BlackRock Launches New Digital Retirement Center
BlackRock Launches New Digital Retirement Center
Joins Congressionally-Sanctioned "National Save for Retirement Week" Urging Individuals to Save More as Demographics Continue to Shift
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BlackRock, Inc. (NYS: BLK) today launched a new digital retirement center to coincide with the congressionally-sanctioned "National Save for Retirement Week," which runs from October 21 through 27. Individuals are encouraged to visit The BlackRock Retirement Center to access insights, resources and tools at www.blackrock.com/retirement.
The BlackRock Retirement Center features practical and relevant age-based content and insights to help individuals better prepare for retirement in what BlackRock has called a "New World of Investing," in which yields are low, markets are volatile and confidence is scarce. The age-based content assists investors with defining needs, identifying goals and providing actionable steps when saving and investing for or during their retirement.
The launch coincides with BlackRock's observation of "National Save for Retirement Week" - a national event sanctioned by Congress to promote retirement savings among Americans and to encourage employees to participate in their employer-sponsored retirement plans.
"One of the most important human achievements of our time is people are living longer," said Robert Kapito, President of BlackRock. "But we cannot continue to allow the blessing of longer lifespans to become a burden - safeguarding financially secure retirements is the defining challenge of our society."
BlackRock Investor Watch a nationwide survey fielded in September, found many respondents to be more concerned than ever before about retirement planning - and they are taking action. The survey found that 70 percent of investors are initiating conversations with their financial advisors about retirement. The complete set of findings from BlackRock Investor Watch will be released in the coming weeks.
"At BlackRock we feel an enormous responsibility to the investors we serve," Mr. Kapito said. "Of the $3.6 trillion in assets under BlackRock's management, two-thirds are in some way related to retirement. Behind the pension funds and 401ks we manage, and the mutual funds and ETFs we sell are real people facing real challenges, and they are depending on those assets. They are firefighters, teachers, parents and students and all of them are or will be retirees.
"With the launch of the retirement center, we hope to reach people of all ages who can benefit from our insights and digital resources. When it comes to retirement savings, no action is too small; however, starting early is a critical factor in building retirement income over time."
To highlight the people that BlackRock serves, the Company is also launching today advertisements in the United States emphasizing the importance of providing secure retirements for those who protect, teach and serve Americans nationwide.
Features of the BlackRock Retirement Center
BlackRock's new digital retirement resource center is intended to help make a difference in retirement planning by consolidating relevant content, insights and practical tools in one place that reflects the Firm's commitment to fiduciary responsibility and investment excellence. The digital retirement center offers access to engaging and digestible content across these age groups:
Each "age tab" takes users on a "digital journey" that includes relevant content and statistics, motivational insights, interactive tools and charts, and engaging infographics. Specifically, topics and insights are presented in an age-appropriate way. For example, the topic of "Longevity" for a 22-year-old includes insights about turning decades of future earnings into retirement security, while the same topic for the 62-year-old emphasizes that a retirement of two to three decades may still await an individual. As another example, content around Social Security differs for the 45-year-old who will read about "separating facts from hype," while the 65-year-old learns more about tactics and scenarios for optimal benefit collections. Insights around "Age Appropriate Investing" are found in each section as well.
The website also features:
The Define Your Retirement Tool ™: Provides an interactive way for all investors to "visualize" their retirement goals, resulting in a personal profile that will launch a conversation and, ultimately, a plan that can be implemented with the assistance of a financial advisor.
Just One Thing : Users can subscribe to simple, clear weekly tips to "j.o.t. down" and use, in hopes of improving the way they think about both saving for and spending in retirement.
Additional features include a changing line-up of educational videos, infographics and interactive polls to educate investors and financial advisors more about the new world of retirement.
About BlackRock
BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. At September 30, 2012, BlackRock's AUM was $3.673 trillion. BlackRock offers products that span the risk spectrum to meet clients' needs, including active, enhanced and index strategies across markets and asset classes. Products are offered in a variety of structures including separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares®(exchange traded funds), and other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk management, advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions®. Headquartered in New York City, as of September 30, 2012, the firm has approximately 10,400 employees in 29 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.blackrock.com.
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BlackRock, Inc.
Catherine Keary
212-810-5237
Catherine.Keary@BlackRock.com
or
Farrell Denby
212-810-8034
Farrell.Denby@BlackRock.com
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