Putnam Investments’ VisualizerSuite Receives Industry Award for Advisor Value-Added Programs in DCIO Market

FOR MEDIA USE ONLY

BOSTON, October 12, 2023 – Putnam Investments announced today that its VisualizerSuite won the WealthManagement.com award for best advisor value-added program from a defined contribution investment only (DCIO) provider.

Putnam’s VisualizerSuite was created to help financial advisors and consultants prepare their clients for retirement by using three distinct industry-leading digital tools to explore and compare mutual funds and ETFs, configure and model retirement plan design, and to evaluate target-date strategies.Steve McKay

“This award is reflective of Putnam’s unyielding dedication to providing advisors and consultants with unique insight as they develop critical strategies to help guide their clients to address their long-term financial and retirement needs,” said Steve McKay, Head of Global DCIO and Institutional Management for Putnam Investments. “We are honored that the Putnam VisualizerSuite has been recognized by WealthManagement.com for the value that it has been bringing to the DCIO marketplace.”

The suite is comprised of:

  • FundVisualizer® enables advisors, brokers and other financial intermediaries to evaluate and compare more than 30,000 mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and indexes using more than 80 performance and risk metrics.
  • PlanVisualizer™, a powerful interactive tool that enables retirement advisors and consultants to demonstrate in real time to plan sponsors how various modifications in plan design — including possible changes to employer match, introduction of auto enrollment, rate of auto escalation, etc. — can impact their participants’ retirement readiness and overall plan costs.
  • TargetDateVisualizer®, designed to help advisors better guide plan sponsors in selecting appropriate target-date mutual funds and collective investment trusts (CITs) for inclusion in workplace savings plans, based on specific risk-tolerance preferences and investment philosophy.

Commitment to DCIO/Advisor Marketplace

VisualizerSuite is part of a broader digital commitment by Putnam to the DCIO and broader financial advisor community. In addition to offering informative content marketing, robust online practice management tools, customer service and advisor support, Putnam provides best practice seminars on the use of LinkedIn and other social platforms; a series of online resources and tools; one-on-one training and continuing discussions on technical issues; and video vignettes on Putnam’s Advisor Tech Tips blog.

About Putnam Investments

Founded in 1937, Putnam Investments is a global money management firm with over 85 years of investment experience. At the end of September 2023, Putnam had $166 billion in assets under management. Putnam has offices in Boston, London, Munich, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. For more information, visit putnam.com.


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Putnam Investments Launches Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF

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BOSTON, May 18, 2023 – Putnam Investments today announced the launch of Putnam Emerging Markets ex-China ETF, a new actively managed, transparent exchange-traded fund (ETF) with a distinct investment focus on emerging market companies, excluding investments in China and Hong Kong. The new ETF, which begins trading today on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE Arca: PEMX), is managed by Brian Freiwald.

Putnam Emerging Markets ex-China ETF seeks long-term capital appreciation by focusing on emerging market companies that Putnam believes to have a durable competitive advantage, strong balance sheets and a potential for above-average profitability. As a general matter of investment policy, Putnam Emerging Markets ex-China ETF will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of emerging market companies — excluding those domiciled in, or whose stocks are listed for trading on an exchange in, China as well as companies domiciled in Hong Kong.

“We are excited to launch Putnam Emerging Markets ex-China ETF to help advisors and their clients gain important international investing exposure in their portfolios,” said Robert L. Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer, Putnam Investments. “In developing our slate of ETF offerings for the marketplace, we have strived to take a strategic and innovative approach in addressing investor needs.”

According to Carlo Forcione, Head of Product and Strategy at Putnam, today’s launch expands the firm’s active ETF roster to a total of twelve offerings. The first four ETFs were introduced in May 2021; two transparent actively managed equity ETFs began trading in September 2022; and five ETFs employing ESG-focused investment strategies were launched in January 2023.

The new ETF joins the firm’s growing and diverse range of actively managed ETF strategies across asset classes and investment styles:

  • Putnam BDC Income ETF (NYSE Arca: PBDC)
  • Putnam BioRevolutionTM ETF (NYSE Arca: SYNB)
  • Putnam Emerging Markets ex-China ETF (NYSE Arca: PEMX)
  • Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF (NYSE Arca: PCRB)
  • Putnam ESG High Yield ETF (NYSE Arca: PHYD)
  • Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF (NYSE Arca: PULT)
  • Putnam Focused Large Cap Growth ETF (NYSE Arca: PGRO)
  • Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF (NYSE Arca: PVAL)
  • Putnam PanAgora ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NYSE Arca: PPEM)
  • Putnam PanAgora ESG International Equity ETF (NYSE Arca: PPIE)
  • Putnam Sustainable Future ETF (NYSE Arca: PFUT)
  • Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF (NYSE Arca: PLDR)

“Putnam has had meaningful positive momentum in its equities business in recent years, and we are delighted to continue to add to our growing roster of fundamentally oriented, actively managed equity ETFs. This new offering provides our clients and the broader marketplace with important choice and flexibility in emerging markets equity investing, without the typical heavy weighting of China,” said Forcione.

Freiwald, who serves as portfolio manager for the new ETF, also manages the firm’s other fundamentally oriented emerging markets equity strategies.

About Putnam Investments

Founded in 1937, Putnam Investments is a global money management firm with over 85 years of investment experience. At the end of April 2023, Putnam had $169 billion in assets under management. Putnam has offices in Boston, London, Munich, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. For more information, visit putnam.com.


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Putnam Investments Announces Sustainable Retirement Target-Date Funds

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BOSTON, February 10, 2023Putnam Investments today announced the availability of Putnam Sustainable Retirement Funds, a target-date series for the retirement savings marketplace. The suite invests in actively managed sustainable and environmental, social and governance (ESG)-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) managed by Putnam.

Implementing a similar retirement glidepath philosophy as the firm’s other target-date offering, Putnam Retirement Advantage , the series offers vintages for every five years from 2025 through 2065, along with a maturity fund. The Putnam Global Asset Allocation team, which also manages Putnam Retirement Advantage, is responsible for the glidepath and both the tactical and ETF allocations of the Putnam Sustainable Retirement target-date suite.

“As the retirement marketplace continues to evolve and grow, there is tremendous appetite for meaningful product innovation that creates greater choice of offerings to help working Americans achieve their financial goals,” said Robert L. Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer, Putnam Investments.

“Putnam is pleased to continue our commitment to delivering differentiated active management strategies by adding Putnam Sustainable Retirement Funds to our line-up of investment products for plan sponsors and their participants,” he explained.

In discussing the announcement, Steven P. McKay, Putnam’s Head of Global Defined Contribution Investment Only, said, “There is growing interest in sustainable investing within the defined contribution realm, and we are excited to deliver this innovative approach to target-date investing to the retirement savings marketplace.”

Putnam Sustainable Retirement Funds will invest in ETFs across asset classes managed by the firm, including:

*Sub-advised by PanAgora Asset Management, Inc.

Putnam Sustainable Retirement Funds succeed the Putnam RetirementReady® Funds.

About Putnam Investments

Founded in 1937, Putnam Investments is a global money management firm with over 85 years of investment experience. At the end of January 2023, Putnam had over $170 billion in assets under management. Putnam has offices in Boston, London, Munich, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. For more information, visit putnam.com.


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Putnam Investments Launches Fixed Income and Non-U.S. Equity Exchange-Traded Funds

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BOSTON, January 20, 2023Putnam Investments today announced that it has officially launched five new transparent, actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange.

Launching today are three fixed income ETF portfolios that build upon the longtime capabilities and experience of the Putnam Fixed Income team. Additionally, the firm is launching two non-U.S. equity strategies sub-advised by Putnam affiliate PanAgora Asset Management, Inc., which is well regarded in the industry for its quantitative equities expertise. Putnam is the sponsor/investment adviser on the five new ETFs.

“We think it is increasingly important to offer clients a range of investment products across asset classes delivered through a choice of product wrappers, such as ETFs, mutual funds and separately managed accounts,” said Robert L. Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer, Putnam Investments. “One of Putnam’s hallmarks has been its commitment to providing investment strategies that align with investors’ evolving needs. With today’s launch, Putnam is bringing a number of significant investment offerings to market in an ETF format,” he noted.

The new ETFs join the firm’s growing and diverse range of actively managed ETF offerings across asset classes and investment styles:

  • Putnam BDC Income ETF (NYSE Arca: PBDC)
  • Putnam BioRevolutionTM ETF (NYSE Arca: SYNB)
  • Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF (NYSE Arca: PCRB)*
  • Putnam ESG High Yield ETF (NYSE Arca: PHYD)*
  • Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF (NYSE Arca: PULT)*
  • Putnam Focused Large Cap Growth ETF (NYSE Arca: PGRO)
  • Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF (NYSE Arca: PVAL)
  • Putnam PanAgora ESG International Equity ETF (NYSE Arca: PPIE)*
  • Putnam PanAgora ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NYSE Arca: PPEM)*
  • Putnam Sustainable Future ETF (NYSE Arca: PFUT)
  • Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF (NYSE Arca: PLDR)
    *Launched January 20, 2023

“We are enthused about extending our ETF product shelf into the actively managed fixed income and non-U.S. equity spaces,” said Carlo Forcione, Head of Product and Strategy at Putnam. “Today’s newly launched ETFs are powered by strong existing investment capabilities and demonstrate the firm’s continuing focus on providing an array of compelling offerings in asset classes that are important to our clients and the broader marketplace.”

The five new Putnam ETFs, which employ an environmental, social and governance (ESG) focus, are:

Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF (NYSE Arca: PCRB): Seeks high current income consistent with what Putnam believes is prudent risk by investing mainly in a diversified portfolio of investment-grade fixed income securities, with a focus on companies or issuers that Putnam believes meet relevant ESG criteria. The fund invests mainly in bonds of governments and private companies located in the United States that are investment grade in quality with intermediate- to long-term maturities (three years or longer). Portfolio Managers: Michael Salm, Andrew Benson, Albert Chan and Sri Mahanti.

Putnam ESG High Yield ETF (NYSE Arca: PHYD): Seeks high current income, with capital growth as a secondary goal when consistent with achieving high current income. The fund invests mainly in bonds that are below investment grade in quality (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”) that have one or more of the following characteristics: (1) are obligations of U.S. companies or issuers and (2) have intermediate- to long-term maturities (three years or longer). The fund invests with a focus on companies or issuers that Putnam believes meet relevant ESG criteria on a sector-specific basis. Portfolio Managers: Rob Salvin and Norm Boucher.

Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF (NYSE Arca: PULT): Seeks as high a rate of current income that Putnam believes is consistent with preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity. The fund invests in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities composed of short-duration, investment-grade money market and other fixed income securities, with a focus on companies or issuers that Putnam believes meet relevant ESG criteria on a sector-specific basis. Portfolio Managers: Joanne Driscoll, Andrew Benson and Michael Lima.

Putnam PanAgora ESG International Equity ETF (NYSE Arca: PPIE): Seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing mainly in common stocks (growth or value stocks or both) of companies of any size outside the United States with a focus on securities that PanAgora believes offer attractive benchmark-relative returns and exhibit positive ESG metrics based on a proprietary framework using quantitative models. Portfolio Managers: George Mussalli and Richard Tan.

Putnam PanAgora ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NYSE Arca: PPEM): Seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing mainly in common stocks (growth or value stocks or both) of emerging markets companies of any size with a focus on securities that PanAgora believes offer attractive benchmark-relative returns and exhibit positive ESG metrics based on a proprietary framework using quantitative models. Portfolio Managers: George Mussalli and Richard Tan.

Additionally, the new fixed income and non-U.S. equity ETFs, along with the existing Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF and Putnam Sustainable Future ETF, will serve as underlying investments for the firm’s planned ESG-focused target-date series, the Putnam Sustainable Retirement Funds. This new suite is expected to be implemented in the coming weeks through a repositioning of the existing Putnam RetirementReady® Funds target-date series.

About PanAgora Asset Management, Inc.

Founded in 1989, PanAgora Asset Management, Inc. is a forward-looking investment firm underpinned by insightful research, innovation and creativity. The hands-on oversight, combined with the firm’s singular focus on seeking to develop and implement distinctive active equity and multi-asset strategies, enables the firm to offer diversified and tailored investment solutions designed to help clients achieve their financial goals.

About Putnam Investments

Founded in 1937, Putnam Investments is a global money management firm with over 80 years of investment experience. At the end of December 2022, Putnam had $165 billion in assets under management. Putnam has offices in Boston, London, Munich, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. For more information, visit putnam.com.


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Putnam Investments Receives DALBAR Service Award for 33rd Consecutive Year

BOSTON, December 14, 2022 – In recognition of the firm’s steadfast commitment to client service excellence, Putnam Investments was awarded top honors for the 33rd consecutive year with a DALBAR Service Award. In addition, Putnam was the only firm to receive the Total Client Experience Award for the 12th consecutive year. DALBAR is regarded as a leading independent market research and consulting firm for the financial services industry.

“Our goal each and every day has long been to far exceed industry service standards for our clients,” said Michael J. Woodall, Chief of Operations at Putnam Investments. “Our achievements in this area are the result of a tremendous work ethic and unwavering dedication from our service team, who consistently go above and beyond to ensure our clients receive a top-notch experience from Putnam. We are deeply honored to receive these two premier DALBAR awards, which symbolize Putnam’s commitment to excellence.”
Dalbar logo

The two awards won by Putnam are:

  • DALBAR Mutual Fund Service Award, which is for the highest level of call center service to fund shareholders. The award is based on rigorous, objective, and independent audits of call center interactions with shareholders to ensure an exceptional quality of service. Putnam has earned a DALBAR Service Award for 33 consecutive years.
  • DALBAR Total Client Experience Award, which is based on DALBAR’s measurement of the complete experience of the customer. DALBAR evaluates the level of professionalism demonstrated by a financial services firm’s personnel, including the accurate execution and processing of transactions and requests while ensuring thorough security protocols. Putnam has been the sole recipient of this award since it was launched in 2011.

“Putnam’s laser focus on providing consistent, dependable, and exceptional service yields a high-quality experience for our clients,” said Karen L. Walsh, Head of Investor Services at Putnam Investments. “We place great emphasis on accuracy, reliability, and time sensitivity while utilizing the latest technology in meeting client needs. I am enormously proud of our team’s ongoing performance, which is second to none in our industry.”

About DALBAR

DALBAR, Inc. is the financial community’s leading independent expert for evaluating, auditing, and rating business practices, customer performance, product quality and service. Launched in 1976, DALBAR has earned recognition for consistent and unbiased evaluations. DALBAR awards are recognized as marks of a superior standard of care in the financial community.

About Putnam Investments

Founded in 1937, Putnam Investments is a global money management firm with over 80 years of investment experience. At the end of November 2022, Putnam had $171 billion in assets under management. Putnam has offices in Boston, London, Munich, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. For more information, visit putnam.com.


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Millennials, Gen Z grew wealth in 2021

The wealth of millennials and Generation Z grew 25% in 2021, according to a new study. Last year, combined total assets of these two age groups grew to $3.6 trillion from $2.9 trillion in 2020. The study also found that 59% of millennials said they wanted more financial advice than they currently receive. According to the Brookings Institution, more than half of Americans are millennials or younger.

Demand for ESG investments projected to soar

Assets in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) focused investments are expected to grow at a much faster pace than the asset and wealth management market as a whole, according to a new report. ESG assets in the United States are expected to more than double from $4.5 trillion in 2021 to $10.5 trillion in 2026, while ESG assets in Europe would increase 53% to $19.6 trillion. ESG assets are on pace to account for about 21.5% of total global investment assets under management in less than five years, the report noted.

Social Security announces 2023 COLA

The Social Security Administration announced the 2023 COLA (cost of living adjustment) for benefits will be 8.7%. The increase marks the largest COLA since 1981. The annual inflation adjustment is made to help retirees keep up with higher costs. Beginning in January, the COLA will result in a benefit increase of more than $140 per month, the report noted. Some 66 million people receive Social Security benefits.

ESG rule under review

The Department of Labor’s final rule focused on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors and retirement accounts was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review, according to a recent article. The rule would allow retirement plan fiduciaries to consider ESG factors when selecting investment choices or offer ESG-related investments in qualified retirement plans. A final rule could be released by year-end, the report noted.

Market optimism falls among investors

Market optimism among investors and advisors fell to half of what it was in 2021, according to a recent survey. Investor optimism about their investments fell to 31% this year from 67% in 2021. The number of investors citing a pessimistic view jumped to 36% from 7% last year. Market confidence fell among advisors, dropping to 34% this year from 78% last year. More advisors also reported a pessimistic investment outlook, with the total rising to 25% from 3% a year ago.