Monthly Archives: September 2023

Making ERISA Meaningful: Common Sense, “Humble Arithmetic,” SCOTUS, and the Matney Case

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals finally issued its much-anticipated decision in Matney v. Briggs Gold of North America1 (Matney). As expected, the Court upheld the district court’s dismissal of the case. The good news is that the Tenth Circuit’s … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 401k litigation, 401k plan design, 401k plans, 401k risk management, 403b, Active Management Value Ratio, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary duty, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, fiduciary risk management, fiduciary standard, investments, Mutual funds, pension plans, plan advisers, plan sponsors, prudence, risk management, SCOTUS, Supreme Court | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Smart Fiduciaries Avoid Annuities: “Humble Arithmetic,” Annuities, and Fiduciary Liability

By James W. Watkins, III, J.D., CFP Board Emeritus™, AWMA® [A] victim to the relentless rules of humble Arithmetic. Remember, O stranger, ‘Arithmetic is the first of the sciences and the mother of safety.’U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis Fiduciary … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 401k litigation, 401k plan design, 401k plans, 401k risk management, 403b, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, Annuities, compliance, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary duty, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, fiduciary risk management, fiduciary standard, investments, Mutual funds, pension plans, plan advisers, plan sponsors, prudence, retirement planning, retirement plans, risk management, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment