There are five red flags defined contribution plan sponsors should watch for when evaluating their plan performance, according to research by Judy Diamond Associates, who provides sales prospecting and plan analysis tools for benefits brokers, financial advisors, plan providers and carriers serving the employee benefits and retirement markets.
The flags indicate whether a plan is underperforming, is poorly designed or has reached certain thresholds that suggest it may need new services.
“Identifying the most common problems and challenges facing the almost 600,000 401(k) plans nationwide can empower financial advisors to address the concerns that are keeping their clients up at night,” said Eric Ryles, managing director of Judy Diamond Associates. “In that way, our subscribers are able to better prepare their clients for the future and cement their own status as a consultant and valued partner, rather than ‘just’ a 401(k) vendor.”
Judy Diamond Associates based its research on the most recent 401(k) plan disclosure documents released by the Department of Labor.
10 Best High Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)
Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jim Jubak]
The company's January 10 announcement that it was lowering its guidance for the fourth quarter on declines in drilling activity in North America and Europe/Africa/Russia, has certainly contributed to weakness in the oil services sector and in the shares of competitors such as Schlumberger (SLB). With Schlumberger scheduled to report fourth quarter earnings on January 17, and with Baker Hughes scheduled for January 21, the question now is, ��as the lowered guidance from Baker Hughes de-risked the stocks in the sector or will there be enough disappointment in the actual reports to push the sector down farther?��/p>
Top 5 Valued Companies To Own For 2014: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)
Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
The Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) is well known for giving income investors the dividend increases they like to see. All 30 Dow stocks pay dividends, and many of them consistently increase their quarterly payouts year after year. Interestingly, though, the timing of those dividend increases throughout the year reflects uneven patterns. After American Express (NYSE: AXP ) and Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT ) pay out their recently declared higher dividends in the next couple of weeks, Dow investors could go quite a while without seeing another increase.
- [By Rich Smith]
Department of Defense contract officers on Tuesday announced a total of 13 contract awards worth more than $1 billion in aggregate. Notable winners among publicly traded companies included several Army contract awards, including:
Britain's BAE Systems' (NASDAQOTH: BAESY ) Land and Armaments division won a $28.7 million modification to a previously awarded contract to supply M88A2 heavy equipment recovery combat utility lift and evacuation system vehicles to the U.S. Army. Work on the contract should be complete by March 31, 2014. Raytheon's (NYSE: RTN ) Thales Raytheon Systems joint venture was awarded a $23.1 million modification to a previously awarded contract to supply Sentinel Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe kits, and spares, to the Army. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT ) , while not ordinarily considered a defense contactor, seems particularly well-suited for the contract it won -- a $10.8 million award to support Army Deployable Universal Combat Earthmover vehicles. Called "DEUCE" for short, these are essentially Army tractors, and so far the Army has ordered $67.1 million of them from Caterpillar under this contract.In addition to the new awards, the Pentagon also issued contract modifications to both BAE and to General Dynamics (NYSE: GD ) on a pair of contracts to the effect that both firms are being given an additional six months to develop new prototype ground combat vehicles that the Army is considering as replacements�for its existing armored personnel carrier fleet. The value of GD's development contract on this project is said to have a maximum value of $180.4 million, while BAE's development contract maxes out at $159.5 million.
Top 5 Valued Companies To Own For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)
Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By ANUP SINGH]
Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR ) is among the most successful single-price-point retailers in the U.S. It operates more than 4,842 stores across 48 states in the U.S. and five Provinces in Canada. The chart below shows that the company has been performing consistently well over the past five years.
Top 5 Valued Companies To Own For 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)
Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Johanna Bennett]
Corporate earnings took a back seat today to the Fed�� latest policy decision. Still, quarterly financial results, and other news sent shares of McCormick & Co. (MKC) and Tupperware (TUP), falling during regular market hours�Here�� a rundown of several of today�� moves:
- [By John Kell]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Dow Chemical Co.(DOW), Tupperware Brands Corp.(TUP) and Yahoo Inc.(YHOO)
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