Tag Archives: best interests

The Active Management Value Ratio™ 3.0: Minimizing Fiduciary Liability Exposure for 401(k) Plan Sponsors

Price is what you pay, value is what you receive. – Warren Buffett A court recently dismissed an ERISA excessive fees/breach of fiduciary duty action based, at least in part, on its argument that using Vanguard mutual funds as benchmarks in … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, ERISA, ERISA litigation, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

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

“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

Unintended Consequences: Financial Advisers and Potential Liability Issues Under State Fiduciary Laws

With the investment industry driving and celebrating the continuous efforts of the DOL and Congress to emasculate the DOL’s fiduciary rule, I have received emails from stockbrokers and RIAs/IARs as to what the practical meaning of these actions, from a … Continue reading

Posted in BICE, compliance, cost consciousness, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, Impartial Conduct Standards, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Poke the Bear: Nevada Rains on Anti-Fiduciary Rule Parade

It is well established that ERISA comprehensively regulates employee pension and welfare plans, and t hat in the area of its coverage it preempts state laws and regulations. …However, it is also clear that there is a presumption against preemption, … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 404c, 404c compliance, BICE, compliance, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, pension plans, prudence | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment