April 9, 2015 Mutual funds vary greatly in their reliance on proxy advisory recommendations. Over 25% of funds rely almost entirely on ISS recommendations, while other funds place little weight on them. Funds with higher benefits and lower costs of researching items up for vote are less likely to rely on ISS. These actively voting funds are less likely vote in a ‘one size fits all’ manner and they earn higher alphas, consistent with benefits from this allocation of resources. For the underlying firms, the presence of actively voting funds mitigates the influence of ISS and helps sway shareholder votes toward value-maximizing outcomes.

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Source: Iliev, Peter and Lowry, Michelle, Are Mutual Funds Active Voters? (April 15, 2014). Review of Financial Studies, 2015.

Washington, D.C., February 12, 2015 – Judy Diamond Associates, a 401(k) intelligence provider, today released an analysis of the distribution of plan assets nationwide, revealing that the top 1% of 401(k) plans hold 71% of all 401(k) assets. Continue reading →

Washington, D.C., January 27, 2015 – Judy Diamond Associates, the leading 401(k) plan intelligence provider, today released an analysis of the worst states in which to have a 401(k) plan. Continue reading →

Washington, D.C., January 13, 2015 – Judy Diamond Associates, the leading 401(k) plan intelligence provider, today released an analysis of the best states in which to have a 401(k) plan. Continue reading →

Cincinnati workers aren’t all that great at saving for retirement, at least when it comes to taking part in a company 401(k) plan.

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Source: Cincinnati.com

Washington, D.C., November 4, 2014 – Judy Diamond Associates, the 401(k) plan intelligence provider of leading financial advisors, brokers and fund companies, today released an analysis of 401(k) participation rates by states, revealing wide disparities in states’ performance on this crucial measure of retirement preparedness. Continue reading →

New York, August 27, 2014 — If you’re doing the right things: saving for retirement by contributing to your 401(k) plan, getting the maximum match from your employer– if one is offered — and investing prudently, it wouldn’t seem to matter where you live.

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Source: Street.com

August 26, 2014 — Nevada is the worst state in which to have a 401(k) plan, while Florida, Louisana and Kentucky, among a few more, aren’t faring much better, according to data from Judy Diamond Associates. 

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Source: BenefitsPro.com

Washington, D.C., August 26, 2014 – Judy Diamond Associates, the 401(k) plan intelligence provider of leading financial advisors, brokers and fund companies, today released an analysis of the worst states in which to have a 401(k) plan, revealing that Nevada has the highest concentration of its participants in low performing plans.
Continue reading →

Nevada is the worst state in which to have a 401(k) plan, while Florida, Louisana and Kentucky, among a few more, aren’t faring much better, according to data from Judy Diamond Associates.

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Source: ThinkAdvisor.com