Category Archives: fiduciary compliance

DIY Investor and Fiduciary Protection Strategies: 4Q 2020 401(k) Top Ten AMVR Analysis

For the first new blog post since our blog and domain name were recovered, I figured it was only appropriate to re-christen the blog with our popular quarterly “cheat sheet” of the top non-index mutual funds in U.S. 401(k) plans. … Continue reading

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Winds of Change

I recently posted on both Twitter and LinkedIn my belief that plan participants should never lose a properly vetted 401(k)/403(b) fiduciary breach action. As expected, the posts drew a strong response. I recently participated in a private conference to discuss … Continue reading

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Q3 2020 AMVR/InvestSense Quotient “Cheat Sheet”

The quarterly AMVR/InvestSense Quotient “cheat sheet” analyzes the non-index mutual funds in the top ten mutual funds used in U.S. 401(k) plans, based upon the Top 100 list compiled annually by “Pensions and Investments.” For the 3Q 2020, only six … Continue reading

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The CareerBuilder 401(k) Decision: Three Key Lessons for Plan Sponsors and ERISA Attorneys

“If we desire respect for the law we must first make the law respectful.” Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandies Currently, we have different federal courts handing down various interpretations of ERISA. As a result, in some cases the public’s guaranteed … Continue reading

Posted in 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, cost consciousness, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Plan Sponsor Special Report: 401(k) Fiduciary Liability Risk Management in a Post-Brotherston World

My firm, InvestSense, provides fiduciary oversight services to pension plans, trust, and other investment fiduciaries. One of the most requested services is a fiduciary audit, including a forensic fiduciary prudence analysis of the entity’s investments. After a recent audit, the … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, risk management, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

4Q 2019 AMVR Cost-Efficiency Analysis

I apologize for the delay in posting the 4Q 2019 AMVR Cost-Efficiency Analysis. I have been involved in a legal battle involving my investor advocacy/education blog, “CommonSense InvestSense.” Fortunately, the matter has been resolved and the blog is back online. … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, closet index funds, compliance, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, risk management, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Petition Denied”: Fiduciary Investing After Brotherston

On January 13, 2020, SCOTUS officially denied Putnam Investment, LLC’s petition for writ of certiorari to review the First Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Brotherston v. Putnam Investments, LLC. The First Circuit had ruled that plan sponsors have the … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, closet index funds, clsoet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, financial planning, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, risk management, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Putnam Files Responsive Brief In Putnam Investments, LLC v. Brotherston

“This perverse and harmful holding has extraordinary consequences for the investment management industry, ERISA litigation, and ERISA plans as a whole.” In its rebuttal brief to the Solicitor General’s amicus brief, Putnam points out the  significance of Putnam Investments, LLC … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, RIA, RIA Compliance, risk management, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Putnam Investments, LLC v. Brotherston: The End of “Business as Usual” for 401(k) Plans

Earlier this year I posted an article on this blog, “Putnam Investments, LLC v. Brotherston: Pivotal Point for 401(k)/403(b) Industries?” The article focused on the potential impact of the case regarding both the general operation of 401(k) plans and legal … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, best interest, closet index funds, compliance, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, Reg BI, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Cases Every Financial Adviser, Investment Adviser and Plan Sponsor Should Know

Back in my compliance days, I was known for running a tight and tough house. But many of the brokers came to realize that that was my job, and in doing my job I was protecting them as well. As … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, asset allocation, closet index funds, compliance, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, RIA, RIA Compliance, risk management, securities compliance, wealth management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment