CA2297821A1 - System for providing investment advice and management of pension assets - Google Patents
System for providing investment advice and management of pension assets Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2297821A1 CA2297821A1 CA002297821A CA2297821A CA2297821A1 CA 2297821 A1 CA2297821 A1 CA 2297821A1 CA 002297821 A CA002297821 A CA 002297821A CA 2297821 A CA2297821 A CA 2297821A CA 2297821 A1 CA2297821 A1 CA 2297821A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- investment
- participant
- individual
- trust
- participants
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 76
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 238000007726 management method Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000003466 anti-cipated effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009877 rendering Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000497 Amalgam Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 241001282315 Nemesis Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003542 behavioural effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003139 buffering effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012790 confirmation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002596 correlated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013480 data collection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007774 longterm Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000873 masking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- NHDHVHZZCFYRSB-UHFFFAOYSA-N pyriproxyfen Chemical compound C=1C=CC=NC=1OC(C)COC(C=C1)=CC=C1OC1=CC=CC=C1 NHDHVHZZCFYRSB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000011160 research Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q40/00—Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
- G06Q40/06—Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
- G06Q20/10—Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
Abstract
An system and method for a data processor implemented system monitor (10) for enabling individual employee participants (14) to access independent professional money management for their Benefit Plan assets adapted to separate the investment management functions and fees thereof from the participant advice function and the fees thereof. The system and method provides professional asset allocation advice services (12) to individual participants (14) of Benefit Plans for allocating their account balances in a Trust (20, 22, 24, or 26) specifically tailored to their individual risk tolerances and retirement funding needs. A worksheet (40) is used to elicit the information necessary for the investment advisor (32) to recommend the Trust (20, 22, 24, or 26) appropriate for each individual participant (14). Each Trust (20, 22, 24, 26) holds shares in a plurality of mutual funds in varying proportions.
Description
SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING INVESTMENT
ADVICE AND MANAGEMENT OF PENSION
ASSETS
Baakqround of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an investment program which includes a system and a method for collecting, monitoring and directing data from Benefit Plan participants and beneficiaries ("participants"j, Benefit Plan sponsors and fund managers and, more particularly, to a data processing system that collects, monitors and directs information from Benefit Plan participants, sponsors and fund managers, to provide professional investment advice to Benefit Plan participants while eliminating the inherent economic conflict of interest in traditional Benefit Plan programs.
The field of retirement savings has been greatly impacted by the vigorous growth of corporate Benefit Plans that offer individual accounts, allowing each participant to direct the investment of the assets allocated to his or her individual account. This practice of allowing each individual participant to manage his or her account has resulted in a need to provide investment advice to a large number of employees, heretofore unfamiliar with even the basics of investment portfolio management.
The entities most capable of providing such investment advice are the same entities that traditionally manage the investments of the commingled funds normally offered in Benefit Plans. Such investment managers receive most (if not all) of their compensation as a percentage of assets managed, with such percentages varying according to the nature of the risk associated with the commingled fund managed. For example an international equity fund would pay a manager a higher percentage resulting in a higher net profit than a domestic bond fund manager for funds having approximately the same assets under management.
ADVICE AND MANAGEMENT OF PENSION
ASSETS
Baakqround of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an investment program which includes a system and a method for collecting, monitoring and directing data from Benefit Plan participants and beneficiaries ("participants"j, Benefit Plan sponsors and fund managers and, more particularly, to a data processing system that collects, monitors and directs information from Benefit Plan participants, sponsors and fund managers, to provide professional investment advice to Benefit Plan participants while eliminating the inherent economic conflict of interest in traditional Benefit Plan programs.
The field of retirement savings has been greatly impacted by the vigorous growth of corporate Benefit Plans that offer individual accounts, allowing each participant to direct the investment of the assets allocated to his or her individual account. This practice of allowing each individual participant to manage his or her account has resulted in a need to provide investment advice to a large number of employees, heretofore unfamiliar with even the basics of investment portfolio management.
The entities most capable of providing such investment advice are the same entities that traditionally manage the investments of the commingled funds normally offered in Benefit Plans. Such investment managers receive most (if not all) of their compensation as a percentage of assets managed, with such percentages varying according to the nature of the risk associated with the commingled fund managed. For example an international equity fund would pay a manager a higher percentage resulting in a higher net profit than a domestic bond fund manager for funds having approximately the same assets under management.
Prior contemplated approaches to providing investment advice to Benefit Plan participants has a built in economic conflict of interest because the investment advisor traditionally receives higher net profits from some of the commingled funds provided versus others. This situation could lead to investment advisors/investment managers consciously or subconsciously recommending or investing in funds that provide the investment advisor with a higher income, a situation possibly not in the best interest of the individual Benefit Plan participant.
Thus, there is a need for an investment program that eliminates this economic conflict of interest by separating the investment advice entity from the investment management entity. Such a system should provide compensation for investment advice totally independent of the investment management entity; should provide investment advice totally independent from and unrelated to the commingled trust investment manager and should insure that the trust investment manager has access only to the aggregate investment of each Benefit Plans and not by individual participants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide investment assistance to Benefit Plan participants in attaining an appropriate asset allocation for the assets in their individual accounts.
Another abject of the present invention is to provide an investment program that increases utilization in self-directed Benefit Plans.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a worksheet that is used to determine an appropriate investment vehicle for each individual Benefit Plan participant.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a recommendation written or otherwise in a tangible form for a specific investment vehicle based on an analysis of the worksheet.
The investment program which includes the present invention balances the rendering of investment advice with the long term goals of assets designated for retirement savings. The investment advice may be conveyed to each participant by a participant advisor. The investment advice is generated by a "Financial Expert" compensated in a manner totally separate and independent from the traditional investment management fees normally (a percentage of the assets under management) charged to commingled trusts.
The system and method of the present invention eliminates possible economic conflict of interest by separating the investment advice entity from the investment management entity. The professional investment advisor receives fees totally independent from the fees charged for investment management. The investment advisor is totally independent from and unrelated to the commingled trust investment manager. The system and method of the present invention assures that the investment manager is unaware of the individual pension participant investments, but rather sees only the aggregate investments of a Benefit Plans sponsor.
One aspect of the present invention is a unique data processing system that provides expert independent investment advice to Benefit Plan participants, at the same time offering professionally managed commingled investment trusts at a more efficient cost structure and eliminates all of the conflicts of interest that would exist in all the presently known schemes of providing investment advice to Benefit Plan participants.
One representative system for providing asset allocation advice to individual participants in a Benefit Plan includes a data storage for storing data from a plurality of worksheets, each worksheet being completed by an individual Benefit Plan participant: means for processing the data from each participant such that each participant WO 99!05625 PCTIUS98113786 risk tolerance is calculated; an asset allocation model for at least two (2) Trusts, the Trusts including varying proportions of shares in a plurality of no-load Mutual Funds;
means for correlating the calculated risk tolerance with an appropriate Trust; and means for generating a written report recommending at least one (1) of the at least two (2) Trusts as an appropriate investment vehicle for each individual participant.
One representative computer implemented method for providing independent expert investment advice to individual Benefit Plan participants for investing in professionally managed, cost efficient, commingled investment trusts while eliminating the conflict of interest between the investment advice and the trust management includes the steps of:
developing a worksheet to elicit the funding needs and levels of risk tolerance appropriate for each individual participant; developing a risk profile which includes standards to take into account participants "fear factor"
such that the investment recommendation given is likely be followed by the participant over a long period of time;
developing an asset allocation model for at least two (2) investment vehicles using generally accepted principles of modern portfolio theory; applying the data from the worksheets to the asset allocation model; determining an appropriate investment vehicle for the Plan Participant; and providing a recommendation to the Plan Participant of at least one (1) of the at least two (2) investment vehicles.
Other objectives and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of the investment program including the system and method of the present invention;
Thus, there is a need for an investment program that eliminates this economic conflict of interest by separating the investment advice entity from the investment management entity. Such a system should provide compensation for investment advice totally independent of the investment management entity; should provide investment advice totally independent from and unrelated to the commingled trust investment manager and should insure that the trust investment manager has access only to the aggregate investment of each Benefit Plans and not by individual participants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide investment assistance to Benefit Plan participants in attaining an appropriate asset allocation for the assets in their individual accounts.
Another abject of the present invention is to provide an investment program that increases utilization in self-directed Benefit Plans.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a worksheet that is used to determine an appropriate investment vehicle for each individual Benefit Plan participant.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a recommendation written or otherwise in a tangible form for a specific investment vehicle based on an analysis of the worksheet.
The investment program which includes the present invention balances the rendering of investment advice with the long term goals of assets designated for retirement savings. The investment advice may be conveyed to each participant by a participant advisor. The investment advice is generated by a "Financial Expert" compensated in a manner totally separate and independent from the traditional investment management fees normally (a percentage of the assets under management) charged to commingled trusts.
The system and method of the present invention eliminates possible economic conflict of interest by separating the investment advice entity from the investment management entity. The professional investment advisor receives fees totally independent from the fees charged for investment management. The investment advisor is totally independent from and unrelated to the commingled trust investment manager. The system and method of the present invention assures that the investment manager is unaware of the individual pension participant investments, but rather sees only the aggregate investments of a Benefit Plans sponsor.
One aspect of the present invention is a unique data processing system that provides expert independent investment advice to Benefit Plan participants, at the same time offering professionally managed commingled investment trusts at a more efficient cost structure and eliminates all of the conflicts of interest that would exist in all the presently known schemes of providing investment advice to Benefit Plan participants.
One representative system for providing asset allocation advice to individual participants in a Benefit Plan includes a data storage for storing data from a plurality of worksheets, each worksheet being completed by an individual Benefit Plan participant: means for processing the data from each participant such that each participant WO 99!05625 PCTIUS98113786 risk tolerance is calculated; an asset allocation model for at least two (2) Trusts, the Trusts including varying proportions of shares in a plurality of no-load Mutual Funds;
means for correlating the calculated risk tolerance with an appropriate Trust; and means for generating a written report recommending at least one (1) of the at least two (2) Trusts as an appropriate investment vehicle for each individual participant.
One representative computer implemented method for providing independent expert investment advice to individual Benefit Plan participants for investing in professionally managed, cost efficient, commingled investment trusts while eliminating the conflict of interest between the investment advice and the trust management includes the steps of:
developing a worksheet to elicit the funding needs and levels of risk tolerance appropriate for each individual participant; developing a risk profile which includes standards to take into account participants "fear factor"
such that the investment recommendation given is likely be followed by the participant over a long period of time;
developing an asset allocation model for at least two (2) investment vehicles using generally accepted principles of modern portfolio theory; applying the data from the worksheets to the asset allocation model; determining an appropriate investment vehicle for the Plan Participant; and providing a recommendation to the Plan Participant of at least one (1) of the at least two (2) investment vehicles.
Other objectives and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of the investment program including the system and method of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a detailed block diagram of the implementation of the investment program incorporating the systems and methods of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the investment advice and management system of the present invention as seen by each individual plan participant;
Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the investment advice and management system of the present invention as seen by benefit plans; and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of representative computer hardware useful with the present investment advise program.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In carrying out the present invention in preferred forms thereof, we have provided an investment program 10 (see Figure 1) which includes systems and methods for providing professional asset allocation advice services 12 to individual participants 14 in Benefit Plans for allocating their account balances in a Trusts) 20, 22, 24, 26 specifically tailored to their individual risk tolerances and retirement funding needs. The systems and methods of the present invention are particularly valuable because they provide individual plan participants 14 with much needed advice while taking into account the individual plan participant's risk tolerances so that each individual plan participant will likely hold the recommended Trust (investment) during the inevitable downturns in the market and, in fact, the Trusts will be professionally managed to exploit opportunities in a down market that most individual plan participants would not or could not exploit. The system and methods of the present invention are user-friendly in that they are specifically designed to eliminate the confusion from self-directed individual plan account balances while possibly increasing the rates of Benefit Plan utilization.
WO 99!05625 PCTIUS98113'786 In the system and method of the present invention, investment advice is provided directly to Benefit Plan participants, such as, for example, participants in plans described in ~401(k), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Keogh Plans, IRAs which provide for participant self-direction. Under the program 20 which includes the system and method of the present invention, an investment advisor or asset allocation advisor 32 makes a recommendation 46 to each individual plan participant 14 of one of a plurality of life cycle Trusts 20, 22, 24, 26 maintained under the program as an investment vehicle for investing the participants plan account balance.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is presently anticipated that at least four and possibly more such life cycle Trusts 20, 22, 24, 26 would be structured as, presently preferred, at least four separate commingled Trusts and a money market fund, a guaranteed investment contract or similar vehicle 27 (see Figure 2). Each Trust will hold, in varying proportions, shares of some or all of a plurality of mutual funds of an open ended management investment company 18. The investment advisor 32 directly assists participants 14 in making appropriate investment decisions to achieve two important goals: (1) increased Benefit Plan utilization and (2) rendering assistance to each individual Benefit Plan participant such that each participant is likely to attain an appropriate asset allocation for the assets in their individual plan accounts.
Appropriate asset allocation is essential to realizing favorable market returns. Appropriate asset allocation is often a function of an individual plan participant's stage of life. It is generally accepted that younger participants with longer life time horizons should invest in more equity-weighted Trusts, whereas older participants with shorter life time horizons and lesser funding needs should invest in more bonds/money market-weighted Trusts. The initial four different Trusts are designed to assist any particular participant in achieving his or her retirement funding needs by varying the weightings of each Trusts holdings in, presently preferably, a plurality of no-load mutual funds. Thus, each Trust is tailored to meet different retirement investment needs. The recommended course of action provided by the investment advisor to each participant is designed to incorporate the prudent practices and procedures of retirement funding applicable to defined Benefit Plans and is provided in a simple and user-friendly form to defined Benefit Plan participants.
Any solution to the problem of Benefit Plan participants allocating their account balances in less than an optimal manner must take account of the typical participant's tendency to change investments in reactions to short-term performance trends. Short-term market volatility has proven to be the nemesis of individual investors, influencing them to "buy high and sell low." The first step in determining an appropriate Trust for any one individual participant is to determine his or her risk tolerance, among other criteria. A worksheet 40, as will be explained later, is used to elicit the information necessary for the investment advisor 32 to recommend the Trust appropriate for each individual participant. This is accomplished by determining from each plan participant into which Trust he or she should invest, taking into account the "fear factor"
(i.e. the typical participant's inordinate fear of losing any money) and the expected fluctuation in net asset value of each Trust.
Each Trust is a portfolio containing varying percentages of different asset classes through its investments in the plurality of mutual funds. This design was implemented to take into account the fact that the investment performance of different asset classes is imperfectly correlated, thus, buffering shart-term fluctuations in the investment portfolio's overall value.
Because plan participants will see only the net asset value and fluctuation at the investment portfolio level, i.e., of _ g _ the Trust itself, they will not be unduly alarmed by fluctuations in the values of the shares of any one mutual fund or other investment vehicle incorporated in the Trust.
Furthermore, since each Trust is a portfolio of composite asset classes through its investment in the plurality of mutual funds, fluctuations in the value of the shares of individual mutual funds should mitigate portfolio or Trust fluctuations. This should help protect plan participants from subscribing to the temptation of selling a falling asset class in a down market. In fact, quite the opposite is believed will occur in the present program, in that to be maximally advantageous to plan participants, the asset classes in each Trust will be periodically re-balanced according to criteria provided by a Financial Expert 30, as will be explained later.
As mentioned above, the investment options available under the asset allocation program of the present invention are, presently preferably, initially a selection of at least four Trusts and, if not otherwise available from a F3e~zefit Plan, a money market fund, a guaranteed investment con~:rac<~ ~~r similar vehicle.
Each Trust holds shares in a plurality of mutual funds in varying proportions. The mix of the, plurality of mutual funds in each Trust will be designed to accommodate the different investment strategies of each of the Trusts.
In this connection, the Trust range from aggressively structured (generally composed of mutual funds which invest mainly in equities) to conservatively structured (generally composed of funds which invest mainly in fixed income instruments). The Trusts will comprise all or some of any particular Benefit Plans investment alternatives. As presently preferred, each mutual fund has a different investment objective and will be selected from those, presently preferably, available to institutional investors which typically require a minimum investment of about $250, 000 and a minimum of $25, 000 for additional investments, except for the money market fund which, presently preferably, requires a minimum initial investment of $100,000 and a minimum of $1,000 for additional investments with the minimums being waivable. The, presently preferred, at least four Trusts invest exclusively in shares of some or all of the mutual funds in varying proportions, so that each Trust accommodates different investment needs and risk tolerances, as determined by the Financial Expert.
The Trusts are designed to provide appropriate asset allocations for at least four different "profiles" of participants, with the salient factors being; financial objectives, time horizon, other savings and risk tolerance.
One key to the investment program which includes the present invention is the independent Financial Expert 30 that constructs appropriate asset allocation models 28 for each Trust. The appropriate asset allocation models 28 are constructed using generally accepted principles of modern portfolio theory. The Financial Expert is independent from and has no preexisting relationship with and is no way under the control of the Mutual Fund management or the investment company. The Financial Expert's formulation of asset allocation models may include algorithms, studies, analytics, research, models, papers and other word product or relevant materials as the investment manager determines might be of assistance or interest to the Financial Expert. Furthermore, the Financial Expert, at his sole and absolute discretion, may seek the assistance of others in formulating the asset allocation models.
However, in all cases, the Financial Expert 30 retains the ultimate control and discretion with respect to the development and maintenance of the asset allocation models 28. The Financial Expert 30 is entirely responsible for determining how the allocation models 28 are best implemented and, thus, will select the mutual funds each Trust will hold and the weightings thereof in order to be compliant with the developed asset allocation model. The asset allocation models 28, as expressed in an asset allocation computer program, when implemented will not be static, but rather the Financial Expert in his sole and absolute professional discretion may make adjustments to the asset allocation models for the Trusts, taking into consideration the investment goals and risk tolerances that the asset allocation models represent and to account for changes in the economy and market conditions. Thus, the Trusts will employ, for the benefit of participants, concepts based on funding needs and proscribed risk tolerances uninfluenced by the compensation interests of Mutual Fund management.
Once the Trusts are appropriately invested in the plurality of mutual funds, disproportionate investment performance by the plurality of mutual funds will cause the Trust investment mix to drift from the Trust asset allocation model. At this point, the Financial Expert 30 will develop a mechanical formula incorporated in an appropriate computer implemented program to re-balance 38 the relative proportions of the mutual funds in each Trust on a predetermined basis.
Such formula and the basis upon which the composition of the Trust is designed will be made available to each Benefits' Plan independent fiduciary prior to the Benefits Plan investing in the investment program which includes the system and method of the present invention.
The investment program 10 which includes the system and method of the present invention is based on a very simple idea: to provide the individual plan participant responsible for the investment of his or her account balance with a convenient, user-friendly way to benefit from the knowledge and experience of professional investment advisors and thereby receive investment advice concerning which Trust represents an appropriate allocation of assets in that individual's account under the Benefit Plan. As presently preferred, the investment program of the present invention will be made available only to sophisticated Benefit Plans, i.e. those with a minimum of $5,000,000 in assets.
WO 99/05625 PCTIiJS98113786 One of the primary goals of the investment program of the present invention is to make investment decisions as simple and user-friendly as possible, while maintaining integrity and accuracy in the investment advice proffered.
These goals are accomplished by the investment advisor acting as a fiduciary in making a specific investment recommendation based solely upon information provided for, by or on behalf of Benefit Plan participants. This investment advice will be based, at least in part, upon the answers to questions w included in the worksheet, mentioned earlier, designed by a Behavior Finance Expert 36. The worksheet 40, is designed to elicit the funding needs and levels of risk tolerance appropriate for each individual participant. The Behavior Finance Expert will formulate a risk profile and will develop standards which take into account participants "fear factor, "
thus allowing the investment advisor to provide an investment recommendation that the participant is more likely to follow and maintain over a long period of time.
One important factor in the preparation of the investment recommendation will be each participants response when asked what he or she would do if a loss, equaling the largest loss that could occur in the great majority of likely scenarios, would actually occur. If the answer indicates that the participant would sell his or her shares in a specific Trust in the face of such a loss, a more conservative Trust would be recommended to those participants.
The worksheet 40 will be made available to the participants in many forms, including, but not limited to, hard copies with written instructions and employee enrollment in general information meetings through the Intranet (a secured access subset of the Internet) , on computer terminals at the office of the Benefit Plan sponsor or the Benefit Plan sponsor's page on the Worldwide Web etc. Completing the worksheet by the participants will be interactive for computer-oriented participants. Such computer-oriented participants would merely enter as access code which could be their Social Security numbers and much of the information that the participants working with the worksheet will be automatically provided, typically by the Benefit Plan sponsor, such as, for example, age, value of the Benefit Plan's assets, annual salary, etc. If any participant does not understand a question during completion of the worksheet by computer, assistance will be provided via the computer such that the participant receives a detailed explanation to each question. Further, toll-free telephone discussions with participant advisors will be available as well as face to face discussions for answering participants questions.
The answers to the questions contained in the worksheet which measure risk tolerance are key to providing impartial investment advise to plan participants. The results of the participants risk profile as determined from the answers to the questions in the worksheet will only be used to recommend the same or a less aggressive Trust. In this situation, the investment advisor will be in the position of recommending a more conservative Trust then would be the case if the worksheet had only a mathematical basis and had no behavior finance component. Thus, by incorporating the behavior finance component in the worksheet as fundamental in determining the appropriate Trust, the inherent conflict of interest which can result from the way fees are traditionally paid in conventional investment vehicles is effectively eliminated. Specifically, under conventional investment programs, by recommending a more aggressive Trust, the typical mutual fund manager would receive higher fees and net profits, because equity based mutual funds typically pay the managers more than bond based mutual funds.
Upon completion of the worksheet 40, each participant's response 42 is analyzed and a recommendation 46 of an appropriate Trust is provided to each participant 14. This recommendation of a particular Trust is designed to assist each participant in choosing the appropriate asset WO 99105625 PCTlUS98113786 allocation based on the participant's risk profile, retirement needs and life cycle stage.
The data collection process leading up to the recommendation is designed to provide participants with a better understanding of the program by emphasizing its purpose and goals. Such understanding should better enable participants to maintain their investment in the Trust which is ultimately recommended because maintaining such position is consistent with the information supplied by the participants themselves via the worksheets.
Of course, each recommendation will result from inputting the information supplied by or on behalf of the participants into the computer programs which contain parameters supplied by the Financial Expert 30 and the Behavior Finance Expert 36. Neither the investment manager nor the participant advisor 32 has any ability to affect or vary the output of the respective computer programs. Whether a participant 14 elects to invest in the recommended Trusts) is entirely within the participant's discretion; in other words, the participant may disregard the recommended Trust(s), yet still invest in other Trust(s). Moreover, the present investment program imposes no limits on how often a participant may change his or her investment election. Thus, theoretically, a participant could change the investment selection any day the stock and bond markets trade; however, Benefit Plan sponsors might, as a matter of design, impose limits.
A system monitor 66 completely independent of the plurality of mutual funds managers I6 and upon receiving instructions from an individual plan participant 14, will provide benefit individual plan participants with tangible confirmation of each participants transactions, and, further, quotations of the participant's Benefit Plan account will be available by telephone. Both participants and Benefit Plan independent fiduciaries will receive periodic information describing the performance of each individual Trust during the preceding period, market conditions and economic outlook and, if appropriate, prospective changes in the asset allocation model and the reasons therefor.
The participant 32 receives a reasonable compensation which is not tied to the level of the assets under management in the Trusts. Under the present investment program which incorporates the system and method of the invention, there will be no separate fee paid at the Trust level for asset allocation services. Only the fees from the mutual funds that are charged to all investors and other reimbursable direct expenses will be charged to the Benefit Plan(s). However, the fees for the Financial Expert 30, the Behavior Finance Expert 36, the development of the risk tolerance component of the worksheet, expenses payable to regulatory authorities, accounting, auditing and legal expenses, clerical and administrative expenses, expenses of printing and mailing of reports, expenses for computer programmers, certain insurance (including errors and omissions) and fidelity bond premium and other expenses incurred by each Trust in the ordinary course of business will be payable to the investment advisor.
The investment program 10 which includes the system and method of the present invention, as described above, provides a mechanism for Benefit Plans to provide their participants with professional investment advisory services regarding the investment of their account balances in Trusts) specifically tailored for their risk tolerance and retirement funding needs. The program is particularly valuable because it provides participants with much needed advice which takes into account the participant's risk tolerances so that participants will likely hold the recommended Trusts) during the inevitable downturns in the market. The Trusts) are professionally managed through asset allocation models incorporated in computer implemented programs as defined by an Independent Financial Expert 30 (through their own internal management of assets and through re-balancing) to exploit opportunities in a down market that most participants would not or could not exploit. It is WO 99/05625 PC'T/US98/13786 believed that Benefit Plans, which provide this particular investment program in order to assist their participants in achieving appropriate asset allocations are providing an investment program that is user-friendly and at least reduces the pain and the confusion out of self-direction of account balances, and, may also result in increased rates of Benefit Plan utilization.
With the system and method of the present investment program, individual participants 14 are protected from over-reaching and self-dealing by safeguards designed into the program itself. Specifically, the Trusts) manager will provide the independent fiduciary of each Benefit Plan with a current prospectus covering the plurality of mutual funds and full and written disclosure of the investment managements fees and all other expenses and transaction costs charged to or paid by the Benefit Plan at both the mutual fund and Trust level. The Benefit Plan independent fiduciary alone will determine to select and retain the investment program including the present invention for the Benefit Plan.
Any individual Benefit Plan will pay no more or receive no less for units in the Trust or shares of the mutual. funds than the Benefit Plan would have paid or received in an arms-length transaction with an unrelated party. The mutual fund shares owned by the Trusts will, presently preferably, be no-load mutual funds which trade at net asset value and the Trusts trade at the net asset value of the amalgam of the plurality of mutual funds in which they are invested (less accrued Trust expenses), i.e., the amounts paid or received are derivative. The broker-dealers who effect and execute trades on behalf of the mutual funds are engaged on a "best execution" basis and are independent of and unaffiliated with the trust manager advisor.
The asset allocation of the Trusts are constructed by the Financial Expert 30, a party independent from the investment advisor, using generally accepted principles of modern portfolio theory. No more than five percent (5%) of the financial expert's gross income in any one of his taxable WO 99J05625 PCTlUS98J13786 years will be derived from the financial advisor or its affiliates.
The allocation models 28 will be entirely developed, maintained and if necessary modified by the Financial Expert. Separate Trusts, which a Benefit Plan sponsor constructs based on different weightings of the mutual funds, may be utilized if the Financial Expert approves of such modification as being appropriate for that type of Trust. Re-balancing of each Trust will occur on a basis determined by the Financial Expert. The re-balancing will be purely objective, automatic and mechanical, with the exclusive goal of maintaining the asset allocation model.
Because the mutual funds selected for the present investment program have considerable assets under management and, thus, the mutual funds are independently viable in the institutional market. Further, outside the investment program which includes the system and method of the present invention, the minimum investment in each mutual fund is generally about $250,000. The fee structure of the mutual funds selected is lower than the fee structure in the "retail" market typically available to the individual participant. The Benefit Plans are, thus, able to take advantage of institutional pricing as a result of their participation in the present investment program.
Additionally, the investment company responsible for the trust managers and employs the participant advisors will not receive any fees other than those charged by the plurality of mutual funds and will receive reimbursement only for those "direct expenses" associated with operating the program or other expenses which it pays to unrelated third parties, as described above.
Figure 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of the investment program 10 including the system and method of the present invention. As shown, investment advice regarding appropriate asset allocation 12 is provided directly to each participant 14 depending upon the criteria discussed earlier. Mutual Fund management WO 99/05625 PCTlUS98/13786 advice 16 is provided directly to the mutual funds 18. The composition of the Trusts 20, 22, 24, 26 is determined by the asset allocation model. (See Figure 2) for each Trust as dictated by an independent Financial Expert 30. Thus, the separation of the investment advice function from the Trust management function is achieved. As shown, in a Benefit Plan, such as, for example, a 401(k) Benefit Plan, participants 14 may receive asset allocation advice, 12 directly from a participant advisor 32 that is separated from both the Financial Expert 25 and the Mutual Fund managers 16.
Based upon this advice, the participants then invest in one or any number of a plurality of different Trusts, such as, for example, a most conservative Trust 20, a conservative Trust 32, an aggressive Trust 24, or a most aggressive Trust 26. As shown, the participant advisor 32 that provides the investment recommendation to the Benefit Plan participant 14 and the plurality of Mutual Funds management advisors 16 are two entirely separate entities and are compensated according to entirely different compensation plans.
Figure 2 shows a detailed block diagram of the implementation of the investment program incorporating the systems and methods of the present invention. As shown, a computer 34 receives inputs from the Financial Expert 30 and the Behavioral Finance Expert 36. Specifically, as discussed above, the asset allocation models 28 developed by the Financial Expert 30 and at an appropriate time, an asset re-balancing model or computer program 38 are loaded into the computer 34. A worksheet computer program prepared by a computer programmer incorporating the worksheet 40 developed by the Behavior Finance Expert 36 is loaded into the computer 34. The worksheet 40 is then transmitted by the computer 34 to either the participant advisor 32 for transmission to the plan participant 14 or directly to the plan participant.
Upon receiving the worksheet 40, the plan participant fills out the worksheet 40 and then the data 42 from the worksheet is either provided to the participant advisor 32 for entering into the computer 34 or the data from the worksheet WO 99105625 PCT/US98I13'786 40 is entered directly into the computer 34 by the plan participant 14. Upon receiving the data 42 from the worksheet, the computer 34, taking into consideration the asset allocation models 28 and the psychological profile 35 provided by the Behavior Finance Expert 36, calculates an investment recommendation 44. The investment recommendation 44 is communicated to the participant advisor 32 who translates that recommendation into a tangible investment recommendation 46 which is then transmitted to the plan participant 14. Upon receipt of the tangible investment recommendation 46, the plan participant 14 makes an investment decision 48 which is communicated either directly to the computer 34 or to the computer through the participant advisor 32. Upon receipt of the investment decision 48, the computer 34 allocates certain shares of the elected Trust or series of Trusts 20, 22, 24, 26 which in turn may require the Trust or Trusts elected to adjust the amount of shares of the various investment vehicles 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64 contained in the Trust.
Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the investment program structure as seen by each participant 14, 14a, 14b, 14c. In this scheme, the participant advisor 32 communicates with a system monitor 66 controlling the computer 34 which in turn communicates with each Benefit Plan participant 14, 14a, 14b, 14c.
The computer based system monitor 66 collects data from each Trust 20, 22, 24, 26, and keeps track of each Participant Accounts in each Trust. The computer based system monitor 66 also collects data and transaction instructions from the Investment Advisor 32 and carries out transactions transferring Participant Account Trust assets among the Trusts as directed by each participant through the participant advisor. Additionally, the system monitor 66 aggregates and nets the transactions between the Participant Accounts and the Trusts for all participants and Trusts.
WO 99/05625 PCT/US98/137$6 The system monitor 66 provides data indicating the total aggregate balances and transactions between each Trust and each of the plurality of mutual funds (see Figure 2) but not individual participant account balances and transactions to each mutual fund manager 16 (see Figure 1).
The investment company 32 gathers data from the system monitor 66 sufficient to calculate the investment advisory fees. These fees are presently anticipated. to be in the form of an hourly fee, a per capita fee, or an asset based fee or any combination of the foregoing.
As shown in Figure 4, the system monitor 66 gathers and processes data from the Participant Account in Trusts and aggregates the accounts by separate and distinct Benefit Plans 68, 70, 72. For each Benefit Plan, the total Participant Account in Trusts within that Benefit Plan, the system monitor 66 calculates and reports to each Benefit Plan trustee and plan sponsor the total Participant Account assets in Trust in each Trust. Transactions will be "netted" and aggregated within each Benefit Plan and the system monitor "nets" and aggregates transactions across some or all Benefit Plans when required.
The system monitor 66 also calculates and reports the investment advisory fees for each individual Participant Account assets in Trust and in aggregate for each Benefit Plan. The system monitor 66 debits each Trust for the total amount of investment advisory fees due from the assets of each Trust. The Trust Manager is directed to transfer moneys to the investment company 32. The system monitor 66 calculates and reports the total investment advisory fees paid by each Participant Account in Trust assets, by each participant 14, 14a, 14b, 14c and by each Benefit Plan 68, 70, 72.
The data processing system used by the system monitor insulates the investment company and its fees from the Trust Fund Manager and its fees by maintaining separate files and cells for each of the aforementioned and other fees. This insulation and masking of the fees from each party removes any economic or profit incentive to direct Participant Account Trust asset funds into Trusts generating higher fees that are inappropriate for the particular participant but are more profitable to either the Trust Fund Manager or the investment company. The system monitor computer program, in its initial form, will be initially designed and constantly updated to follow and adhere to all ERISA and other regulatory constraints and requirements.
The investment program described above is believed to be particularly attractive to Benefit Plans and their participants and beneficiaries because such participants will receive professional advisory services for investment of their account balances in Trusts specifically tailored for their risk tolerance and retirement funding needs. The investment program provides participants with much needed investment advice which takes into account participants risk tolerances so that participants will likely hold the recommended Trust during the inevitable downturns in the market, and, in fact, as mentioned above, the Trusts will be professionally managed to exploit opportunities in a down market that most participants would not or could not exploit.
Hence, the participants will be assisted in achieving appropriate asset allocation. Moreover, since the program will be "user-friendly" and will take the confusion out of self direction of account balances the program may also result in increased rates of Benefit Plan utilization.
Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the investment advice and management system of the present invention as seen by each individual plan participant;
Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the investment advice and management system of the present invention as seen by benefit plans; and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of representative computer hardware useful with the present investment advise program.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In carrying out the present invention in preferred forms thereof, we have provided an investment program 10 (see Figure 1) which includes systems and methods for providing professional asset allocation advice services 12 to individual participants 14 in Benefit Plans for allocating their account balances in a Trusts) 20, 22, 24, 26 specifically tailored to their individual risk tolerances and retirement funding needs. The systems and methods of the present invention are particularly valuable because they provide individual plan participants 14 with much needed advice while taking into account the individual plan participant's risk tolerances so that each individual plan participant will likely hold the recommended Trust (investment) during the inevitable downturns in the market and, in fact, the Trusts will be professionally managed to exploit opportunities in a down market that most individual plan participants would not or could not exploit. The system and methods of the present invention are user-friendly in that they are specifically designed to eliminate the confusion from self-directed individual plan account balances while possibly increasing the rates of Benefit Plan utilization.
WO 99!05625 PCTIUS98113'786 In the system and method of the present invention, investment advice is provided directly to Benefit Plan participants, such as, for example, participants in plans described in ~401(k), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Keogh Plans, IRAs which provide for participant self-direction. Under the program 20 which includes the system and method of the present invention, an investment advisor or asset allocation advisor 32 makes a recommendation 46 to each individual plan participant 14 of one of a plurality of life cycle Trusts 20, 22, 24, 26 maintained under the program as an investment vehicle for investing the participants plan account balance.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is presently anticipated that at least four and possibly more such life cycle Trusts 20, 22, 24, 26 would be structured as, presently preferred, at least four separate commingled Trusts and a money market fund, a guaranteed investment contract or similar vehicle 27 (see Figure 2). Each Trust will hold, in varying proportions, shares of some or all of a plurality of mutual funds of an open ended management investment company 18. The investment advisor 32 directly assists participants 14 in making appropriate investment decisions to achieve two important goals: (1) increased Benefit Plan utilization and (2) rendering assistance to each individual Benefit Plan participant such that each participant is likely to attain an appropriate asset allocation for the assets in their individual plan accounts.
Appropriate asset allocation is essential to realizing favorable market returns. Appropriate asset allocation is often a function of an individual plan participant's stage of life. It is generally accepted that younger participants with longer life time horizons should invest in more equity-weighted Trusts, whereas older participants with shorter life time horizons and lesser funding needs should invest in more bonds/money market-weighted Trusts. The initial four different Trusts are designed to assist any particular participant in achieving his or her retirement funding needs by varying the weightings of each Trusts holdings in, presently preferably, a plurality of no-load mutual funds. Thus, each Trust is tailored to meet different retirement investment needs. The recommended course of action provided by the investment advisor to each participant is designed to incorporate the prudent practices and procedures of retirement funding applicable to defined Benefit Plans and is provided in a simple and user-friendly form to defined Benefit Plan participants.
Any solution to the problem of Benefit Plan participants allocating their account balances in less than an optimal manner must take account of the typical participant's tendency to change investments in reactions to short-term performance trends. Short-term market volatility has proven to be the nemesis of individual investors, influencing them to "buy high and sell low." The first step in determining an appropriate Trust for any one individual participant is to determine his or her risk tolerance, among other criteria. A worksheet 40, as will be explained later, is used to elicit the information necessary for the investment advisor 32 to recommend the Trust appropriate for each individual participant. This is accomplished by determining from each plan participant into which Trust he or she should invest, taking into account the "fear factor"
(i.e. the typical participant's inordinate fear of losing any money) and the expected fluctuation in net asset value of each Trust.
Each Trust is a portfolio containing varying percentages of different asset classes through its investments in the plurality of mutual funds. This design was implemented to take into account the fact that the investment performance of different asset classes is imperfectly correlated, thus, buffering shart-term fluctuations in the investment portfolio's overall value.
Because plan participants will see only the net asset value and fluctuation at the investment portfolio level, i.e., of _ g _ the Trust itself, they will not be unduly alarmed by fluctuations in the values of the shares of any one mutual fund or other investment vehicle incorporated in the Trust.
Furthermore, since each Trust is a portfolio of composite asset classes through its investment in the plurality of mutual funds, fluctuations in the value of the shares of individual mutual funds should mitigate portfolio or Trust fluctuations. This should help protect plan participants from subscribing to the temptation of selling a falling asset class in a down market. In fact, quite the opposite is believed will occur in the present program, in that to be maximally advantageous to plan participants, the asset classes in each Trust will be periodically re-balanced according to criteria provided by a Financial Expert 30, as will be explained later.
As mentioned above, the investment options available under the asset allocation program of the present invention are, presently preferably, initially a selection of at least four Trusts and, if not otherwise available from a F3e~zefit Plan, a money market fund, a guaranteed investment con~:rac<~ ~~r similar vehicle.
Each Trust holds shares in a plurality of mutual funds in varying proportions. The mix of the, plurality of mutual funds in each Trust will be designed to accommodate the different investment strategies of each of the Trusts.
In this connection, the Trust range from aggressively structured (generally composed of mutual funds which invest mainly in equities) to conservatively structured (generally composed of funds which invest mainly in fixed income instruments). The Trusts will comprise all or some of any particular Benefit Plans investment alternatives. As presently preferred, each mutual fund has a different investment objective and will be selected from those, presently preferably, available to institutional investors which typically require a minimum investment of about $250, 000 and a minimum of $25, 000 for additional investments, except for the money market fund which, presently preferably, requires a minimum initial investment of $100,000 and a minimum of $1,000 for additional investments with the minimums being waivable. The, presently preferred, at least four Trusts invest exclusively in shares of some or all of the mutual funds in varying proportions, so that each Trust accommodates different investment needs and risk tolerances, as determined by the Financial Expert.
The Trusts are designed to provide appropriate asset allocations for at least four different "profiles" of participants, with the salient factors being; financial objectives, time horizon, other savings and risk tolerance.
One key to the investment program which includes the present invention is the independent Financial Expert 30 that constructs appropriate asset allocation models 28 for each Trust. The appropriate asset allocation models 28 are constructed using generally accepted principles of modern portfolio theory. The Financial Expert is independent from and has no preexisting relationship with and is no way under the control of the Mutual Fund management or the investment company. The Financial Expert's formulation of asset allocation models may include algorithms, studies, analytics, research, models, papers and other word product or relevant materials as the investment manager determines might be of assistance or interest to the Financial Expert. Furthermore, the Financial Expert, at his sole and absolute discretion, may seek the assistance of others in formulating the asset allocation models.
However, in all cases, the Financial Expert 30 retains the ultimate control and discretion with respect to the development and maintenance of the asset allocation models 28. The Financial Expert 30 is entirely responsible for determining how the allocation models 28 are best implemented and, thus, will select the mutual funds each Trust will hold and the weightings thereof in order to be compliant with the developed asset allocation model. The asset allocation models 28, as expressed in an asset allocation computer program, when implemented will not be static, but rather the Financial Expert in his sole and absolute professional discretion may make adjustments to the asset allocation models for the Trusts, taking into consideration the investment goals and risk tolerances that the asset allocation models represent and to account for changes in the economy and market conditions. Thus, the Trusts will employ, for the benefit of participants, concepts based on funding needs and proscribed risk tolerances uninfluenced by the compensation interests of Mutual Fund management.
Once the Trusts are appropriately invested in the plurality of mutual funds, disproportionate investment performance by the plurality of mutual funds will cause the Trust investment mix to drift from the Trust asset allocation model. At this point, the Financial Expert 30 will develop a mechanical formula incorporated in an appropriate computer implemented program to re-balance 38 the relative proportions of the mutual funds in each Trust on a predetermined basis.
Such formula and the basis upon which the composition of the Trust is designed will be made available to each Benefits' Plan independent fiduciary prior to the Benefits Plan investing in the investment program which includes the system and method of the present invention.
The investment program 10 which includes the system and method of the present invention is based on a very simple idea: to provide the individual plan participant responsible for the investment of his or her account balance with a convenient, user-friendly way to benefit from the knowledge and experience of professional investment advisors and thereby receive investment advice concerning which Trust represents an appropriate allocation of assets in that individual's account under the Benefit Plan. As presently preferred, the investment program of the present invention will be made available only to sophisticated Benefit Plans, i.e. those with a minimum of $5,000,000 in assets.
WO 99/05625 PCTIiJS98113786 One of the primary goals of the investment program of the present invention is to make investment decisions as simple and user-friendly as possible, while maintaining integrity and accuracy in the investment advice proffered.
These goals are accomplished by the investment advisor acting as a fiduciary in making a specific investment recommendation based solely upon information provided for, by or on behalf of Benefit Plan participants. This investment advice will be based, at least in part, upon the answers to questions w included in the worksheet, mentioned earlier, designed by a Behavior Finance Expert 36. The worksheet 40, is designed to elicit the funding needs and levels of risk tolerance appropriate for each individual participant. The Behavior Finance Expert will formulate a risk profile and will develop standards which take into account participants "fear factor, "
thus allowing the investment advisor to provide an investment recommendation that the participant is more likely to follow and maintain over a long period of time.
One important factor in the preparation of the investment recommendation will be each participants response when asked what he or she would do if a loss, equaling the largest loss that could occur in the great majority of likely scenarios, would actually occur. If the answer indicates that the participant would sell his or her shares in a specific Trust in the face of such a loss, a more conservative Trust would be recommended to those participants.
The worksheet 40 will be made available to the participants in many forms, including, but not limited to, hard copies with written instructions and employee enrollment in general information meetings through the Intranet (a secured access subset of the Internet) , on computer terminals at the office of the Benefit Plan sponsor or the Benefit Plan sponsor's page on the Worldwide Web etc. Completing the worksheet by the participants will be interactive for computer-oriented participants. Such computer-oriented participants would merely enter as access code which could be their Social Security numbers and much of the information that the participants working with the worksheet will be automatically provided, typically by the Benefit Plan sponsor, such as, for example, age, value of the Benefit Plan's assets, annual salary, etc. If any participant does not understand a question during completion of the worksheet by computer, assistance will be provided via the computer such that the participant receives a detailed explanation to each question. Further, toll-free telephone discussions with participant advisors will be available as well as face to face discussions for answering participants questions.
The answers to the questions contained in the worksheet which measure risk tolerance are key to providing impartial investment advise to plan participants. The results of the participants risk profile as determined from the answers to the questions in the worksheet will only be used to recommend the same or a less aggressive Trust. In this situation, the investment advisor will be in the position of recommending a more conservative Trust then would be the case if the worksheet had only a mathematical basis and had no behavior finance component. Thus, by incorporating the behavior finance component in the worksheet as fundamental in determining the appropriate Trust, the inherent conflict of interest which can result from the way fees are traditionally paid in conventional investment vehicles is effectively eliminated. Specifically, under conventional investment programs, by recommending a more aggressive Trust, the typical mutual fund manager would receive higher fees and net profits, because equity based mutual funds typically pay the managers more than bond based mutual funds.
Upon completion of the worksheet 40, each participant's response 42 is analyzed and a recommendation 46 of an appropriate Trust is provided to each participant 14. This recommendation of a particular Trust is designed to assist each participant in choosing the appropriate asset WO 99105625 PCTlUS98113786 allocation based on the participant's risk profile, retirement needs and life cycle stage.
The data collection process leading up to the recommendation is designed to provide participants with a better understanding of the program by emphasizing its purpose and goals. Such understanding should better enable participants to maintain their investment in the Trust which is ultimately recommended because maintaining such position is consistent with the information supplied by the participants themselves via the worksheets.
Of course, each recommendation will result from inputting the information supplied by or on behalf of the participants into the computer programs which contain parameters supplied by the Financial Expert 30 and the Behavior Finance Expert 36. Neither the investment manager nor the participant advisor 32 has any ability to affect or vary the output of the respective computer programs. Whether a participant 14 elects to invest in the recommended Trusts) is entirely within the participant's discretion; in other words, the participant may disregard the recommended Trust(s), yet still invest in other Trust(s). Moreover, the present investment program imposes no limits on how often a participant may change his or her investment election. Thus, theoretically, a participant could change the investment selection any day the stock and bond markets trade; however, Benefit Plan sponsors might, as a matter of design, impose limits.
A system monitor 66 completely independent of the plurality of mutual funds managers I6 and upon receiving instructions from an individual plan participant 14, will provide benefit individual plan participants with tangible confirmation of each participants transactions, and, further, quotations of the participant's Benefit Plan account will be available by telephone. Both participants and Benefit Plan independent fiduciaries will receive periodic information describing the performance of each individual Trust during the preceding period, market conditions and economic outlook and, if appropriate, prospective changes in the asset allocation model and the reasons therefor.
The participant 32 receives a reasonable compensation which is not tied to the level of the assets under management in the Trusts. Under the present investment program which incorporates the system and method of the invention, there will be no separate fee paid at the Trust level for asset allocation services. Only the fees from the mutual funds that are charged to all investors and other reimbursable direct expenses will be charged to the Benefit Plan(s). However, the fees for the Financial Expert 30, the Behavior Finance Expert 36, the development of the risk tolerance component of the worksheet, expenses payable to regulatory authorities, accounting, auditing and legal expenses, clerical and administrative expenses, expenses of printing and mailing of reports, expenses for computer programmers, certain insurance (including errors and omissions) and fidelity bond premium and other expenses incurred by each Trust in the ordinary course of business will be payable to the investment advisor.
The investment program 10 which includes the system and method of the present invention, as described above, provides a mechanism for Benefit Plans to provide their participants with professional investment advisory services regarding the investment of their account balances in Trusts) specifically tailored for their risk tolerance and retirement funding needs. The program is particularly valuable because it provides participants with much needed advice which takes into account the participant's risk tolerances so that participants will likely hold the recommended Trusts) during the inevitable downturns in the market. The Trusts) are professionally managed through asset allocation models incorporated in computer implemented programs as defined by an Independent Financial Expert 30 (through their own internal management of assets and through re-balancing) to exploit opportunities in a down market that most participants would not or could not exploit. It is WO 99/05625 PC'T/US98/13786 believed that Benefit Plans, which provide this particular investment program in order to assist their participants in achieving appropriate asset allocations are providing an investment program that is user-friendly and at least reduces the pain and the confusion out of self-direction of account balances, and, may also result in increased rates of Benefit Plan utilization.
With the system and method of the present investment program, individual participants 14 are protected from over-reaching and self-dealing by safeguards designed into the program itself. Specifically, the Trusts) manager will provide the independent fiduciary of each Benefit Plan with a current prospectus covering the plurality of mutual funds and full and written disclosure of the investment managements fees and all other expenses and transaction costs charged to or paid by the Benefit Plan at both the mutual fund and Trust level. The Benefit Plan independent fiduciary alone will determine to select and retain the investment program including the present invention for the Benefit Plan.
Any individual Benefit Plan will pay no more or receive no less for units in the Trust or shares of the mutual. funds than the Benefit Plan would have paid or received in an arms-length transaction with an unrelated party. The mutual fund shares owned by the Trusts will, presently preferably, be no-load mutual funds which trade at net asset value and the Trusts trade at the net asset value of the amalgam of the plurality of mutual funds in which they are invested (less accrued Trust expenses), i.e., the amounts paid or received are derivative. The broker-dealers who effect and execute trades on behalf of the mutual funds are engaged on a "best execution" basis and are independent of and unaffiliated with the trust manager advisor.
The asset allocation of the Trusts are constructed by the Financial Expert 30, a party independent from the investment advisor, using generally accepted principles of modern portfolio theory. No more than five percent (5%) of the financial expert's gross income in any one of his taxable WO 99J05625 PCTlUS98J13786 years will be derived from the financial advisor or its affiliates.
The allocation models 28 will be entirely developed, maintained and if necessary modified by the Financial Expert. Separate Trusts, which a Benefit Plan sponsor constructs based on different weightings of the mutual funds, may be utilized if the Financial Expert approves of such modification as being appropriate for that type of Trust. Re-balancing of each Trust will occur on a basis determined by the Financial Expert. The re-balancing will be purely objective, automatic and mechanical, with the exclusive goal of maintaining the asset allocation model.
Because the mutual funds selected for the present investment program have considerable assets under management and, thus, the mutual funds are independently viable in the institutional market. Further, outside the investment program which includes the system and method of the present invention, the minimum investment in each mutual fund is generally about $250,000. The fee structure of the mutual funds selected is lower than the fee structure in the "retail" market typically available to the individual participant. The Benefit Plans are, thus, able to take advantage of institutional pricing as a result of their participation in the present investment program.
Additionally, the investment company responsible for the trust managers and employs the participant advisors will not receive any fees other than those charged by the plurality of mutual funds and will receive reimbursement only for those "direct expenses" associated with operating the program or other expenses which it pays to unrelated third parties, as described above.
Figure 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of the investment program 10 including the system and method of the present invention. As shown, investment advice regarding appropriate asset allocation 12 is provided directly to each participant 14 depending upon the criteria discussed earlier. Mutual Fund management WO 99/05625 PCTlUS98/13786 advice 16 is provided directly to the mutual funds 18. The composition of the Trusts 20, 22, 24, 26 is determined by the asset allocation model. (See Figure 2) for each Trust as dictated by an independent Financial Expert 30. Thus, the separation of the investment advice function from the Trust management function is achieved. As shown, in a Benefit Plan, such as, for example, a 401(k) Benefit Plan, participants 14 may receive asset allocation advice, 12 directly from a participant advisor 32 that is separated from both the Financial Expert 25 and the Mutual Fund managers 16.
Based upon this advice, the participants then invest in one or any number of a plurality of different Trusts, such as, for example, a most conservative Trust 20, a conservative Trust 32, an aggressive Trust 24, or a most aggressive Trust 26. As shown, the participant advisor 32 that provides the investment recommendation to the Benefit Plan participant 14 and the plurality of Mutual Funds management advisors 16 are two entirely separate entities and are compensated according to entirely different compensation plans.
Figure 2 shows a detailed block diagram of the implementation of the investment program incorporating the systems and methods of the present invention. As shown, a computer 34 receives inputs from the Financial Expert 30 and the Behavioral Finance Expert 36. Specifically, as discussed above, the asset allocation models 28 developed by the Financial Expert 30 and at an appropriate time, an asset re-balancing model or computer program 38 are loaded into the computer 34. A worksheet computer program prepared by a computer programmer incorporating the worksheet 40 developed by the Behavior Finance Expert 36 is loaded into the computer 34. The worksheet 40 is then transmitted by the computer 34 to either the participant advisor 32 for transmission to the plan participant 14 or directly to the plan participant.
Upon receiving the worksheet 40, the plan participant fills out the worksheet 40 and then the data 42 from the worksheet is either provided to the participant advisor 32 for entering into the computer 34 or the data from the worksheet WO 99105625 PCT/US98I13'786 40 is entered directly into the computer 34 by the plan participant 14. Upon receiving the data 42 from the worksheet, the computer 34, taking into consideration the asset allocation models 28 and the psychological profile 35 provided by the Behavior Finance Expert 36, calculates an investment recommendation 44. The investment recommendation 44 is communicated to the participant advisor 32 who translates that recommendation into a tangible investment recommendation 46 which is then transmitted to the plan participant 14. Upon receipt of the tangible investment recommendation 46, the plan participant 14 makes an investment decision 48 which is communicated either directly to the computer 34 or to the computer through the participant advisor 32. Upon receipt of the investment decision 48, the computer 34 allocates certain shares of the elected Trust or series of Trusts 20, 22, 24, 26 which in turn may require the Trust or Trusts elected to adjust the amount of shares of the various investment vehicles 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64 contained in the Trust.
Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the investment program structure as seen by each participant 14, 14a, 14b, 14c. In this scheme, the participant advisor 32 communicates with a system monitor 66 controlling the computer 34 which in turn communicates with each Benefit Plan participant 14, 14a, 14b, 14c.
The computer based system monitor 66 collects data from each Trust 20, 22, 24, 26, and keeps track of each Participant Accounts in each Trust. The computer based system monitor 66 also collects data and transaction instructions from the Investment Advisor 32 and carries out transactions transferring Participant Account Trust assets among the Trusts as directed by each participant through the participant advisor. Additionally, the system monitor 66 aggregates and nets the transactions between the Participant Accounts and the Trusts for all participants and Trusts.
WO 99/05625 PCT/US98/137$6 The system monitor 66 provides data indicating the total aggregate balances and transactions between each Trust and each of the plurality of mutual funds (see Figure 2) but not individual participant account balances and transactions to each mutual fund manager 16 (see Figure 1).
The investment company 32 gathers data from the system monitor 66 sufficient to calculate the investment advisory fees. These fees are presently anticipated. to be in the form of an hourly fee, a per capita fee, or an asset based fee or any combination of the foregoing.
As shown in Figure 4, the system monitor 66 gathers and processes data from the Participant Account in Trusts and aggregates the accounts by separate and distinct Benefit Plans 68, 70, 72. For each Benefit Plan, the total Participant Account in Trusts within that Benefit Plan, the system monitor 66 calculates and reports to each Benefit Plan trustee and plan sponsor the total Participant Account assets in Trust in each Trust. Transactions will be "netted" and aggregated within each Benefit Plan and the system monitor "nets" and aggregates transactions across some or all Benefit Plans when required.
The system monitor 66 also calculates and reports the investment advisory fees for each individual Participant Account assets in Trust and in aggregate for each Benefit Plan. The system monitor 66 debits each Trust for the total amount of investment advisory fees due from the assets of each Trust. The Trust Manager is directed to transfer moneys to the investment company 32. The system monitor 66 calculates and reports the total investment advisory fees paid by each Participant Account in Trust assets, by each participant 14, 14a, 14b, 14c and by each Benefit Plan 68, 70, 72.
The data processing system used by the system monitor insulates the investment company and its fees from the Trust Fund Manager and its fees by maintaining separate files and cells for each of the aforementioned and other fees. This insulation and masking of the fees from each party removes any economic or profit incentive to direct Participant Account Trust asset funds into Trusts generating higher fees that are inappropriate for the particular participant but are more profitable to either the Trust Fund Manager or the investment company. The system monitor computer program, in its initial form, will be initially designed and constantly updated to follow and adhere to all ERISA and other regulatory constraints and requirements.
The investment program described above is believed to be particularly attractive to Benefit Plans and their participants and beneficiaries because such participants will receive professional advisory services for investment of their account balances in Trusts specifically tailored for their risk tolerance and retirement funding needs. The investment program provides participants with much needed investment advice which takes into account participants risk tolerances so that participants will likely hold the recommended Trust during the inevitable downturns in the market, and, in fact, as mentioned above, the Trusts will be professionally managed to exploit opportunities in a down market that most participants would not or could not exploit.
Hence, the participants will be assisted in achieving appropriate asset allocation. Moreover, since the program will be "user-friendly" and will take the confusion out of self direction of account balances the program may also result in increased rates of Benefit Plan utilization.
Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (4)
1. A system for providing asset allocation advice to individuals comprising:
a data storage for storing data from a plurality of worksheets, each worksheet being completed by an individual;
means for processing the data from each individual such that each individual risk tolerance is calculated;
an asset allocation model for at least two (2) Trusts, the Trusts including varying proportions of shares in a plurality of investment vehicles;
means for correlating the calculated risk tolerance with an appropriate Trust; and means for generating a report recommending at least one (1) of the at least two (2) Trusts as an appropriate investment vehicle for each individual.
a data storage for storing data from a plurality of worksheets, each worksheet being completed by an individual;
means for processing the data from each individual such that each individual risk tolerance is calculated;
an asset allocation model for at least two (2) Trusts, the Trusts including varying proportions of shares in a plurality of investment vehicles;
means for correlating the calculated risk tolerance with an appropriate Trust; and means for generating a report recommending at least one (1) of the at least two (2) Trusts as an appropriate investment vehicle for each individual.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for processing the data from each participant such that each participant's written recommendation is based on a participants's retirement needs and life cycle stager and means for correlating the retirement needs and life cycle stage with an appropriate Trust.
3. A computer implemented method for providing independent expert investment advice to individual Benefit Plan participants for investing in professionally managed, cost efficient, commingled investment funds while eliminating the conflict of interest between the investment advice and the fund management, the method comprising the steps of:
developing a worksheet to elicit the funding needs and levels of risk tolerance appropriate for each individual participant;
developing a risk profile which includes standards to take into account participants "fear factor" such that the investment recommendation given is likely be followed by the participant over a long period of time;
developing an asset allocation model for at least four (4) investment vehicles using generally accepted principles of modern portfolio theory;
applying the data from the worksheets to the asset allocation model:
determining an appropriate investment vehicle for the Plan Participant: and providing a written recommendation to the Plan Participant of at least one (1) of the at least four (4) investment vehicles.
developing a worksheet to elicit the funding needs and levels of risk tolerance appropriate for each individual participant;
developing a risk profile which includes standards to take into account participants "fear factor" such that the investment recommendation given is likely be followed by the participant over a long period of time;
developing an asset allocation model for at least four (4) investment vehicles using generally accepted principles of modern portfolio theory;
applying the data from the worksheets to the asset allocation model:
determining an appropriate investment vehicle for the Plan Participant: and providing a written recommendation to the Plan Participant of at least one (1) of the at least four (4) investment vehicles.
4. A computer implemented method for providing asset allocation advice to individual participants in a Benefit Plan, the method comprising the steps:
collecting data from a worksheet completed by each individual participant;
calculating a risk tolerance for each individual participant;
providing an asset allocation model for at least four (4) Trusts, the Trusts having shares in varying proportions of a plurality of no-load mutual funds;
applying the calculated risk tolerance to the asset allocation model of the at least four (4) Trusts; and generating a written report recommending at least one (1) of the at least four Trusts (4) as an appropriate investment vehicle for each individual participant.
collecting data from a worksheet completed by each individual participant;
calculating a risk tolerance for each individual participant;
providing an asset allocation model for at least four (4) Trusts, the Trusts having shares in varying proportions of a plurality of no-load mutual funds;
applying the calculated risk tolerance to the asset allocation model of the at least four (4) Trusts; and generating a written report recommending at least one (1) of the at least four Trusts (4) as an appropriate investment vehicle for each individual participant.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/900,415 | 1997-07-25 | ||
| US08/900,415 US6154732A (en) | 1997-07-25 | 1997-07-25 | System for providing investment advice and management of pension assets |
| PCT/US1998/013786 WO1999005625A1 (en) | 1997-07-25 | 1998-07-01 | System for providing investment advice and management of pension assets |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2297821A1 true CA2297821A1 (en) | 1999-02-04 |
Family
ID=25412488
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002297821A Abandoned CA2297821A1 (en) | 1997-07-25 | 1998-07-01 | System for providing investment advice and management of pension assets |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6154732A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0996912A4 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2001511566A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR100553149B1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1271445A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU737984B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9811546A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2297821A1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL134120A (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2213369C2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1999005625A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (183)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7016870B1 (en) * | 1997-12-02 | 2006-03-21 | Financial Engines | Identifying a recommended portfolio of financial products for an investor based upon financial products that are available to the investor |
| US7318046B1 (en) * | 1998-03-05 | 2008-01-08 | American Management Systems, Inc. | Collector's account payment promise option advisory apparatus and method |
| US6078904A (en) * | 1998-03-16 | 2000-06-20 | Saddle Peak Systems | Risk direct asset allocation and risk resolved CAPM for optimally allocating investment assets in an investment portfolio |
| US7167838B1 (en) | 1998-04-24 | 2007-01-23 | Starmine Corporation | Security analyst estimates performance viewing system and method |
| US7603308B2 (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 2009-10-13 | Starmine Corporation | Security analyst estimates performance viewing system and method |
| US7509277B1 (en) | 1998-04-24 | 2009-03-24 | Starmine Corporation | Security analyst estimates performance viewing system and method |
| US7539637B2 (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 2009-05-26 | Starmine Corporation | Security analyst estimates performance viewing system and method |
| US6510419B1 (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 2003-01-21 | Starmine Corporation | Security analyst performance tracking and analysis system and method |
| US5985837A (en) * | 1998-07-08 | 1999-11-16 | Basf Aktiengesellschaft | Dolastatin 15 derivatives |
| US6430542B1 (en) | 1998-08-26 | 2002-08-06 | American Express Financial Corporation | Computer-implemented program for financial planning and advice system |
| US7305347B1 (en) * | 1998-09-09 | 2007-12-04 | Raymond Anthony Joao | Apparatus and method for providing employee benefits and /or employee benefits information |
| US6292787B1 (en) * | 1998-09-11 | 2001-09-18 | Financial Engines, Inc. | Enhancing utility and diversifying model risk in a portfolio optimization framework |
| US7765138B2 (en) * | 1998-11-05 | 2010-07-27 | Financeware, Inc. | Method and system for financial advising |
| US7562040B2 (en) * | 1998-11-05 | 2009-07-14 | Loeper David B | Method, system and computer program for auditing financial plans |
| US7650303B2 (en) * | 1998-11-05 | 2010-01-19 | Financeware, Inc. | Method and system for financial advising |
| US6193518B1 (en) * | 1998-11-20 | 2001-02-27 | Tina M. Nocera | Method for developing answer-options to issue-questions relating to child-development |
| US6859788B1 (en) * | 1998-12-10 | 2005-02-22 | Finametrica Limited | Automated assessment of personal financial risk tolerance |
| US7174313B1 (en) * | 1999-03-04 | 2007-02-06 | Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith | Portfolio rebalancing system |
| US7149713B2 (en) * | 1999-06-09 | 2006-12-12 | The Vanguard Group, Inc. | System and method for automating investment planning |
| US6973439B1 (en) * | 1999-06-10 | 2005-12-06 | Wilk Peter J | Computer network mediated financing method |
| US7475032B1 (en) | 1999-11-16 | 2009-01-06 | Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | Systems and methods for creating financial advice applications |
| US20010032091A1 (en) * | 1999-12-16 | 2001-10-18 | Schultz Michael A. | Method and apparatus for providing intranet/web based programs |
| WO2001050395A2 (en) | 2000-01-04 | 2001-07-12 | Employeematters, Inc. | Method and system for remotely managing business and employee administration functions |
| US7472098B2 (en) * | 2000-02-14 | 2008-12-30 | Ubs Financial Services, Inc. | System and method for execution of trades made pursuant to stock option and purchase plans |
| US7529701B2 (en) * | 2000-02-14 | 2009-05-05 | Ubs Painwebber, Inc. | System and method for implementing employee stock plans |
| JP2004502210A (en) | 2000-02-23 | 2004-01-22 | ファイナンシャル エンジンズ，インコーポレイテッド | Load-aware optimization |
| US7860773B1 (en) * | 2000-04-03 | 2010-12-28 | Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company | System and method for providing secure retirement benefits via a conversion process |
| US7892974B2 (en) | 2000-04-11 | 2011-02-22 | Cree, Inc. | Method of forming vias in silicon carbide and resulting devices and circuits |
| US20020035527A1 (en) * | 2000-04-17 | 2002-03-21 | Corrin William R. | System for relating investment account information to an investment objective |
| AU2001255498A1 (en) * | 2000-04-19 | 2001-11-07 | Zurich American Insurance Company | Web-based risk management system |
| US20020023030A1 (en) * | 2000-05-12 | 2002-02-21 | Daniel Prohaska | Third party payor method and system for distributing financial benefits |
| JP2001350927A (en) * | 2000-06-05 | 2001-12-21 | Asahi Bank Ltd | Financial merchandise sales processing system, system processing method for financial merchandise sales processing system, and recording medium recorded with program therefor |
| US7089206B2 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2006-08-08 | Ubs Ag | Trade allocation |
| US7685036B1 (en) * | 2000-10-13 | 2010-03-23 | Ubs Financial Services, Inc. | System and method for delivering a financial message |
| US7295999B1 (en) | 2000-12-20 | 2007-11-13 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | System and method for determining eligibility and enrolling members in various programs |
| US20020091598A1 (en) * | 2001-01-10 | 2002-07-11 | Peter Farkas | Method for web-based electronic process for initiation of, engagement in, and conduct of attorney-client relationship |
| AU2002240341B2 (en) * | 2001-02-09 | 2007-11-01 | Mark Greenstein | Systems and methods for improving investment performance |
| US20020143680A1 (en) * | 2001-02-27 | 2002-10-03 | Walters Edmond J. | Financial planning method and computer system |
| US20020128941A1 (en) * | 2001-03-08 | 2002-09-12 | Champion Robert R. | Techniques for generating and managing electronic investment contracts |
| AUPR372601A0 (en) * | 2001-03-14 | 2001-04-12 | C.R. Group Pty Limited | Method and system for secure information |
| US7167837B1 (en) | 2001-04-16 | 2007-01-23 | Ft Interactive Data Corporation | Fair-value pricing of a financial asset |
| WO2002091272A1 (en) * | 2001-05-04 | 2002-11-14 | Delta Rangers, Inc. | Derivative securities and system for trading same |
| US7409367B2 (en) * | 2001-05-04 | 2008-08-05 | Delta Rangers Inc. | Derivative securities and system for trading same |
| US8108275B2 (en) * | 2001-06-18 | 2012-01-31 | Capital One Financial Corporation | Method and system for offering financial products based on a customer's determined life status |
| US20030028465A1 (en) * | 2001-07-16 | 2003-02-06 | Kosinski Bruce C. | Method and system for providing professional assistance to participants in an investment plan |
| US8407125B2 (en) * | 2001-07-31 | 2013-03-26 | Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | System and method for providing financial planning and advice |
| US20030065604A1 (en) * | 2001-10-03 | 2003-04-03 | Joseph Gatto | Methods and systems for measuring performance of a security analyst |
| US7636680B2 (en) * | 2001-10-03 | 2009-12-22 | Starmine Corporation | Methods and systems for measuring performance of a security analyst |
| WO2003050654A2 (en) * | 2001-12-10 | 2003-06-19 | Bank One, Delaware, N.A. | Methods and system for adding liquidity to alternative investment transactions |
| US7668773B1 (en) | 2001-12-21 | 2010-02-23 | Placemark Investments, Inc. | Portfolio management system |
| US20030135399A1 (en) * | 2002-01-16 | 2003-07-17 | Soori Ahamparam | System and method for project optimization |
| US20030149646A1 (en) * | 2002-02-01 | 2003-08-07 | Ubs Painewebber Inc. | Method and system for providing an aggregated stock options report |
| US7216099B2 (en) * | 2002-03-05 | 2007-05-08 | Ibbotson Associates | Automatically allocating and rebalancing discretionary portfolios |
| US8200561B1 (en) | 2002-03-29 | 2012-06-12 | Financial Engines, Inc. | Tax-aware asset allocation |
| US8374951B2 (en) | 2002-04-10 | 2013-02-12 | Research Affiliates, Llc | System, method, and computer program product for managing a virtual portfolio of financial objects |
| US8005740B2 (en) | 2002-06-03 | 2011-08-23 | Research Affiliates, Llc | Using accounting data based indexing to create a portfolio of financial objects |
| US7792719B2 (en) | 2004-02-04 | 2010-09-07 | Research Affiliates, Llc | Valuation indifferent non-capitalization weighted index and portfolio |
| US8374937B2 (en) | 2002-04-10 | 2013-02-12 | Research Affiliates, Llc | Non-capitalization weighted indexing system, method and computer program product |
| US7747502B2 (en) | 2002-06-03 | 2010-06-29 | Research Affiliates, Llc | Using accounting data based indexing to create a portfolio of assets |
| US20030195831A1 (en) * | 2002-04-12 | 2003-10-16 | Ibbotson Associates, Inc. | Portfolio generation using resampled efficient frontiers and interval-associated groups |
| US20030204469A1 (en) * | 2002-04-30 | 2003-10-30 | James Combs | Automated reciprocity management system and method of use |
| US8589276B2 (en) | 2002-06-03 | 2013-11-19 | Research Afiliates, LLC | Using accounting data based indexing to create a portfolio of financial objects |
| US7120601B2 (en) * | 2002-06-18 | 2006-10-10 | Ibbotson Associates, Inc. | Optimal asset allocation during retirement in the presence of fixed and variable immediate life annuities (payout annuities) |
| US7383218B1 (en) | 2002-07-31 | 2008-06-03 | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | Method and system for integrating investment advice with financial account statement information |
| US7328180B1 (en) * | 2002-08-23 | 2008-02-05 | Taylor Donald O | Resource allocation system |
| US20040088236A1 (en) * | 2002-10-31 | 2004-05-06 | Manning Kathleen E. | Method and apparatus for investment consulting, benefit projection and investment analysis |
| US8150766B1 (en) | 2003-01-27 | 2012-04-03 | Island Intellectual Property Llc | System and method for investing public deposits |
| US7822667B1 (en) | 2003-02-25 | 2010-10-26 | Checkfree Corporation | Distribution of cash deposits and withdrawals in multi-style managed client investment accounts |
| US8812388B2 (en) * | 2003-02-25 | 2014-08-19 | Fiserv Investment Solutions, Inc. | Systems and methods for multi-style portfolio (MSP) cash flow enhancement |
| US7809624B1 (en) * | 2003-02-25 | 2010-10-05 | Checkfree Corporation | Drift determination in multi-style managed client investment account |
| US7729969B1 (en) | 2003-02-25 | 2010-06-01 | Checkfree Corporation | Coordinated rebalancing by money manager portfolio management systems and a master overlay manager portfolio management system |
| US7962395B2 (en) * | 2003-03-03 | 2011-06-14 | John Woods & Associates Limited | System and method for managing investment funds |
| US7634436B1 (en) * | 2003-05-05 | 2009-12-15 | Wagner Gerald C | Systems and methods for scheduling contributions to a retirement savings plan |
| US20050027632A1 (en) * | 2003-07-31 | 2005-02-03 | Ubs Financial Services, Inc. | Financial investment advice system and method |
| US20050038721A1 (en) * | 2003-08-11 | 2005-02-17 | Websourceit, Llc | Integrated utility accounting, materials management, work management and regulatory reporting software |
| US20050080695A1 (en) * | 2003-10-09 | 2005-04-14 | Gatto Joseph G. | System and method for facilitating the selection of security analyst research reports |
| US7860774B1 (en) | 2003-10-31 | 2010-12-28 | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | System and method for providing financial advice for an investment portfolio |
| US7590557B2 (en) | 2003-11-19 | 2009-09-15 | American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. | Healthcare card incentive program for multiple users |
| US7213750B1 (en) | 2003-11-19 | 2007-05-08 | American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. | Spending account systems and methods |
| US7922083B2 (en) | 2003-11-19 | 2011-04-12 | Harrison Sarah E | Payment programs for healthcare plans |
| US20070011088A1 (en) * | 2005-07-08 | 2007-01-11 | American Express Company | Assured Payments for Health Care Plans |
| EP1695279A4 (en) * | 2003-12-17 | 2009-07-22 | David B Loeper | Method and system for financial advising |
| US7053998B2 (en) * | 2003-12-22 | 2006-05-30 | Searete Llc | Photo-detector filter |
| US8301526B2 (en) * | 2004-02-06 | 2012-10-30 | The Prudential Insurance Company Of America | Method for maximizing retirement income using financial bridge products and deferred social security income |
| US20050187850A1 (en) * | 2004-02-25 | 2005-08-25 | Stuart Horowitz | Method for efficient investment and distribution of assets |
| US7617138B1 (en) | 2004-05-28 | 2009-11-10 | Towers Perrin Forster & Crosby, Inc. | Estimating financial valuation of benefit plans |
| EP1782366A2 (en) | 2004-06-04 | 2007-05-09 | Sap Ag | Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object |
| US8606723B2 (en) | 2004-06-04 | 2013-12-10 | Sap Ag | Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model |
| US8694397B2 (en) | 2004-06-18 | 2014-04-08 | Sap Ag | Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model |
| US8442889B2 (en) * | 2004-07-12 | 2013-05-14 | Darrin B. Farrow | Asset allocation based system for individual investor portfolio selection |
| US7991804B2 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2011-08-02 | Microsoft Corporation | Method, system, and apparatus for exposing workbooks as data sources |
| US8578399B2 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2013-11-05 | Microsoft Corporation | Method, system, and apparatus for providing access to workbook models through remote function cells |
| US8583529B2 (en) * | 2004-10-08 | 2013-11-12 | Mark Greenstein | Method of purchasing a product to avoid adverse selection |
| US7877309B2 (en) | 2004-10-18 | 2011-01-25 | Starmine Corporation | System and method for analyzing analyst recommendations on a single stock basis |
| US8639604B1 (en) * | 2004-10-26 | 2014-01-28 | Invest N Retire, LLC | System and method for managing tax-deferred retirement accounts |
| US7905399B2 (en) | 2004-11-19 | 2011-03-15 | Barnes Brian T | Linking transaction cards with spending accounts |
| US8744937B2 (en) | 2005-02-25 | 2014-06-03 | Sap Ag | Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model |
| US20060271453A1 (en) * | 2005-05-25 | 2006-11-30 | H.A.R.D.T. Group Investments Ag | Master-feeder hedge fund product structure |
| US20060272122A1 (en) * | 2005-06-07 | 2006-12-07 | Dennis Butler | Vacuum brushroll edge cleaner |
| US7970626B2 (en) | 2005-07-08 | 2011-06-28 | Oltine Acquistitions NY LLC | Facilitating payments to health care providers |
| US7434729B2 (en) * | 2005-07-08 | 2008-10-14 | American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. | Healthcare card closed loop network |
| US20070016508A1 (en) * | 2005-07-15 | 2007-01-18 | Pierre Lapointe | Method and system for redeemable vouchers using an insurance model |
| US20080065522A1 (en) * | 2005-09-28 | 2008-03-13 | Keith Bayley Diffenderffer | Low volatility asset allocation strategy for income and method |
| US20070168302A1 (en) * | 2006-01-19 | 2007-07-19 | 401(K) Advisors, Inc. | Retirement plan advisory system |
| WO2007099539A2 (en) * | 2006-03-01 | 2007-09-07 | T.K.T Technologies Ltd. | Method and system for provision of personalized service |
| US8374931B2 (en) | 2006-03-31 | 2013-02-12 | Sap Ag | Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model |
| WO2008005102A2 (en) | 2006-05-13 | 2008-01-10 | Sap Ag | Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model |
| US8392364B2 (en) | 2006-07-10 | 2013-03-05 | Sap Ag | Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model |
| US20080033856A1 (en) * | 2006-08-03 | 2008-02-07 | Vestopia Inc. | Financial marketplace |
| US8566193B2 (en) | 2006-08-11 | 2013-10-22 | Sap Ag | Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model |
| US8402473B1 (en) | 2006-09-28 | 2013-03-19 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for demand business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US7752112B2 (en) | 2006-11-09 | 2010-07-06 | Starmine Corporation | System and method for using analyst data to identify peer securities |
| US20080183627A1 (en) * | 2007-01-29 | 2008-07-31 | American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. | Filtered healthcare payment card linked to tax-advantaged accounts |
| US7949543B2 (en) | 2007-02-13 | 2011-05-24 | Oltine Acquisitions NY LLC | Methods, systems, and computer program products for promoting healthcare information technologies to card members |
| US20090018969A1 (en) * | 2007-06-07 | 2009-01-15 | Ian Ayres | Systems and methods for providing investment strategies |
| US8417593B2 (en) | 2008-02-28 | 2013-04-09 | Sap Ag | System and computer-readable medium for managing consistent interfaces for business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8473317B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-06-25 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for service part business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8577991B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-11-05 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for internal service request business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8433585B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-04-30 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8589263B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-11-19 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for retail business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8423418B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-04-16 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8413165B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-04-02 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for maintenance order business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8364715B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-01-29 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for automatic identification label business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8370233B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-02-05 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8930248B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2015-01-06 | Sap Se | Managing consistent interfaces for supply network business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8364528B2 (en) * | 2008-05-06 | 2013-01-29 | Richrelevance, Inc. | System and process for improving product recommendations for use in providing personalized advertisements to retail customers |
| US20090287547A1 (en) * | 2008-05-13 | 2009-11-19 | Scanlon Robert T | Sales benchmarking and coaching tool |
| US8671064B2 (en) | 2008-06-26 | 2014-03-11 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for supply chain management business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8645228B2 (en) | 2008-06-26 | 2014-02-04 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8566185B2 (en) | 2008-06-26 | 2013-10-22 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for financial instrument business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US20090326988A1 (en) | 2008-06-26 | 2009-12-31 | Robert Barth | Managing consistent interfaces for business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US7925564B2 (en) | 2008-07-31 | 2011-04-12 | Hartford Fire Insurance Company | Computer system and method for determining optimal asset allocation |
| US8380601B2 (en) * | 2008-08-29 | 2013-02-19 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | System for and method of international pooling |
| US8577760B2 (en) | 2008-11-25 | 2013-11-05 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for tax authority business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8463666B2 (en) | 2008-11-25 | 2013-06-11 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for merchandise and assortment planning business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US20100153297A1 (en) | 2008-12-12 | 2010-06-17 | Sap Ag | Managing Consistent Interfaces for Credit Portfolio Business Objects Across Heterogeneous Systems |
| US8781931B1 (en) | 2009-05-26 | 2014-07-15 | Island Intellectual Property Llc | Method and system for allocating deposits over a plurality of depository institutions |
| US8396751B2 (en) | 2009-09-30 | 2013-03-12 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for merchandising business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8370236B1 (en) | 2009-11-24 | 2013-02-05 | Island Intellectual Property Llc | Method and system for allocating funds over a plurality of time deposit instruments in depository institutions |
| CN101872439A (en) * | 2010-01-29 | 2010-10-27 | 秦野 | Common criminal law sentencing method and system for hundred accusations |
| US8370272B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 | 2013-02-05 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for business document message monitoring view, customs arrangement, and freight list business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8417588B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 | 2013-04-09 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for goods tag, production bill of material hierarchy, and release order template business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8412603B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 | 2013-04-02 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for currency conversion and date and time business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8364608B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 | 2013-01-29 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for export declaration and export declaration request business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8732083B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 | 2014-05-20 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for number range, number range profile, payment card payment authorisation, and product template template business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8515794B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 | 2013-08-20 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for employee time event and human capital management view of payroll process business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US9135585B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 | 2015-09-15 | Sap Se | Managing consistent interfaces for property library, property list template, quantity conversion virtual object, and supplier property specification business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8595105B2 (en) | 2011-03-24 | 2013-11-26 | Fantasy Finance Ventures, Llc | System and method for using an analogy in the management of personal finances |
| US20120246046A1 (en) * | 2011-03-24 | 2012-09-27 | Fantasy Finance Ventures, Llc | System and method for using an analogy in the management of assets |
| US8521838B2 (en) | 2011-07-28 | 2013-08-27 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for communication system and object identifier mapping business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8725654B2 (en) | 2011-07-28 | 2014-05-13 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for employee data replication business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| US8666845B2 (en) | 2011-07-28 | 2014-03-04 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for a customer requirement business object across heterogeneous systems |
| US8560392B2 (en) | 2011-07-28 | 2013-10-15 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for a point of sale transaction business object across heterogeneous systems |
| US8601490B2 (en) | 2011-07-28 | 2013-12-03 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for business rule business object across heterogeneous systems |
| US8775280B2 (en) | 2011-07-28 | 2014-07-08 | Sap Ag | Managing consistent interfaces for financial business objects across heterogeneous systems |
| AU2012298732A1 (en) * | 2011-08-23 | 2014-02-27 | Research Affiliates, Llc | Using accounting data based indexing to create a portfolio of financial objects |
| US20130110675A1 (en) * | 2011-10-31 | 2013-05-02 | Microsoft Corporation | Marketplace for Composite Application and Data Solutions |
| US8762453B2 (en) | 2012-02-16 | 2014-06-24 | Sap Ag | Consistent interface for feed collaboration group and feed event subscription |
| US9237425B2 (en) | 2012-02-16 | 2016-01-12 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for feed event, feed event document and feed event type |
| US9232368B2 (en) | 2012-02-16 | 2016-01-05 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for user feed administrator, user feed event link and user feed settings |
| US8756274B2 (en) | 2012-02-16 | 2014-06-17 | Sap Ag | Consistent interface for sales territory message type set 1 |
| US8762454B2 (en) | 2012-02-16 | 2014-06-24 | Sap Ag | Consistent interface for flag and tag |
| US8984050B2 (en) | 2012-02-16 | 2015-03-17 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for sales territory message type set 2 |
| US8521621B1 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2013-08-27 | Sap Ag | Consistent interface for inbound delivery request |
| US8615451B1 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2013-12-24 | Sap Ag | Consistent interface for goods and activity confirmation |
| US8756135B2 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2014-06-17 | Sap Ag | Consistent interface for product valuation data and product valuation level |
| WO2014000200A1 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2014-01-03 | Sap Ag | Consistent interface for document output request |
| US9246869B2 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2016-01-26 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for opportunity |
| US8949855B2 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2015-02-03 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for address snapshot and approval process definition |
| US9367826B2 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2016-06-14 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for entitlement product |
| US9400998B2 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2016-07-26 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for message-based communication arrangement, organisational centre replication request, and payment schedule |
| US9076112B2 (en) | 2012-08-22 | 2015-07-07 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for financial instrument impairment expected cash flow analytical result |
| US9043236B2 (en) | 2012-08-22 | 2015-05-26 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for financial instrument impairment attribute values analytical result |
| US9547833B2 (en) | 2012-08-22 | 2017-01-17 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for financial instrument impairment calculation |
| US9191357B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2015-11-17 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for email activity business object |
| US9191343B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2015-11-17 | Sap Se | Consistent interface for appointment activity business object |
| US20150095150A1 (en) | 2013-09-30 | 2015-04-02 | The Toronto-Dominion Bank | Systems and methods for administering investment portfolios based on transaction data |
| US9374370B1 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2016-06-21 | Island Intellectual Property, Llc | Invariant biohash security system and method |
| CN105205042A (en) * | 2015-10-10 | 2015-12-30 | 苏州工业园区凌志软件股份有限公司 | Automatic account report generating method and system |
| CN107203941A (en) * | 2017-06-09 | 2017-09-26 | 上海顽色投资管理有限公司 | Risk control system and method |
| CN107274292A (en) * | 2017-06-27 | 2017-10-20 | 太仓市华安企业管理有限公司 | A kind of investment management of enterprises system |
| US11210737B2 (en) * | 2019-10-31 | 2021-12-28 | Optum Technology, Inc. | Data security in enrollment management systems |
| US11610260B1 (en) | 2020-01-28 | 2023-03-21 | Island Intellectual Property Llc | System, method and program product to transfer, allocate and track ownership interests in aggregated accounts |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4742457A (en) * | 1985-08-27 | 1988-05-03 | Trans Texas Holdings Corporation | System and method of investment management including means to adjust deposit and loan accounts for inflation |
| US4953085A (en) * | 1987-04-15 | 1990-08-28 | Proprietary Financial Products, Inc. | System for the operation of a financial account |
| US5220500A (en) * | 1989-09-19 | 1993-06-15 | Batterymarch Investment System | Financial management system |
| JPH06295300A (en) * | 1993-04-08 | 1994-10-21 | Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd | Funds operation management device |
| US5806049A (en) * | 1993-04-21 | 1998-09-08 | Petruzzi; Christopher R. | Data processing system for global assessment of investment opportunity and cost |
| JPH0784989A (en) * | 1993-06-25 | 1995-03-31 | Nec Corp | Asset allocation device |
| US5784696A (en) * | 1995-02-24 | 1998-07-21 | Melnikoff; Meyer | Methods and apparatus for evaluating portfolios based on investment risk |
| US5615109A (en) * | 1995-05-24 | 1997-03-25 | Eder; Jeff | Method of and system for generating feasible, profit maximizing requisition sets |
| US5774881A (en) * | 1995-10-30 | 1998-06-30 | Efi Actuaries | Method of determining optimal asset allocation utilizing asset cash flow simulation |
| US5784881A (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1998-07-28 | Hitachi Metals, Ltd. | Multi-part exhaust manifold assembly with welded connections |
-
1997
- 1997-07-25 US US08/900,415 patent/US6154732A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1998
- 1998-07-01 KR KR1020007000774A patent/KR100553149B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-07-01 EP EP98935522A patent/EP0996912A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-07-01 CN CN98809421A patent/CN1271445A/en active Pending
- 1998-07-01 CA CA002297821A patent/CA2297821A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-07-01 IL IL13412098A patent/IL134120A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-07-01 BR BR9811546-4A patent/BR9811546A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-07-01 JP JP2000504532A patent/JP2001511566A/en active Pending
- 1998-07-01 RU RU2000104524/09A patent/RU2213369C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-07-01 AU AU84753/98A patent/AU737984B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1998-07-01 WO PCT/US1998/013786 patent/WO1999005625A1/en active IP Right Grant
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US6154732A (en) | 2000-11-28 |
| EP0996912A4 (en) | 2002-07-17 |
| IL134120A0 (en) | 2001-04-30 |
| RU2213369C2 (en) | 2003-09-27 |
| EP0996912A1 (en) | 2000-05-03 |
| BR9811546A (en) | 2000-08-22 |
| IL134120A (en) | 2005-05-17 |
| KR20010022202A (en) | 2001-03-15 |
| AU737984B2 (en) | 2001-09-06 |
| WO1999005625A1 (en) | 1999-02-04 |
| AU8475398A (en) | 1999-02-16 |
| KR100553149B1 (en) | 2006-02-22 |
| CN1271445A (en) | 2000-10-25 |
| JP2001511566A (en) | 2001-08-14 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| AU737984B2 (en) | System for providing investment advice and management of pension assets | |
| US7120600B2 (en) | Systems and methods for improving investment performance | |
| Khan et al. | Islamic banking: Experiences in the Islamic Republic of Iran and in Pakistan | |
| US6766303B2 (en) | Method for hedging one or more liabilities associated with a deferred compensation plan | |
| US20190340690A1 (en) | Method for hedging one or more liabilities associated with a deferred compensation plan and for recordkeeping information of such a hedge | |
| US20030040999A1 (en) | System for monitoring increasing income financial products | |
| US7174313B1 (en) | Portfolio rebalancing system | |
| AU2002240341A1 (en) | Systems and methods for improving investment performance | |
| Clork | Entity Theory, Modern Capital Structure Theory, ond the Distinction Between Debt and Equity | |
| US20100153302A1 (en) | Method for hedging one or more liabilities associated with a deferred compensation plan | |
| Theobald | The effects of hedging by farm borrowers on the income and portfolio of the rural bank | |
| MXPA00000719A (en) | System for providing investment advice and management of pension assets | |
| AU2008200197B2 (en) | Systems and Methods For Improving Investment Performance | |
| Dufey et al. | Currency Exposure Management in Multinational Companies:“Centralized Coordination” as an Alternative to Centralization | |
| WO2001025988A1 (en) | System for monitoring increasing income financial products | |
| Hollis | Short-term foreign exchange risk management: Zero net exposure models | |
| Plans et al. | LAW C ENTER | |
| AUDIT | OVERSIGHT | |
| AU2011218717A1 (en) | Systems and Methods For Improving Investment Performance | |
| EP1461736A1 (en) | A method for hedging one or more liabilities associated with a deferred compensation plan |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |