Tag Archives: wealth preservation

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

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

Why the SEC Will Never Enact a Meaningful Fiduciary Standard

I continue to enjoy reading analyses on the SEC’s BI proposal. These are analyses from industry leaders, people who I greatly admire and respect. When people ask my opinion, I just tell them it  is all just a cruel game, that … Continue reading

Posted in closet index funds, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost efficient, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, prudence, SEC | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Case for Liability-Driven Investing

I was recently interviewed by Robin Powell for “The Evidence-Based Investor,” a U.K.-based blog. Robin is a highly respected journalist and one the leaders of the evidence-based investment movement. The topic of our discussion was the investment litigation trend in … Continue reading

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