Category Archives: financial planning

3Q 2021 Top Ten 401(k) AMVR “Cheat Sheet”

When InvestSense prepares a forensic analysis for a 401(k)/403(b) pension plan, a trust, an attorney, or an institutional client, we always do an analysis over five and ten-year time periods to analyze the consistency of performance. Since so many social … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k investments, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, asset allocation, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost-efficiency, Cost_Efficiency, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, financial planning, prudence, retirement planning, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 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

Judge Judy and the SEC’s Best Interest Proposal

The SEC recently announced its “kinda fiduciary”proposal, allegedly to provide investors with protection against abusive marketing strategies used by the investment industry. Interestingly, the SEC choose not to use the term “fiduciary” in announcing its proposal, instead referring to new … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, BICE, cost consciousness, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, financial planning, Impartial Conduct Standards, investment advisers, investments, IRA, IRAs, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

May It Please the Court: Justice Denied As Courts Miss the Forest for the Trees in ERISA Actions

Price is what you pay, value is what you receive. – Warren Buffett As any trial attorney will tell you, there are times when you wonder if a judge just does not understand a case or if you are just getting … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, elder law, elderly investment fraud, ERISA, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, financial planning, investment advisers, investments, IRA, IRAs, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fiduciary Litigation 2018: A Pure Heart and an Empty Head Are No Defense

After my recent post, “Are We At A ‘Tipping Point’ in ERISA Fiduciary Litigation,” I received a number of calls and emails from legal colleagues and investment professionals who wanted to discuss the points I raised.  In the post, I … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 403b, 404c, closet index funds, cost consciousness, DOL fiduciary rule, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, financial planning, Impartial Conduct Standards, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Upon Further Review: Do We Already Have a Universal Fiduciary Standard?” Redux

Back in 2013 I posted an article dealing with the controversy over the DOL’s proposed fiduciary standard. In that article, I suggested that a universal fiduciary standard was already in place that applied to stockbrokers, investment advisers and anyone else … Continue reading

Posted in BICE, compliance, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, financial planning, Impartial Conduct Standards, investment advisers, investments, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Controlling the Controllable: Factoring Investment Costs Into the Prudence/Suitability Equation

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. – Aldous Huxley In an earlier post, I discussed the benefits of controlling the controllable aspects of investing. Investors cannot control the performance of the markets. Investment fiduciaries are not … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, elderly investment fraud, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, financial planning, investment advisers, investments, IRAs, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, robo-advisors, special needs advice, special needs planning | 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