Category Archives: retirement plans

Guest Column-Simple Advice to Retirement Plan Sponsors

I generally do not post or allow other parties to post on any of my blogs due to legal concerns. However, Ary Rosenbaum is a fellow attorney and posts some extremely useful and informative material online with regard to ERISA … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 404c, 404c compliance, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, pension plans, retirement plans, wealth management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a 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

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 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

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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

A Fiduciary Blueprint: The Restatement of Trusts, the Prudent Investor Rule and the DOL’s New Fiduciary Rule

A [fiduciary] is held to something stricter than the morals of the market place.  Not honesty alone, but the punctilio of an honor the most sensitive, is the standard of behavior…. Meinhard v. Salmon, 249 N.Y. 458, 464 (1928) Ever … Continue reading

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

What Mr. Schlichter Understands…and Plan Sponsors and Investment Fiduciaries Need to Understand As Well

This week attorney Jerome Schlichter, already known for his actions against 401(k)s and plan sponsors for alleged breaches of their fiduciary duties, added a new category of defendants to his practice, 403(b) plans of private colleges and universities. By my … Continue reading

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

“Tipping Off” Potential ERISA Fiduciary Violations – Part 1

As a former catcher, I always enjoyed watching a pitcher to see if he was “tipping off” his pitches so our team could gain an advantage. As an ERISA attorney, one of the services I provide to ERISA consulting clients … Continue reading

Posted in 403b, Annuities, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, pension plans, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

ERISA and Modern Portfolio Theory – Prudence Per Footnote 8

As an ERISA attorney and compliance consultant, I often hear plan sponsors and service providers attempt to justify an imprudent investment option by claiming that they are simply complying with the DOL’s and the courts’ adoption of Modern Portfolio Theory … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, wealth management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment