Technology improvements are unveiled by Morgan Stanley at Work; an active foreign equities ETF is introduced by John Hancock Investment Management; and four active ETFs are released by PGIM.
By the end of 2023, Morgan Stanley at Work will reveal new technological advancements.
The workplace benefits solutions offered by Morgan Stanley at Work, including equity compensation, retirement, deferred compensation, executive services, saving and giving, and financial wellness, will now be more automated and efficient thanks to technological advancements. About 40% of the S&P 500 in the United States is served by the platforms Equity Edge Online and Shareworks jointly offered by Morgan Stanley at Work.
A redesigned stock plan interface under the single brand “Morgan Stanley at Work” is one of Equity Edge Online’s enhancements that makes the user experience easier. Plan administrators can now enable automated reporting in USD and local currency denominations by uploading foreign exchange rates categorized by equity type. The capabilities of the enhanced workflow include automated scheduling and templates.
The Shareworks improvements provide better performance and security controls along with simplified plan servicing. Qualifying U.S. participants can now transfer shares straight from their online accounts with the help of a new “Selling Shares” tool. More plan customisation is also made possible by the Shareworks engine’s enhanced performance.
“Our ongoing mission remains to unify our tools and capabilities into a single user account structure that will enrich the user experience and help both companies and their employees expand how they manage their financial lives,” Mark Mitchell, chief product officer of Morgan Stanley at Work, said in a statement.
John Hancock Introduces an Active Global Equity ETF
The John Hancock Disciplined Value International Select ETF will be introduced by John Hancock Investment Management. The seasoned team at subadviser Boston Partners Global Investors Inc. is in charge of managing the recently launched exchange-traded fund, which aims for long-term capital growth.
The fund is centered on a company selection process that seeks out investments with favorable business momentum, solid fundamentals, and appealing relative prices. Together, portfolio managers Joshua Jones and Christopher Hart have over 50 years of expertise, and they share daily oversight of the fund’s portfolio.
“We are excited to launch a new active international equity ETF with one of our long-term subadvisers who is familiar to our financial professionals and their clients,” Kristie Feinberg, president and CEO of John Hancock Investment Management, said in a statement. “Boston Partners is known for its investment philosophy and ability to find value opportunities that we believe investors will find compelling as a potential core holding in their portfolios.”
There are currently 13 funds in John Hancock Investment Management’s ETF suite. The company managed assets worth over $5 billion as of September 30.
PGIM Introduces Four Active ETFs
Four actively managed exchange-traded funds have been introduced by PGIM:
PGIM Focused Mid-Cap ETF, PGIM Jennison International Opportunities ETF, PGIM Jennison Better Future ETF, and PGIM Short Duration High Yield ETF.
With concentrated, high-conviction portfolios, the three new equity ETFs, subadvised by Jennison Associates, aim to achieve long-term capital growth. Bottom-up securities selection and fundamental analysis serve as the foundation for Jennison’s long-term equities investment strategy.
The PGIM Short Duration High Yield ETF invests in a diverse portfolio of shorter-duration, high-yield fixed-income securities that are rated below investment grade with the goal of achieving total return through a combination of current income and capital gain.
“Building out our suite of actively managed ETFs is a priority for PGIM, and we have aggressive plans for future product development,” said Stuart Parker, president and CEO of PGIM Investments, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to launch four new ETFs subadvised by our affiliate managers to meet the accelerating demand for active ETFs from our clients.”