Viewpoint - ABS Offer Potential Portfolio Diversification, Quality and Defense
08/15/2018
As spreads remain tight and concerns abound over the possibility that we are late in the credit cycle, asset-backed securities may offer institutions competitive yields, diversification and defensive support for their portfolios.
Insights - Pension Funded Status Tracker - July 2018
08/14/2018
Funded levels for U.S. corporate pension plans held steady in July and remain 4% higher than year-end 2017. A rally in global equity markets fed asset growth, while liabilities were muted as interest rates and corporate bond spreads moved in opposite directions. Learn more about the trends and drivers in our July Pension Funded Status Tracker.
Insights - After-Tax Returns: Investment Strategies for PC Insurers Post Tax Reform
08/03/2018
Insurance asset management for property & casualty firms grew more complex when tax-exempt municipal bonds became less appealing under federal tax reform. Other assets may offer solutions, however, as Conning highlights in this webinar.
Pension Funded Status Tracker - May 2018
06/27/2018
Funded levels for U.S. corporate pension plans were flat in May, as lower interest rates led to gains in fixed income assets as well as liabilities, but remain 3% higher than year-end 2017. Learn more about the trends and drivers in our May Pension Funded Status Tracker.
Annual Corporate Pension Review - 2017
05/31/2018
U.S. corporate pension plans in 2017 reached their highest funding levels since 2013. More sponsors may now seek to de-risk their plans with investment strategies that better match assets to their liabilities, likely driving demand for longer-term bonds. Learn more in Conning’s Annual Corporate Pension Review – 2017.
Asset TV Masterclass: Liability Driven Investing - May 2018
05/21/2018
Liability driven investing is a popular choice for defined benefit pension plans. As the market environment, rate regime and tax codes change, how will these strategies navigate 2018? In this edition of Masterclass, four experts discuss how to understand the shifting landscape.
Pension Funded Status Tracker - April 2018
05/15/2018
Funded levels for U.S. corporate pension plans rose in April, due to positive returns on growth assets and a decline in liabilities, and are up 3% from year-end 2017. Learn more about the trends and drivers in our April Pension Funded Status Tracker.
State of the States - Spring 2018
05/01/2018
Conning maintains its declining outlook on U.S. state credit quality overall, and tax reform may worsen conditions in some cases, but there are bright spots. Our State of the States report May 2018 is the latest in our semi-annual analysis and ranking of all 50 states by credit quality.
Viewpoint: Combating Higher Volatility with a Managed Dividend Equity Strategy
04/30/2018
Volatility’s return may add risk to insurers’ equity portfolios, but investing in an actively managed strategy of select high-dividend-paying equities may help insurers manage volatility more effectively than a broader passive indexed strategy.