of a well-diversified portfolio, we believe adding an allocation to alternatives, such as Real Assets and Global Infrastructure, can help to improve investment outcomes.”

Russell Investments’ 2023 ESG Manager Survey: ESG Factors Increasingly Drive Investment Decision-Making

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 23, 2023
Professional Services, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Environment, Sustainability, Finance, Accounting, Carbon, Attention, ESG, Research, Investment, Materiality, Russell, Russell Investments, Renewable energy, Cryptocurrency, Construction

Russell Investments has released results from its ninth-annual ESG Manager Survey, which offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of ESG practices within the investment management industry.

Key Points: 
  • Russell Investments has released results from its ninth-annual ESG Manager Survey, which offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of ESG practices within the investment management industry.
  • “As the industry continues to focus on responsible investing practices, active managers from all major asset classes are increasingly incorporating ESG considerations into their investment processes and hiring for ESG-related roles,” said Kris Tomasovic Nelson, Senior Director, Head of ESG Investment Management, Russell Investments.
  • “Most striking, this year only 7% of respondents said that ESG factors do not drive investment decisions, markedly down from the 22% recorded in 2022.
  • A significant shift was observed, where only 7% claimed that ESG factors do not influence investment decisions, down from 22% in 2022.