American Century Investments
The latest research and outlooks in the ProAllocate library
- Wealth Management
Market Corrections vs. Bear Markets: What Should Investors Know?
American Century Investments' Rich Weiss argues that selling during market corrections or bear markets locks in losses, while historical S&P 500 and bond data show markets recover and reward those who stay invested. The firm recommends diversification, dollar-cost averaging and gradually shifting from stocks to bonds near retirement.
- Emerging Markets
How the Growing Global Middle Class Is Reshaping EM Demand
Emerging-market growth is increasingly driven by banking, telecom and private healthcare demand tied to a rising middle class, not just technology, argues the piece. It notes EM consumer staples and discretionary stocks have lagged the broader benchmark, favouring selective exposure to financials, telecoms and healthcare instead.
- Wealth Management
How Much Cash Should You Hold in Retirement?
This retirement-planning guide advises pre-retirees and retirees to hold cash reserves of roughly 5-20% of portfolios, adjust risk tolerance over time, and use a bucket strategy alongside diversification to manage market volatility.
- Macro
Federal Debt: High and Climbing
US federal debt has surpassed $40 trillion and keeps rising as mandatory spending on Social Security, Medicare and interest payments crowds out discretionary cuts. The piece warns this trajectory could push up bond yields, borrowing costs and market volatility for investors.
- Private Markets
The Venture Opportunity in Solving Real-World Problems
American Century Private Investments argues that promising startups need scalable, durable technology, not just a compelling idea, illustrated by PFAS "forever chemicals" detection and destruction ventures like Claros Technologies. It frames PFAS remediation as a case study in evaluating venture investments for measurable, long-term real-world impact.
- Equities
Growth Stocks Explained: What Makes Them So Volatile?
Growth stocks swung sharply in 2026 despite strong earnings, as rising bond yields and doubts about AI capital spending returns weighed on valuations. The analysis argues current AI investment resembles earlier cloud-computing buildouts rather than dot-com-era excess, favoring a long-term view.
- Pensions
Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking Retirement Readiness
American Century Investments' 2026 survey finds participants and plan sponsors diverge on risk tolerance, savings struggles and decumulation preparedness, with advisors urged to address saving, protecting, transitioning and income-generation gaps. Only 45% of sponsors offer retirement-income resources despite 92% deeming it important.
- Macro
Targeting Growth in China’s K-Shaped Economy
China's economy is increasingly "K-shaped," with exports and advanced manufacturing—semiconductors, EVs, AI-related goods—surging even as the property sector and consumer spending remain depressed. The divergence strengthens the case for active stock selection to identify durable growth within China's uneven economy.
- Equities
Adapt and Thrive: How Markets Evolve Through Tech Revolutions
American Century Investments argues that markets have historically adapted to successive technology revolutions, with recovery times shrinking from years to months, and that staying invested through AI-driven uncertainty outperforms market timing.