Tag Archives: 403b

“Avoiding ‘Lipstick on a Pig’: Evidence-Based Investing for ERISA Fiduciaries”

“You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” – Wall Street saying I often serve as a consultant to securities/ERISA attorneys and 401(k)/403(b) retirement plans. I am often asked to perform a forensic analysis of an … 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, ERISA, ERISA litigation, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, Impartial Conduct Standards, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Active Management Value Ratio 3.0: Investment Returns and Wealth Preservation for Fiduciaries and Plan Fiduciaries

Studies have consistently shown that people are more likely to understand and retain information that is conveyed visually rather than verbally or in print. I regularly receive requests for copies of the PowerPoint slides. So for those of you that … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, BICE, closet index funds, cost consciousness, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, elderly investment fraud, ERISA, ERISA litigation, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, Impartial Conduct Standards, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2017 Year-End Top 10 DC Funds AMVR Analysis

Each year “Pensions and Investments” publishes a list of the top 50 mutual funds used by defined contribution (DC) plans. The rankings are based solely on the amount of money invested in each fund within DC plans. I do an … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, BICE, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, DOL fiduciary rule, ERISA, ERISA litigation, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, Impartial Conduct Standards, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management | 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

Are We At a “Tipping Point” in ERISA Fiduciary Litigation?

As I went through my daily social media review, I noticed a post indicating that DOL Secretary Acosta has indicated that the DOL is ready to enforce the department’s new fiduciary rule (“Rule”). Excuse me if I’m skeptical, given the … 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, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transparency Is the Best Sunlight: Four Due Diligence Questions Plan Sponsors and Plan Participants Should Ask

Sunlight is the best disinfectant. – Justice Brandeis The ongoing attempts by the Department of Labor (DOL) and Congress to delay or completely reverse the DOL’s fiduciary rule sends a clear message to pension plan sponsors and plan participants – … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, BICE, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, Impartial Conduct Standards, investments, IRA, IRAs, prudence, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The New Mathematics of Successful Investing

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. – Winston Churchill Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. – Aldoux Huxley Ask any investor … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, closet index funds, clsoet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, elderly investment fraud, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, Impartial Conduct Standards, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Often Overlooked Fiduciary “Gotcha”: The Fiduciary Duty (and Challenge) of Cost-Consciousness

The vast majority of active managers are unable to produce excess returns that cover their costs.1 I recently posted an article discussing a brilliant complaint that was filed in connection with a new 401(k) excessive fees/breach of fiduciary duties action. … Continue reading

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

The Investor Revolution: A “Best Interests” Checklist for Investors and Fiduciaries

The DOL recently announced that it will not seek to delay the effective date of the department’s new fiduciary law. Beginning June 9, 2017, anyone providing advice to pension plans and plan participants will be deemed to be a fiduciary, … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | 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