New products and changes introduced over the last week include Allianz Life of New York's launching of an index variable annuity and American Century Investments' rollout of three fixed-income funds.
In addition, ASI has introduced a portfolio rebalancing solution to Scottrade Advisor Services; Russell updated an economic indicators dashboard; and FeeX announced the latest expansion of its fee-finding tools.
Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:
American Century Investments Launches Three Fixed-Income Funds
American Century Investments has launched three fixed-income funds: American Century Emerging Markets Debt, American Century Strategic Income and American Century Short Duration Strategic Income.
Emerging Markets Debt is managed by senior portfolio managers Marge' Karner, John Lovito, Brian Howell and Kevin Akioka. Strategic Income and Short Duration Strategic Income are managed by senior portfolio managers Akioka, Jeffrey Houston, Robert Gahagan, Howell and Karner.
Emerging Markets Debt is a total return fund whose investment strategy is to incorporate emerging markets debt with a global currency overlay. The team will invest at least 80% of the portfolio in fixed income and floating rate securities that are economically tied to emerging market countries' markets. The fund's benchmark is the JP Morgan CEMBI Broad Diversified Index.
Strategic Income is an income fund whose investment strategy employs tactical sector management. The investment team uses an opportunistic sector approach and an income-focused investment process that offers broad multisector exposure within its securities. The fund has a 50% maximum single sector exposure limit. Duration will be within two years of the fund's benchmark, which is the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
Short Duration Strategic Income is an income fund whose investment strategy employs tactical sector management. The investment team uses an opportunistic sector approach and an income-focused investment process that offers clients broad multi-sector exposure. The fund has a 50% maximum single sector exposure limit. Its shorter duration may help mitigate interest rate risk. Duration will be within two years of the fund's benchmark, which is the Barclays U.S. Government/Credit 1–3 Year Index.
Allianz Launches Index Variable Annuity
Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York announced the launch of the Allianz Index Advantage New York Variable Annuity, an index variable annuity (IVA) that combines traditional variable options with an index strategy.
A key feature of the IVA is the index performance strategy. This crediting method offers customers a level of asset protection for the principal investment while maintaining the potential for higher performance. The index performance strategy also gives accumulation-focused customers the flexibility to pursue the accumulation strategy that best suits them each year whether there is positive or negative performance.
DSM Capital Partners Launches SICAV Global Growth Fund for Overseas Investors
