Tag Archives: RIA compliance

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

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

The Dangers of Living in the Land of RIA Make-Believe

The Seventh Circuit just ruled that a company could not enforce a mandatory arbitration clause in a contract because the company name in the contract did not match the company name trying to enforce the arbitration clause. So what does … Continue reading

Posted in compliance, fiduciary compliance, RIA, RIA Compliance, RIA marketing | 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

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

“Upon Further Review: Do We Already Have a Universal Fiduciary Standard?” Redux

Back in 2013 I posted an article dealing with the controversy over the DOL’s proposed fiduciary standard. In that article, I suggested that a universal fiduciary standard was already in place that applied to stockbrokers, investment advisers and anyone else … Continue reading

Posted in BICE, compliance, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, financial planning, Impartial Conduct Standards, investment advisers, investments, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Better Mousetrap?: A New Format for Plaintiffs’ Complaints in ERISA Fiduciary Breach/Excessive Fee Cases?

My two most recent posts on this blog have dealt with recent decisions involving ERISA fiduciary breach cases alleging excessive fees in 401(k) plans. To avoid a possible false sense of security within the investment industry, the posts also discussed … Continue reading

Posted in 401k investments, BICE, closet index funds, compliance, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, 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

RIA Liability for Use of Third-Party Advertising

Recently I have made some comments on social media in connection with some posts made by American Funds with regard to the performance of some of their funds. As a securities/ERISA attorney, RIA compliance consultant and former compliance manager, the … Continue reading

Posted in compliance, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Emerging Asset Allocation “Trap?”

As both a securities/ERISA attorney and a CFP® professional, I realize that I often see things from a different perspective that other in those professions. Some would say that is an advantage, others say it’s a disadvantage. I have definitely … Continue reading

Posted in 401k compliance, 404c compliance, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, elder law, elderly investment fraud, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, financial planning, investment advisers, investments, IRAs, pension plans, RIA Compliance, securities, special needs advice, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fiduciary Standard vs. Suitability Standard: The “Gotcha” That Won’t Go Away

There is currently a lot of speculation on how and if the new Trump administration will attempt to undo the DOL’s new fiduciary rule. Opinions range from an attempt to delay the effective date of the new rule to a … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities, securities compliance, wealth management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment