Category Archives: wealth preservation

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

401(k) Alert: Protecting Plan Sponsors and Plan Participants Under the BICE Exemption

Most of the litigation against 401(k) plans has focused on excessive fees and/or the poor quality of investment options within a plan. With the effective date of DOL’s new fiduciary standard and the Best Interests Contract exemption (BICE) coming in … Continue reading

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

The End of Human Investment Advisors Exaggeration

Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked. Warren Buffett This weekend I saw yet another story on the predicted end of the human investment advisors and the takeover of the robo-advisors. Whenever I see … Continue reading

Posted in investments, RIA, robo-advisors, roboadvisors, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Little More Knowledge on Reducing 401(k) Plan Sponsor Liability

As I have mentioned several times, I believe that the current environment presents investment advisors with a perfect opportunity to enter the 401(k) arena and prove the value added proposition that they can provide. The DOL’s recently announced fiduciary standard … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, compliance, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

To BICE Or Not To BICE, That Is the Question.

I read an interesting article today on LinkedIn Pulse entitled “401(k) Opportunity, Is That You ?” by Rebecca Hourihan. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/401k-fiduciary-opportunity-you-rebecca-hourihan-aif-ppc-?trk=mp-reader-card Ms. Hourihan addressed the same question that several of my plan sponsor fiduciary clients have asked me – what are the potential … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 404c, 404c compliance, compliance, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Going Forward: Quantifying “Best Interest,” Reasonable Compensation and Suitability for Investment Professionals

With the DOL’s recent release of their new fiduciary rule (Rule)and the related Best Interest Contract Exemption (BICE), there has been an increased interest in the concepts of “best interest” and prudence, two of the key concepts involved with both … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, compliance, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Best Interest,” BICE and Class Action Targets, Part II

Much has been written about the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new fiduciary rule and the accompanying Best Interest Contract Exemption (BICE). Several writers have suggested that the group that will benefit the most from the rule and BICE are class … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, compliance, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investments, IRAs, pension plans, retirement plans, securities, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Best Interest,” BICE and Class Action Targets

Much has been written about the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new fiduciary rule and the accompanying Best Interest Contract Exemption (BICE). Several writers have suggested that the group that will benefit the most from the rule and BICE are class … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, compliance, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

And Now the Fiduciary Radar Shifts to …

Now that the DOL has released its new fiduciary rule, advisers are wondering what could be “the next big thing” drawing upon the new rule. Canada has recently announced that it would conduct a sweeping investigation of the abusive marketing … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA Compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment