A Choice of Life Cycle Options
Manning & Napier offers both Lifestyle (risk-based) and Target Date
(age-based) life cycle options to complement your plan's asset class options. You decide which type of life cycle options would best serve your participants' needs.
Lifestyle Options1
Participants choose an option based on their investment time horizon and risk
tolerance.
|
Option |
Time Horizon |
|
| Maximum Term |
15+ years |
|
| Extended Term |
7-20 years |
|
| Moderate Term |
3-10 years |
|
| Conservative Term |
0-5 years |
|
|
Target
Date
Options2
Participants choose an option based on their target retirement date.
|
For more information on each Retirement Target option, click on the name above.
Why is this important?
Our Focus
Life cycle investing is not just another product at Manning & Napier.
Professionally managed multi-asset class portfolios are our main focus,
comprising over 70% of the over $9 billion assets currently under management.1 Manning & Napier's investment disciplines and methodologies are designed to find value in individual securities among the various asset classes (stocks, bonds, and cash) according to a well-defined process that includes top-down/bottom-up investment strategies.
1
Why is this important?
Active Asset Allocation and Risk Management
Manning & Napier employs an active allocation approach developed with the
understanding that, in order for each life cycle portfolio to best meet its
objective, risk must be actively managed in light of the current and anticipated
environment. Active asset allocation and risk management allow us to adjust each
life cycle portfolio to fundamental changes in the market and economic
environment. Protecting participants by managing downside risk in difficult
markets is a critical part of helping participants meet their long-term
retirement goals. Our active-management style focuses on adding value in rising
markets and, as important, providing protection during periods of significant
market volatility.
Why is this important?
Experience
Manning & Napier Advisors, Inc. has over 30 years of experience actively managing life cycle investment objectives and is considered one of the pioneers of life cycle management. The firm's team-based active management approach has been in place since our inception in 1970. Manning & Napier is 100% employee-owned, which ensures long-term stability of key personnel responsible for investment process and results. The firm’s investment team consists of over
30 key economists and investment analysts. The Senior Research Group members have an average tenure of over 12 years.
Why is this important?
Menu Design and Communication
Since first working with participant-directed plans in the late 80s, Manning & Napier has recognized the need for an increased level of participant education regarding the investment process and the use of life cycle funds.
Manning & Napier first offered the two-tier menu design in 1987 by establishing and communicating distinct Pro-Mix® and Self-Mix® tiers to the investment menu - each tier designed to meet the needs of different types of participants.
Manning & Napier’s
explicit two-tier communication approach can help reduce potential liability for
the plan sponsor in two respects:
- It makes clear the importance of asset allocation decisions and how the
participant is choosing to approach these decisions – delegate or
do-it-yourself.
- It helps address participant confusion without the co-fiduciary
liability associated with offering participant-level investment advice or
managed account services.
Today, Manning & Napier continues to combine our life cycle management
with this clear and easy to understand educational philosophy.
- Manning & Napier offers a
Retirement Planner that incorporates the two-tier communication approach. This web-based tool is designed to help participants easily and quickly identify their retirement savings goal and select an investment strategy that can help them achieve this goal.
-
Manning & Napier's various print materials are specifically designed to
help reduce participant confusion. Information is presented in a
reader-friendly, educational format intended to help participants
evaluate their approach to asset allocation and use life cycle funds
appropriately.
Why is this important?
Proven Results
Plans that are able to adopt Manning & Napier’s two-tier communication
philosophy throughout their education campaign can:
- raise participant awareness of the different investment approaches; and
- experience life cycle
utilization rates that are significantly
higher than average.
Availability
Manning & Napier's life cycle options are designed to work efficiently in daily valued retirement plans, and can be easily incorporated into virtually any provider's fund universe. Our options are NSCC
traded and are available through many of the custodial and trading platforms
that are used by recordkeeping service providers to facilitate their trade
activity. We currently work with many of the nation's largest retirement plan
service providers such as Ameriprise Financial, Citistreet, Fidelity, Merrill Lynch,
Prudential, Schwab, and Vanguard.
| 
