Explore our thinking about today's financial markets
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Manager insights: Bulls, bears, and bond markets
March 31, 2020 | Fixed income
With the extreme swings in the market over the last few weeks, several of Putnam’s senior fixed-income managers shared their insights on the bond markets.
Capital Markets Outlook
Risks have eased, but so has growth
January 22, 2020 | Capital Markets Outlook
We favor reducing risk as we look for proof that earnings can support asset valuations.
Fixed Income Outlook
Bonds likely to be range bound in 2020
January 27, 2020 | Fixed Income Outlook
Global growth will likely stabilize and remain soft as we head into 2020.
Equity Outlook
Fashion industry tackles sustainability challenges
December 27, 2019 | Equity Outlook
Our Sustainable Investing Team discusses efforts to address environmentally unfriendly processes.
Manager insights: Bulls, bears, and bond markets
With the extreme swings in the market over the last few weeks, several of Putnam’s senior fixed-income managers shared their insights on the bond markets.
Equity opportunities in challenging markets
Putnam’s equity investment professionals recently discussed market conditions, their strategies, and their outlooks.
Recessions and the equity market: A framework for investors
In these days of significant market volatility, investors are looking for a framework.
Stable value as an option for DC plans
We outline key considerations for DC plan sponsors considering stable value funds as a capital preservation option.
Manager insights on current volatility
Putnam Investments hosted a webcast featuring insights on current volatility and the COVID-19 pandemic from three senior investment managers.
The Fed reacts to coronavirus economic risks
The Fed made a proactive move to reduce the federal funds rate by 50 basis points.
The impact of coronavirus on markets
The spread of coronavirus infections is having an impact on China’s GDP and on financial market sentiment worldwide.
The SECURE Act opens a new frontier for 401(k)s
The SECURE Act represents significant changes to retirement savings and could drive a expansion of workplace retirement savings plans including 401(k)s.
Solutions to antibiotic resistance
As the focus on natural ingredients intensifies, so has concern about antibiotic use in food production.
SECURE Act expands access to retirement plans
The SECURE Act of 2019 makes many changes to rules governing retirement savings including provisions to expand access to retirement plans.
Millennial money drives 401(k) plan evolution
Growing in number, the Millennial generation is having an impact on the evolution of 401(k) plan design.
Why stable value funds deserve a closer look
Capital preservation strategies are not all alike, and plan sponsors need to carefully evaluate the options including money. market and stable value funds.
Linking impact and performance
Often, the same elements that create environmental and social benefits are driving positive financial performance.
Engaging with allies to advance sustainable investing
We collaborate with institutions to examine and understand the financial impacts of sustainability.
To reduce employee stress, increase wellness
By offering financial wellness programs in the workplace, employers may help employees reduce money-related stress.
Talking sustainability with CEOs
We have ongoing dialogue with the management teams of companies in which we invest, across a wide range of sustainability-related topics.
The SECURE Act: Completing an unfinished masterpiece
Congress is considering the SECURE Act, which would enhance workplace retirement savings plans and extend access to millions of workers.
Employers add student loan aid to retention toolkit
College debt set a record high this year and many employers have added student loan aid to their benefit offerings to attract and retain workers.
The 3 Rs of a retirement plan
It is important to consider whether your retirement plan is on track to help meet the goals of retirement, recruitment, and retention.
A success score for the 401(k)
A traditional gauge of success for the 401(k) measures inputs, but companies also need to track outcomes to determine if a plan is successful.
Actively targeting inflation risk for retirement savers
We explain why a dynamic approach to hedging inflation risk in a target-date fund may be a better way to protect a retirement nest egg.
Investing for impact | Q&A with Stephanie Henderson
A member of Putnam's sustainable investing team describes her motivations for spreading ESG fluency throughout the firm to enhance fundamental insights.
Market volatility returns to "old" normal
Our outlook for stock market volatility sees the levels reached in 2018 continuing, in part because these levels were close to the long-term norm.
401(k) reaches milestone as innovation continues
As the 401(k) reaches milestone, the workplace savings plan continues its evolution, adapting to changing demographics and savers’ needs.
ESG Outlook for 2019
We see increasing evidence that systems thinking is becoming more prevalent and influential throughout corporations and the investment community.
What November means for 2019
The events of November provide a fresh view of two key risks facing the economy in 2019 — a hawkish Fed and an escalation of the trade war.
Bigger tax refunds may help boost retirement savings
Projections of larger tax refunds this year could mean an increase in contributions to retirement savings.
How company diversity can help performance
The potential to improve work performance is perhaps the most intriguing and least understood argument for diversity — and worth examining in more depth.
Use wellness to gain wealth
New research found that a worker who focuses on wellness may save nearly $100,000 more for retirement than someone who does not manage their health well.
October stock market volatility may signal a shift
Recent stock market volatility reflects a process of pricing in the fact that the global growth outlook has diverged.
Calibrate equity allocations with higher savings rates
Evidence of higher savings rates by plan participants make it reasonable to consider lower equity allocations across the glide path of target-date funds.
How to plan more rationally for longevity risk
Longevity risk — the possibility outliving one's money in retirement — is a genuine risk, but data suggests that many people overestimate its likelihood.
Retirement savings receive attention on Capitol Hill
A number of bills to reform retirement savings are alive in the U.S. Congress this year.
Shaping the curve in glide path design
In designing an optimal glide path for a target date fund, it is critical to focus on portfolio size, investor time horizon, and volatility.
Putting savers at the center of retirement plans
In the past decade, investors have poured significant assets into target date funds, but savings in retirement vintages have been shrinking.
Key risks to consider in glide path design
Sequence risk is the key risk that target-date investment managers need to address along the glide path.
Sustainable investing: Assessing the choices
Sustainable investing is growing in popularity, and investors should be thoughtful about choosing from a range of strategies and portfolios.
HSAs may help workers save more for retirement
Workers saving in both health savings accounts (HSAs) and 401(k) plans tend to save more in their 401(k).
Are international stocks truly cheap?
On the surface, U.S. stocks appear more expensive than international stocks, but a quantitative comparison reveals the impact of sector valuations.
Health savings accounts could add to retirement wealth
Educate employees about the advantages of a health savings accounts as a way to build flexible long-term assets.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the speaker, are subject to change with market conditions, and are not meant as investment advice.