MFS senior managing director Ryan Mullen describes a major problem affecting plan participants.
This video is an interview titled “Ryan Mullen MFS Investment Management,” published on March 27, 2017. Ryan Mullen, a senior managing director at MFS Investments in Boston and 401(K) Specialist discuss the focuses on target date funds and the importance of long-term investment strategies, particularly for investors and advisors involved in Defined Contribution (DC) plans.
Key points covered in the video include:
Long-term Investment Strategies: Ryan emphasizes the importance of avoiding short-termism and encourages investors to consider the long-term performance of their target date funds, especially those that haven’t been through a complete market cycle (e.g., pre- and post-global financial crisis).
Risk Management: The conversation highlights the need for careful risk management, including understanding the diversification within fixed-income allocations and being cautious about the potential risks of over-reliance on passive investment strategies.
Active vs. Passive Management: Ryan suggests that a balanced portfolio should include both active and passive management strategies, but cautions against leaning too heavily on passive strategies, which might introduce more risk than investors realize.
With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots.