Tag Archives: prudence

The Georgetown University 403(b) Decision and the Future of 403(b) Fiduciary Litigation

The recent dismissal of the Georgetown University 403b excessive fees/breach of fiduciary action has led some to suggest that such actions are now over. A closer look at the Georgetown decision suggests that that opinion may be premature. I always … Continue reading

Posted in 403b, closet index funds, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investments, pension plans, prudence, 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

May It Please the Court: Vanguard Funds As ERISA Benchmarks Study

InvestSense – The art of combining sound, proven investment strategies with common sense. I recently posted an article on one of my blogs discussing my concerns over some of the reasons given by some courts for dismissing actions against 401(k) … Continue reading

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

Fundamental Unfairness: Inequitable and Inconsistent Interpretations of ERISA

As I mentioned in an earlier post, a number of recent decisions dismissing 401(k)/403(b) excessive fees/breach of fiduciary duties actions have highlighted the issue of fundamental fairness in the courts involving ERISA issues. The recent dismissal of the Checksmart action … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 404c, 404c compliance, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Fundamental Unfairness: Defined Contribution Plans and the Courts-Part I”

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored – Aldous Huxley Men occasionally stumble across the truth, pick themselves up and quickly move on, as if nothing ever happened. – Sir Winston Churchill I provide fiduciary oversight consulting … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, cost consciousness, 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

2Q 401(k) Top 10 Defined Contribution Funds Forensic Analysis

Each quarter InvestSense, LLC, performs an updated forensic analysis of the top ten non-index funds in the “Pensions & Investments” list of the top 50 mutual funds in U.S. defined contribution plans. InvestSense uses its proprietary metric, the Active Management … Continue reading

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

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

“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