Tag Archives: investment advisers

Putnam Files Responsive Brief In Putnam Investments, LLC v. Brotherston

“This perverse and harmful holding has extraordinary consequences for the investment management industry, ERISA litigation, and ERISA plans as a whole.” In its rebuttal brief to the Solicitor General’s amicus brief, Putnam points out the  significance of Putnam Investments, LLC … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, cost-efficiency, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, RIA, RIA Compliance, risk management, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Putnam Investments, LLC v. Brotherston: The End of “Business as Usual” for 401(k) Plans

Earlier this year I posted an article on this blog, “Putnam Investments, LLC v. Brotherston: Pivotal Point for 401(k)/403(b) Industries?” The article focused on the potential impact of the case regarding both the general operation of 401(k) plans and legal … Continue reading

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

3 Cases Every Financial Adviser, Investment Adviser and Plan Sponsor Should Know

Back in my compliance days, I was known for running a tight and tough house. But many of the brokers came to realize that that was my job, and in doing my job I was protecting them as well. As … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, asset allocation, closet index funds, compliance, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, RIA, RIA Compliance, risk management, securities compliance, wealth management | 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

Investopedia Top 100 Most Influential Financial Advisor Honor

Honored to be named by Investopedia as one of the Top 100 Financial Advisors for 2019. Unlike a lot of other “top” lists, Investopedia bases its selection largely on criteria such as contributions to online media to educate investors on … Continue reading

Posted in Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, consumer protection, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, securities compliance, 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

May It Please the Court: The Cost-Efficiency Quotient

In my last post, I suggested that the correlation of returns between funds in a 401(k)/403(b) plan might be considered the “X” factor in ERISA litigation going forward. In this post, I want to discuss another emerging factor in ERISA … Continue reading

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

Correlation of Returns: The ERISA 404(c) Fiduciary “X” Factor

I received an email the other day from a local 401(k) plan. The email was short and simple – “we would you like you to come and present your ‘404(c) Fiduciary Liability Circle’ presentation.” After I gave the presentation, I … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, closet index funds, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The First Circuit’s Putnam Decision – Where Does ERISA 401(k)/403(b) Litigation Go Now?

The First Circuit Court of Appeals (First Circuit) recently handed down its decision in Brotherston v. Putnam Investments, LLC. The First Circuit vacated the lower court’s decision in which the court had dismissed the plaintiff’s ERISA excessive fees/breach of fiduciary … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, closet index funds, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Evaluating Judicial Dismissals of 401(k)/403(b) Fiduciary Breach Actions

Recently, there have been a number of court decisions dismissing 401(k)/403(b) ERISA breach of fiduciary actions. I have to admit, I am still puzzled by some of the decisions, as the rationales cited by some of the courts seems to … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, closet index funds, compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment