http://www.dwight.com The latest articles from dwight.com en-us Copyright 2008 dwight.com http://www.dwight.com/rss/ 13 May 2008 00:00:00 EST An overview of stable value funds and some advantages versus money market funds 13 May 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.dwight.com/stablevalue/whyInvestStableValue_0308.pdf?rssIndex http://www.dwight.com/stablevalue/whyInvestStableValue_0308.pdf?rssIndex Setting strategic asset allocation for a property and casualty insurance company should include an analysis of the target percentage of invested assets allocated to taxable and tax-exempt securities. One key consideration in determining the target split between taxable and tax-exempt securities is the complex calculation of both the insurance company's regular tax and the alternative minimum tax liabilities. 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.dwight.com/insurance/strategic_asset_allocation_0208.shtml?rssIndex http://www.dwight.com/insurance/strategic_asset_allocation_0208.shtml?rssIndex An educational piece on monoline insurance companies and recent events 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.dwight.com/pubs/html/monoline_financialguarantyinsurance.shtml?rssIndex http://www.dwight.com/pubs/html/monoline_financialguarantyinsurance.shtml?rssIndex A brief overview of liability driven investing (LDI) and the strategies available 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.dwight.com/ldi/ldibackground_0108.shtml?rssIndex http://www.dwight.com/ldi/ldibackground_0108.shtml?rssIndex Those familiar with the challenges of managing the liabilities associated with a pension plan know that long accepted practices are now undergoing a significant change. Historically the investment benchmarks set for these plans mirrored broad, easily recognizable indices: the S&P 500 for equities, the Lehman Aggregate index for bonds, etc. What some in the industry have discovered is that these broad, "catch-all" indices may not be appropriate for all plans. A pension plan, after all, is in essence a set of unique liabilities requiring a unique asset benchmark. The same can be said for any insurance company. 7 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST http://www.dwight.com/pubs/html/1insBenchmark_0807.shtml?rssIndex http://www.dwight.com/pubs/html/1insBenchmark_0807.shtml?rssIndex The Pension Protection Act of 2006 includes provisions that make it easier for plan sponsors to automatically enroll participants in defined contribution plans. The sponsors must now determine how to direct contributions for their reluctant participants. The Act further identifies those types of investment options that can serve as qualified default investment alternatives (QDIAs). In essence, QDIAs provide the sponsor with a measure of liability relief. It is not hard to understand the need for such protection if one pictures the employee who finds that his or her take-home pay has been reduced—and who sees an account balance that indicates an investment loss. 7 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST http://www.dwight.com/pubs/html/1PPA_SVF_0807.shtml?rssIndex http://www.dwight.com/pubs/html/1PPA_SVF_0807.shtml?rssIndex