Author Archives: jwatkins

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About jwatkins

I am a securities and ERISA attorney. I hold CFP Board Emeritus™ status and I am an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™. I provide fiduciary risk management consulting to 401k/430b plans, trustees, RIAs and other investment fiduciaries. I am a 1977 graduate of Georgia State University and a 1981 graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School. I am the author of "CommonSense InvestSense: The Power of the Informed Investor" and "The 401(k)/403(b) Investment Manual: What Plan Sponsors and Plan Participants REALLY Need To Know" I write two blogs, "CommonSense InvestSense, investsense.com, and "The Prudent Investment Fiduciary Rules, fiduciaryinvestsense.com. As a former compliance director, I have extensive experience in evaluating the legal prudence of various types of investments, including mutual funds and annuities. My goal is to combine my legal and compliance experience in order to help educate investors and investment fiduciaries on sound, proven investment strategies that will help them protect their financial security and/or avoid unnecessary fiduciary liability exposure.

RIA Liability for Use of Third-Party Advertising

Recently I have made some comments on social media in connection with some posts made by American Funds with regard to the performance of some of their funds. As a securities/ERISA attorney, RIA compliance consultant and former compliance manager, the … Continue reading

Posted in compliance, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Emerging Asset Allocation “Trap?”

As both a securities/ERISA attorney and a CFP® professional, I realize that I often see things from a different perspective that other in those professions. Some would say that is an advantage, others say it’s a disadvantage. I have definitely … Continue reading

Posted in 401k compliance, 404c compliance, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, elder law, elderly investment fraud, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, financial planning, investment advisers, investments, IRAs, pension plans, RIA Compliance, securities, special needs advice, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Special Needs Trusts and Your Value-Added Proposition

Excellent discussion and analysis on a subject that is gaining increasing attention by both financial planners, financial advisers and attorneys, as the need for such services continues to grow as people realize the significant benefits, and protection, that experienced professionals … Continue reading

Posted in elder law, elderly investment fraud, financial planning, investment advisers, special needs advice, special needs planning, trust realtionships, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fiduciary Standard vs. Suitability Standard: The “Gotcha” That Won’t Go Away

There is currently a lot of speculation on how and if the new Trump administration will attempt to undo the DOL’s new fiduciary rule. Opinions range from an attempt to delay the effective date of the new rule to a … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities, securities compliance, wealth management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2017: Brave New World

2016 will be remembered by most financial advisers as the year of the fiduciary standard, the year everything changed forever. Some would challenge this statement, claiming that the Trump administration will make sure the DOL’s new fiduciary rule is reversed. … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance, Trust marketing, trust realtionships | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Fiduciary Standard is Dead? Long Live the Fiduciary Standard!

A lot of people have asked me about the impact of the recent election on the future of the fiduciary standard. My answer is always in two parts – one based on existing legal precedent, the other on the DOL’s … Continue reading

Posted in BICE, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, pension plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Risk Management and Liability Housekeeping for RIAs

In providing consulting and compliance auditing to investment advisers, I often see what they often consider meaningless issues, but I see as potentially significant issues. Two such issues are improper identification of the registered investment adviser and improper handling of … Continue reading

Posted in fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investment advisers, investments, RIA, RIA Compliance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make a Little Magic: Developing Trust Relationships With Clients

As both a securities attorney and a CFP® professional, I get to see a side of the financial planning and wealth management industries that few get to see – the consumer’s inside viewpoint on the marketing and service practices side … Continue reading

Posted in DOL fiduciary standard, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, investment advisers, Trust marketing, trust realtionships, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 401(k)/404(c) Plan Sponsor’s Achilles Heels – Redux

With the effective date for the DOL’s new fiduciary standard getting closer, I have been receiving questions and calls from plans and fellow attorneys regarding the various obligations under the new standard. For that reason, I am re-posting an updated … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 404c, 404c compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, pension plans, retirement plans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Point to Ponder: A Reverse BICE Cause of Action?

In talking with some of my colleagues on both the legal and financial planing sides, an interesting question has come up with regard to potential liability under the new BICE provision of the DOL’s new fiduciary standard. I’m writing this … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, BICE, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investment advisers, investments, IRAs, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment