Tag Archives: best interests

Caveat Fiduciarius: The Reg BI “Reasonably Available Alternatives”/ERISA “Fiduciary Prudence” Liability Trap

I am on record as saying that (a) ERISA plaintiff’s attorneys should never lose a properly vetted 401(k)/403(b) action, and (b) the amount of 401(k)/403(b) litigation is going to continue to increase. Those opinions are based on three trends within … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, best interest, compliance, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary duty, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, Mutual funds, pension plans, plan sponsors, prudence, Reg BI, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Non-Commission Annuities: The “New” Fiduciary Annuity Trap

“Equity abhors a windfall.” Fiduciary law is largely based on trust, agency and equity law, with an emphasis on fundamental fairness. Any situation in which a fiduciary benefits at a beneficiary’s expense is a potential breach of the fiduciary’s duties. … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, Annuities, compliance, consumer protection, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary responsibility, investment advisers, prudence, Reg BI, RIA Compliance, RIA marketing, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Fair Dealing”-The Key to Navigating the Suitability, Best Interest and Fiduciary Standards

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius-and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. – Albert Einstein With FINRA’s recent announcement that it will keep its suitability rule and … Continue reading

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

Q3 2019 Top Ten 401(k) Mutual Funds “Cheat Sheet”

At the end of each calendar quarter, InvestSense calculates new Active Management Value Ratio™ (AMVR) data for our clients. We also publish for the public an AMVR analysis of the top ten actively managed mutual funds in U.S. 401(k) plans, … Continue reading

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

ERISA Litigation’s “Next Big Thing?”

I have been receiving a number of requests to perform forensic analyses on ERISA plans that include one or more variable annuities as investment options within the plan. Most of these plans are ERISA 403(b) plans due to the fact … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, Annuities, best interest, compliance, consumer protection, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The “Hidden” Message in Reg BI

Like many others, I was eager to review the final version of the SEC’s Reg BI. As an attorney, I was anxious to see whether “prudence” was still expressly set out in Reg BI’s Care Obligation. As many had predicted, … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 403b, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, best interest, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, Fiduciary prudence, investment advisers, investments, Reg BI, SEC, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Whoa Nelly”*-Reg BI and That Other “F” Word

*Yes, I am old, Yes, I used to love listening to the late Keith Jackson call college football games. I miss his “whoa Nelly” calls. As the debate over the SEC’s proposed Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) rages on, people … Continue reading

Posted in AMVR, best interest, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, fiduciary compliance, prudence, Reg BI, SEC, securities, securities compliance | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Active Management Value Ratio FAQs

Glad to get the feedback from people who like and are actively using the Active Management Value Ratio™ 3.0 (AMVR). I though I would share some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) in case they help others using the AMVR … Continue reading

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

2019: The Battle of the “Best Interests” – Part Deux

The Chinese calendar designates each year in terms of an animal. I am not sure what the animal is for 2019. However, for the investment industry, 2019 clearly represents the continuation of the battle of the “best interests” between consumers … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, best interest, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, Reg BI, retirement plans, RIA, SEC | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Just a Thought: Is 401(k) Chaos Coming?

The 1st Circuit just handed down what in my opinion is one of the best well-reasoned and well-written opinions I have read in my 36 years of practicing law. If you practice in the 401(k)/403(b) arena, you should do yourself … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c compliance, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, SEC, securities compliance, wealth management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment