10 Things You Need to Know about the Retirement Income Market

(And where you can find more information in Hearts & Wallets’ latest release-After the Gold Rush: What’s Next for Retirement Income)

1. The retirement income market is on track to reach 25% to 30% of all household assets by 2020. (Chapter 1)

2. The competition has never been so steep - financial services firms are dedicating massive amounts of resources to older investors - about 75% on average vs. 50% in 2007. (Chapter 1)

3. Retirement income is more about more about relationship deepening (and winning the consolidation battle) than about acquiring new accounts. (Chapter 2)

4. Despite significant efforts, including many additions to, and changes in, organizations specifically made to address retirement income, few firms actually have all of the pieces in place to both develop and deliver effective solutions. (Chapter 2)

5. The industry has recognized that planning alone is not a panacea for retirement income, and that secure investments with which to implement a plan are both necessary and desirable - a balance is being struck between Planning Solutions and Income Feature Products. (Chapter 3)

6. Although some plans were derailed by the market crash, investment manufacturers are aggressively making changes to investment portfolios and lineups, as well as looking for opportunities to gain market share with income features. (Chapter 4)

7. Firms are no longer waiting for the rollover - a tremendous amount of focus is now being placed on serving employer-sponsored plan providers and in-plan participants. (Chapter 5)

8. More than ever before firms are utilizing technology to address the needs of, and market retirement income services to, Pre- and Post-Retirees. (Chapter 6)

9. You can count on one hand the number of firms that have established a strong position as top providers to, and have truly earned the trust of, affluent Pre- and Post-Retirees. (Chapter 6)

10. There are such wild fluctuations in the results of retirement income calculators that it’s no wonder that some investors are confused to the point of not saving at all. (Chapter 7)

All of these findings, and many, many, more are covered in great detail in Hearts & Wallets’ latest in-depth research report-After the Gold Rush: What’s Next for Retirement Income: Assessing Market Growth, Solutions, and Strategy in 2011 and Beyond. Click here for a brochure featuring a full table of contents and methodology, as well as order form. Contact us for more information.

Chris J. Brown and Laura H. Varas-March 17, 2011