Financial Engines more than doubles its share price by defining a niche in the 401(k) market between target date funds and RIAs

I was a finance student of Professor Sharpe’s at the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1976. While I certainly defer to his accomplishments in finance, what I’m finding is that many investors today do not want the experience of the buy, hold, and rebalance modern portfolio strategy, hoping for recovery for their retirement portfolios after large drawdowns. After 2008, I think things have changed for a large segment of the investing public, especially those nearing or in retirement.

The next wave of 401(k) advice is already here, and we’re behind it. You can see for yourself at www.kivalia.com

Though we’re not covered yet by the media, I suspect that will change as we’re the only completely flexible, independent and free guidance solution for the nation’s plan participants.

400 plans on the site and growing, an open advice platform to serve the individual investor either through indexed strategies or more active approaches.

There is a huge opportunity in the defined contribution space, but the existing parties are too wedded to their current business models to be the big winners going forward.

Thanks for the article. I’ll pass it along to my subscribers. I’m a BIG proponent of niches, ideal clients, segmenting, and the like. I see it work for clients and those who do it all the time. If someone asked me for the name of an FA who works with divorced women, I can name names, 1-2-3. Someone who works with military personal, someone who works with professors, etc.

Niching does bring in the riches. :)