McClain Capital
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN CASE: DESIGNING A CUSTOM DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
General Case Information
This defined contribution case requires students to review a prospective client's objectives for a new retirement plan and prepare a proposal for a comprehensive package of investment products. The proposal must explain how the recommended plan will expand employee adoption and enhance the appropriateness of employee investment allocations.
There are four parts of the case deliverable. The first is a list of investment objectives; the second is a proposed asset allocation recommendation; and the third is a summary of investment implementation steps including recommended investment vehicles, transition of assets, and rebalancing. The fourth component outlines measures of success for both the client and the investment manager.
Students may formulate their own commingled pool investment definitions, portfolio processes, benchmarks and performance records, but are cautioned to avoid assuming unrealistic descriptions. Students may also create fee structures, but are encouraged to set competitive rates that are also profitable for the firm.
Background
McLain Capital, a $250B AUM firm that offers a broad array of investment products in both mutual fund and commingled pool vehicles, has been asked to design a defined contribution (DC) plan for a prospective institutional client. The plan sponsor is a large, closely held company. Its paternalistic management wants ...