PIMCO, the Newport Beach, Calif.-based investment management firm and provider of retirement solutions, has recently introduced Pimco RealRetirement Funds, a series of funds that aim "to help retirees stay ahead of inflation by maximizing their purchasing power," the company says. Pimco has some $750 billion in assets under management and is owned by Allianz Group; its funds are distributed by Allianz Global Investors.
—
Pimco's Survey of Investment ConsultantsOther findings of the recent research found:69% have a dedicated DC team,62% use their own proprietary asset allocation models, 66% say a liability-driven investment approach is applicable within a DC plan; and 67% report that plan sponsors are somewhat to highly likely to add a guaranteed income option within their DC plan, with a Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit most likely.
Source: Pimco 2008
—
Pimco RealRetirement Funds are "target date" funds and automatically rebalance portfolios as they move toward the investor's expected retirement date. "Unlike many of the target date products in the market today, Pimco's retirement solutions focus on facilitating adequate retirement purchasing power, which is the primary success factor of many plan sponsors," says Stacy Schaus, senior vice president and head of Pimco's Defined Contribution Practice. "An additional important element to Pimco's approach is reducing volatility by incorporating a broader range of asset classes, especially as the fund moves closer to its target date."
The new retirement funds incorporate Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), commodities and real estate "to help investors grow their wealth while maintaining purchasing power," the investment firm explains. The approach of these new Pimco funds incorporates the company's risk-management strategies as well as a retirement "glide path," Pimco's allocation process that adjusts the risk profile of the portfolio over time. "The glide path approach aims to maximize real return and capital preservation during the accumulation years and to produce reliable income during the retirement years," according to the company.
