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Recent Posts
- Terminal Wealth: The True Fiduciary Prudence Paradigm with Regard to the In-Plan Annuity Scam
- Is the DOL/EBSA Trying to Serve Two Masters? ERISA Section 404(a)’s Independent Investigation and Evaluation Requirements and the DOL/EBSA Proposed Rule on Alternative Investments
- Much Ado About Nothing?: The DOL’s New Alternative Investment Rule vs. the Administrative Procedure Act
- Reasserting ERISA’s Private Enforcement Design: A Rebuttal to EBSA’s “Frivolous Litigation” Narrative
- When Income Is Not Enough: Why the Continued Inclusion of In-Plan Annuities May Breach ERISA Duties When Compared to Capital-Preserving Income Alternatives and Strategies
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Author Archives: jwatkins
The Georgetown University 403(b) Decision and the Future of 403(b) Fiduciary Litigation
The recent dismissal of the Georgetown University 403b excessive fees/breach of fiduciary action has led some to suggest that such actions are now over. A closer look at the Georgetown decision suggests that that opinion may be premature. I always … Continue reading
Posted in 403b, closet index funds, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investments, pension plans, prudence, wealth management, wealth preservation
Tagged 403b, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, ERISA, fiduciary, fiduciary investing, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investment analysis tools, pension plans, prudence, wealth management, wealth preservation
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2019: The Battle of the “Best Interests” – Part Deux
The Chinese calendar designates each year in terms of an animal. I am not sure what the animal is for 2019. However, for the investment industry, 2019 clearly represents the continuation of the battle of the “best interests” between consumers … Continue reading
Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, best interest, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, Reg BI, retirement plans, RIA, SEC
Tagged 401k, 401k compliance, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, best interests, compliance, ERISA, fiduciary, fiduciary investing, fiduciary standard, FINRA, pension plans, prudence, Reg BI, retirement plans, suitability
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Just a Thought: Is 401(k) Chaos Coming?
The 1st Circuit just handed down what in my opinion is one of the best well-reasoned and well-written opinions I have read in my 36 years of practicing law. If you practice in the 401(k)/403(b) arena, you should do yourself … Continue reading
Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c compliance, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, SEC, securities compliance, wealth management
Tagged 401k, 401k compliance, 404c, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, best interests, compliance, ERISA, fiduciary, fiduciary investing, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management
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Why the SEC Will Never Enact a Meaningful Fiduciary Standard
I continue to enjoy reading analyses on the SEC’s BI proposal. These are analyses from industry leaders, people who I greatly admire and respect. When people ask my opinion, I just tell them it is all just a cruel game, that … Continue reading
Posted in closet index funds, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost efficient, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, prudence, SEC
Tagged compliance, fiduciary, fiduciary investing, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, SEC, securities compliance, suitability, wealth management, wealth preservation
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The Case for Liability-Driven Investing
I was recently interviewed by Robin Powell for “The Evidence-Based Investor,” a U.K.-based blog. Robin is a highly respected journalist and one the leaders of the evidence-based investment movement. The topic of our discussion was the investment litigation trend in … Continue reading
Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k compliance, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, ERISA, evidence based investing, fiduciary, fiduciary investing, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, pension plans, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation
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May It Please the Court: Vanguard Funds As ERISA Benchmarks Study
InvestSense – The art of combining sound, proven investment strategies with common sense. I recently posted an article on one of my blogs discussing my concerns over some of the reasons given by some courts for dismissing actions against 401(k) … Continue reading
Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k compliance, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, compliance, ERISA, evidence based investing, fiduciary, fiduciary investing, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment analysis tools, prudence, retirement plans, RIA risk management, risk management, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Fundamental Unfairness: Inequitable and Inconsistent Interpretations of ERISA
As I mentioned in an earlier post, a number of recent decisions dismissing 401(k)/403(b) excessive fees/breach of fiduciary duties actions have highlighted the issue of fundamental fairness in the courts involving ERISA issues. The recent dismissal of the Checksmart action … Continue reading
Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 404c, 404c compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation
Tagged 401k, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, compliance, fiduciary, fiduciary investing, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation
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Fundamental Unfairness: ERISA Section 404(c) Is Not Working
“404(c) is not working. It does not provide participants with the information they need to make informed and reasoned investment decisions…But it can work, it must work.”1 This quote came from the 2006 testimony of Fred Reish, one of the … Continue reading
“Fundamental Unfairness: Defined Contribution Plans and the Courts-Part I”
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored – Aldous Huxley Men occasionally stumble across the truth, pick themselves up and quickly move on, as if nothing ever happened. – Sir Winston Churchill I provide fiduciary oversight consulting … Continue reading
Posted in 401k, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, cost consciousness, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation
Tagged 401k, 401k compliance, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, asset allocation, compliance, ERISA, fiduciary, fiduciary investing, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment analysis tools, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation
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The Dangers of Living in the Land of RIA Make-Believe
The Seventh Circuit just ruled that a company could not enforce a mandatory arbitration clause in a contract because the company name in the contract did not match the company name trying to enforce the arbitration clause. So what does … Continue reading
Posted in compliance, fiduciary compliance, RIA, RIA Compliance, RIA marketing
Tagged fictitious names, RIA, RIA compliance, RIA marketing
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