VALIC Financial Organization and Investment Strategies

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VALIC offers a range of investment strategies to help you reach your financial goals. VALIC is a subsidiary of AIG, one of the largest insurance companies in the world.

VALIC has a long history of providing financial services to individuals and organizations. Founded in 1959, VALIC has been helping people plan for their financial futures for over 60 years.

VALIC's investment strategies are designed to help you achieve your long-term financial goals, whether that's retirement or another significant milestone. Their strategies are tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

VALIC's financial organization is built on a foundation of stability and security, with a focus on helping you achieve your financial goals.

Organization and Products

VALIC offers a range of organization and product solutions to help individuals achieve their financial goals. With a focus on retirement plans, they provide a variety of options for businesses and individuals to invest in their futures.

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They offer a 401(k) plan that allows participants to invest in a range of assets, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. This flexibility helps individuals tailor their investments to their personal risk tolerance and financial objectives.

VALIC's products are designed to be user-friendly, with online tools and resources available to help participants make informed investment decisions.

Funds List

VALIC offers a range of funds for investment, with various categories and ratings. The VALIC Funds List includes funds from mid-cap growth to international value.

The list shows the name, ticker, and Morningstar category for each fund. For example, the VALIC Company I Mid Cap Strategic Gr fund has a ticker of VMSGX and is categorized as Mid-Cap Growth.

Some funds have a no-load share class type, meaning there are no fees for buying or selling. The VALIC Company I NASDAQ-100 Index fund, for instance, has a no-load share class type.

Fees can vary across funds, with some having below-average adjusted expense ratios. The VALIC Company I Stock Index fund has an adjusted expense ratio of 0.230%, which is considered low.

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The list also includes information on total return and rank in category. For example, the VALIC Company I Intl Sclly Rspnb fund has a total return of 6.61% YTD and ranks 54th in its category.

Here's a list of some of the funds available, including their ticker and Morningstar category:

The list of funds is not exhaustive, but it gives you an idea of the types of funds available through VALIC.

Organization

VALIC has a significant presence in the US, managing plans for nearly 21,000 groups serving more than 2 million plan participants.

As of September 30, 2024, these plans cover over 41,000 locations across the country.

The company's assets under management have grown substantially, reaching more than $329 billion as of December 31, 2022.

VALIC represents The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc. and VALIC Retirement Services Company.

Products

VALIC offers a variety of products to help individuals and groups achieve their financial goals.

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Their product lineup includes mutual fund programs, fixed, variable, and income annuities, and asset management programs.

For those looking to save for education expenses, VALIC offers college savings plans.

VALIC also provides brokerage accounts and group and individual retirement accounts, including Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Spousal IRA, and Money Market Consolidator options.

In addition to these products, VALIC is a licensed life insurance broker, offering GetSure life insurance services.

Here's a summary of VALIC's product offerings:

  • Mutual fund programs
  • Fixed, variable, and income annuities
  • Asset management programs
  • Life insurance
  • Brokerage accounts
  • College savings plans
  • Group and individual retirement accounts
  • GetSure Licensed Life Insurance Broker

Advisors and Services

VALIC Financial Advisors offer a range of services to help you manage your investments. They provide discretionary investment management services through three wrap fee programs: MIP, GPS, and GPA.

The MIP program allows you to choose from 15 model portfolios, ranging from very conservative to very aggressive, managed by top investment firms like Vanguard and BlackRock. These portfolios are designed to meet your unique financial goals and risk tolerance.

To enroll in the GPS program, you must have a VALIC or VALIC Retirement Services Company as your plan service provider. Once enrolled, your contributions will be invested in a VALIC Portfolio Director variable annuity or in a mutual fund program.

Advisors, Inc

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Valic Financial Advisors has a complex organizational structure, being wholly owned by The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (VALIC), which is itself owned by AGC Life Insurance Company.

Its name is an acronym of its parent company, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, but the firm also goes by AIG Retirement Services.

The firm has a national footprint and nearly $27 billion in assets under management (AUM).

Advisors working with Valic are technically independent advisory representatives (IARs) and are also broker-dealer representatives and insurance agents.

This makes Valic a fee-based firm, where advisors are employees but also have a level of autonomy.

Services by Advisors

Valic Financial Advisors offers discretionary investment management services through three wrap fee programs.

One of these programs, MIP, allows account holders to choose from 15 model portfolios, ranging from very conservative to very aggressive.

These portfolios are managed by experienced advisors from Envestnet Portfolio Solutions, Inc., Russell Investment Management, LLC, The Vanguard Group, BlackRock Investment Management, and CLS Investments, LLC.

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Accounts in the GPS program can invest in a VALIC Portfolio Director variable annuity or a mutual fund program, but only for retirement plan accounts where VALIC or VALIC Retirement Services Company is the plan service provider.

To enroll in the GPA Program, you must purchase a VALIC PD Freedom Advisor fixed and variable annuity contract.

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Fees Under Advisors

Clients who have MIP accounts will be charged a program fee, which is a percentage of assets under management (AUM) and includes fees and costs for services provided by the IAR, Valic Financial, Envestnet, the investment manager, and National Financial Services.

The program fee doesn't include underlying mutual fund or exchange-traded fund fees or other costs.

The exact rate a client will pay may vary from portfolio to portfolio.

There are no advisory fees for the use of the GPS Portfolio Advisor service.

Here are the fees for the GPS Portfolio Management Program:

For the GPA Program, clients pay an annual advisory fee of 1% of AUM for the PD Advantage offering.

The fees for the GPA PD Freedom Advisor Program are as follows:

Valic Financial does not charge for completing a financial plan.

Client Information and Requirements

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VALIC primarily serves non-high-net-worth clients, although they also work with high-net-worth individuals and corporations.

The firm's client types are diverse, but the majority are non-high-net-worth clients.

Advisors and Investment

VALIC offers a range of investment options, including no-load funds with low to average fees. The VALIC Company I Stock Index fund has an adjusted expense ratio of 0.230%, which is considered low.

Some funds, like VALIC Company I International Growth, have a share class type of Institutional, indicating they may have higher minimum investment requirements. This fund has a share class type of Institutional, with a minimum initial investment of $0.

If you're looking for a fund with a low expense ratio, consider the VALIC Company I Stock Index fund, which has a total return of 1.38% and a total return rank in category of 55.

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Default List Criteria

When evaluating investment options, it's essential to understand the criteria for a default list. VALIC Funds, for instance, has a specific list that shows only funds open to new purchases or limited investments.

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This list excludes funds that are closed to new investments, which can be a major consideration for advisors and investors alike.

Funds that are closed to new investments may still be available for existing investors to maintain their holdings, but new investors will not be able to purchase them.

It's crucial to review the list criteria for VALIC Funds and other investment options to ensure you're making informed decisions about your investments.

By understanding the default list criteria, advisors can better serve their clients and help them navigate the complex world of investments.

Advisors Investment Philosophy

At Valic Financial Advisors, the investment philosophy is centered around the idea that their Investment Advisors Representatives (IARs) are not investment managers. They outsource the work of constructing portfolios to securities analysis specialists.

These specialists use a variety of models to provide an appropriate asset allocation for every kind of risk profile. The models offer flexibility to accommodate different client needs.

Depending on the program a client enrolls in, their assets may be invested in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), annuities, and other investment vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is VALIC now called?

VALIC is now known as AIG Retirement Services. This change brings new resources and support to help you plan for a brighter future.

How do I check my VALIC account?

To check your VALIC account, call the VALIC Client Care Center at 800-448-2542, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. CT. A live Client Service Professional will assist you with general account information and transactions.

Can you take money out of VALIC?

You can withdraw money from your VALIC account, but be aware that withdrawals are subject to taxes and a potential 10% federal early withdrawal penalty if you're under 59½.

What type of retirement plan is VALIC?

VALIC offers a fixed annuity product, specifically a multi-rate single-premium deferred annuity. This type of annuity provides a guaranteed interest rate for a set period, helping clients plan for their retirement.

Maggie Morar

Senior Assigning Editor

Maggie Morar is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a background in business and finance, she has developed a unique expertise in covering investor relations news and updates for prominent companies. Her extensive experience has taken her through a wide range of industries, from telecommunications to media and retail.

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