On a quest for security

The mutual fund industry's Holy Grail is a fund that can provide investors with a guaranteed stream of income without tying up the client's money in an annuity.
DEC 13, 2009
The mutual fund industry's Holy Grail is a fund that can provide investors with a guaranteed stream of income without tying up the client's money in an annuity. There's a ways to go yet, but Bruce Speca, executive vice president of investment management services at John Hancock Financial Services Inc., is closer than anyone else to pulling it off. How close? Close enough that Hancock has asked the Securities and Exchange Commission for an exemption that would allow it to offer funds with a guarantee. Also close enough that others in the industry have approached Mr. Speca about the possibility that John Hancock could provide the guarantee for their proposed products. His position as chief of development of Hancock's lifestyle and life cycle funds — the funds best-suited to include a guarantee — makes him the right person to move the ball forward, said Michael Evans, president of Fuse Research Network, an industry consultant. “Bruce ... has been incredibly successful in building that [division] out,” he said. Mr. Evans attributes the division's success to the way Hancock selects asset managers — it follows a “best of breed” strategy to select outside subadvisers — to run its lifestyle and life cycle funds. Mr. Speca has pushed the strategy, and the rest of the industry is moving to it, Mr. Evans said. Mr. Speca and Hancock blazed the trail toward a guaranteed fund last year when the company began enrolling employees in Guaranteed Income for Life, an optional rider on its 401(k) retirement plans to help participants protect their savings through a principal guarantee. The program allows participants to invest some or all of their 401(k) funds in one or more of four Hancock lifestyle funds. The benefit base, which is guaranteed, is used to calculate a 5% annual lifetime distribution. Read more: Is the John Hancock 401(k) worth it?   The guarantee, however, is still in essence an annuity. “Wrapping these products with a guarantee outside an annuity becomes a challenge for a couple of reasons,” Mr. Speca said. Getting an SEC exemption for an individual fund with a guarantee is the biggest hurdle Hancock faces, Mr. Speca said. The other hurdle is pricing. It costs money to provide a guarantee, but if it costs too much, there may be no point in owning the fund, Mr. Speca said.

Latest News

The 2025 InvestmentNews Awards Excellence Awardees revealed
The 2025 InvestmentNews Awards Excellence Awardees revealed

From outstanding individuals to innovative organizations, find out who made the final shortlist for top honors at the IN awards, now in its second year.

Top RIA Cresset warns of 'inevitable' recession amid tariff uncertainty
Top RIA Cresset warns of 'inevitable' recession amid tariff uncertainty

Cresset's Susie Cranston is expecting an economic recession, but says her $65 billion RIA sees "great opportunity" to keep investing in a down market.

Edward Jones joins the crowd to sell more alternative investments
Edward Jones joins the crowd to sell more alternative investments

“There’s a big pull to alternative investments right now because of volatility of the stock market,” Kevin Gannon, CEO of Robert A. Stanger & Co., said.

Record RIA M&A activity marks strong start to 2025
Record RIA M&A activity marks strong start to 2025

Sellers shift focus: It's not about succession anymore.

IB+ Data Hub offers strategic edge for U.S. wealth advisors and RIAs advising business clients
IB+ Data Hub offers strategic edge for U.S. wealth advisors and RIAs advising business clients

Platform being adopted by independent-minded advisors who see insurance as a core pillar of their business.

SPONSORED Compliance in real time: Technology's expanding role in RIA oversight

RIAs face rising regulatory pressure in 2025. Forward-looking firms are responding with embedded technology, not more paperwork.

SPONSORED Advisory firms confront crossroads amid historic wealth transfer

As inheritances are set to reshape client portfolios and next-gen heirs demand digital-first experiences, firms are retooling their wealth tech stacks and succession models in real time.