Pershing Prime Services Shares Key Insights for Alternative Fund Managers Looking to Defined Contribution Plans as a Growth Opportunity

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pershing Prime Services today announced the release of a new paper to help alternative fund managers better understand what to consider when looking to include liquid alternatives in defined contribution (DC) plans. The paper, Liquid Alternatives and the Opportunity in Defined Contribution Plans, is the latest in Pershing Prime Services' Executive Insights series, which was developed to provide fund managers with information on the liquid alternatives convergence movement. 

According to the paper, the retirement market may be the next frontier for the growth of liquid alternatives. As plan advisors are increasingly focused on new strategies to improve plan participant outcomes, liquid alternatives may present an opportunity to diversify retirement portfolios. The paper underscores the critical role that education will play in the adoption of liquid alternatives among DC plan fiduciaries, advisors and participants.

"The potential expansion into DC plans presents an opportunity for liquid alternative managers to help DC plan advisors understand how this asset class can fit into plan participants' retirement portfolios," said Mark Aldoroty, head of sales and relationship management for Pershing Prime Services. "As all parties become more comfortable with alternatives, the opportunity to include them in a plan's investment strategy is likely to expand."

Since liquid alternatives are relatively new and don't come with a decades-long benchmarking history, fact-based education and training will play a central role in their adoption by DC plan fiduciaries, advisors and participants. Education should focus on both the benefits and risks of these investments in a portfolio, according to the paper. The paper also points out the need to change the conversation around risk in 401k plans from investment selection risk to retirement adequacy risk.

"At a time when strategic retirement planning is crucial to so many participants, there is a greater expectation among participants for more investment options that fit their retirement savings goals," said Rob Cirrotti, head of retirement solutions at Pershing. "DC plan fiduciaries should educate themselves on new products and explore whether these products will fit into their DC plan investment menu."

The paper also explores:

• Elements of an attractive DC plan-focused alternative offering
• How fund managers can address common reservations among plan advisors and fiduciaries
• What DC plan advisors should consider communicating to DC plan fiduciaries
• Critical evaluations for DC plans to make when considering alternative investments

To obtain a copy of the full paper, visit https://www.pershing.com/assets/whitepapers/liquid-alternatives-and-the-opportunity-in-defined-contribution-plans.html.

About Pershing Prime Services

Pershing Prime Services, the New Model Prime Broker™, delivers a comprehensive suite of prime brokerage solutions. We provide stable counterparty strength, extensive access to lendable securities, alternative sources of finance, dedicated client service, robust reporting tools, global execution and custodial solutions through the integrated platform of BNY Mellon. Pershing Prime Service is a service of Pershing LLC.

About Pershing

Pershing and its affiliates provide global financial business solutions to advisors, asset managers, broker-dealers, family offices, registered investment advisor firms and wealth managers. A financial services firm located in 23 offices worldwide, Pershing provides business-to-business solutions to clients representing 5.8 million active investor accounts on the U.S. platform. Pershing affiliates are members of every major U.S. securities exchange, and its international affiliates are members of the Deutsche Borse, Australian Stock Exchange, Irish Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange. Pershing LLC (member FINRA/NYSE/SIPC) is a BNY Mellon company. Additional information is available on pershing.com, or follow us on Twitter @Pershing.

About BNY Mellon

BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 35 countries and more than 100 markets. As of Dec. 31, 2014, BNY Mellon had $28.5 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.7 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation BK. Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com, or follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon.

Contact:
Paul Patella
+1 201 413 3609
paul.patella@pershing.com

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SOURCE BNY Mellon