PLANADVISER

Pulse Logic Unveils Plan Adviser Tool for Services and Fees

Jill — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:58:03 GMT

Pulse Logic Unveils Plan Adviser Tool for Services and Fees Jill Cornfield Pulse Logic introduced a benchmarking tool to help plan advisers assess the services they provide and what fees are appropriate. The Pulse Logic Plan Advisor Services and Fees Guide was developed with input f

Questioning the Traditional Portfolio, Advisers Turn to Alternatives

Jill — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:11:39 GMT

Questioning the Traditional Portfolio, Advisers Turn to Alternatives Jill Cornfield Volatility is still a concern for individual investors, but they are willing to take on more risk, say advisers surveyed by Natixis Global Asset Management. Financial advisers believe traditional dive

Workers Changing Expectations of Retirement

Jill — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:38:49 GMT

Workers Changing Expectations of Retirement Rebecca Moore American workers realize they are behind in saving for retirement and are adjusting their expectations accordingly. Sixty-nine percent of workers agreed they could save until age 65 and still not have enough for a secure retirement, according

Great West Adds Midwest Sales Director to 401k Team

Jill — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:48:39 GMT

Great-West Adds Midwest Sales Director to 401(k) Team Rebecca Moore Great-West Retirement Services named Matthew Orozco regional sales director for the Midwest market. Orozco will work with brokers, financial advisers, consultants, wirehouses and third-party administrators to offer Great-West 401(k

Institutional Investors Find New Uses for ETFs

Jill — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:42:55 GMT

Institutional Investors Find New Uses for ETFs Rebecca Moore Institutional investors are finding increasingly strategic uses for exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to a study from Greenwich Associates. Institutions start using ETFs to achieve specific and limited tactical goals such as a smoot

DOL Hits Hutcheson with ERISA Violation

Jill — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:30:32 GMT

DOL Hits Hutcheson with ERISA Violation Rebecca Moore The Department of Labor filed a complaint against Matthew Hutcheson of Eagle, Idaho, an independent fiduciary and plan trustee, for a violation of the Employee Retirement Security Act. The complaint, filed in a federal court i

CPI Appoints Senior Manager for Internal Sales Department

Jill — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:07:06 GMT

CPI Appoints Senior Manager for Internal Sales Department Tara Cantore CPI Qualified Plan Consultants Inc. named Peter Wesner as the senior manager for the internal sales department. Wesner has been with CPI’s sales and marketing department since 2004, starting with the internal sa

Pensionmark Adds Location in San Luis Obispo

Jill — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:37:33 GMT

Pensionmark Adds Location in San Luis Obispo Jill Cornfield Melinda Thomas joined Pensionmark Retirement Group at the firm’s new office in San Luis Obispo, California. Thomas, formerly co-founder and partner of FIT Financial LLC, will be managing director of the office. She has

Planning for a Succession NFP Study Explores Maximizing Practice Value

Jill — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:34:49 GMT

Planning for a Succession? NFP Study Explores Maximizing Practice Value Jill Cornfield NFP Advisor Services Group published a study that tells advisers how to maximize the value of their practice across various time horizons in advance of succession. “Advisers who plan ahead and f

Positive Language Critical in Reaching Older Americans, Research Finds

Jill — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:31:49 GMT

Positive Language Critical in Reaching Older Americans, Research Finds Tara Cantore The language advisers use is critical in reaching senior citizens to explain investment products, according to the research firm Hearts & Wallets. Aging investors recognize they may need to tap

Principal Launches Resource to Evaluate Retirement Plan Fees

Jill — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:29:40 GMT

Principal Launches Resource to Evaluate Retirement Plan Fees Tara Cantore The Principal Financial Group created an online resource to help plan sponsors understand the new retirement plan disclosure regulations. Assessing Retirement Plan Value offers tips and tools for understanding an

Cohen and Steers: DC Plans Need Real Assets

Jill — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:42:46 GMT

Cohen & Steers: DC Plans Need Real Assets Tara Cantore Cohen & Steers released a white paper that discusses the merits of real assets—commodities, real estate and natural resources—in a defined contribution (DC) portfolio. This type of allocation can protect the long-term power of DC plans

LPL Unveils Rollover Program

Jill — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:20:13 GMT

LPL Unveils Rollover Program Jill Cornfield LPL Financial launched the Rollover Results Program, a platform for retirement plan advisers, plan sponsors and plan participants. The Rollover Results Program introduces the Retirement Results Desk, a dedicated specialist group to educat

Putnam Appoints New External Wholesalers

Jill — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:13:19 GMT

Putnam Appoints New External Wholesalers Jill Cornfield Putnam Investments named eight additions to its retail distribution team, including the promotion of existing staffers. Daniel Greene joins the firm from Sun Life Financial Distributors and has 10 years of industry experience.

The Board Institute Unveils Fiduciary Evaluation Tool

Jill — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:51:59 GMT

The Board Institute Unveils Fiduciary Evaluation Tool Jill Cornfield The Board Institute Inc. introduced an evaluation and education tool in collaboration with fi360, CEFEX and Cambridge Fiduciary Services LLC. The Fiduciary Board Index allows boards of directors to assess the stren

Jefferson Expands Funds Lineup

Jill — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:11:31 GMT

Jefferson Expands Funds Lineup Jill Cornfield Jefferson National increased its alternative investment offerings with a number of fund additions The additions complement a lineup of more than 380 tax-deferred funds across a range of 59 Morningstar categories. Invesco’s Balance

FPG Offers Fee Disclosure Compliance Service

Jill — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:26:15 GMT

FPG Offers Fee Disclosure Compliance Service Rebecca Moore Fiduciary Plan Governance LLC released a product to help assist with the burden and risk of new fee disclosure requirements. According to the company, FeeSource independently assesses or certifies plan sponsors’ compliance with the new regu

Northern Trust Names Senior Investment Consultant

Jill — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:22:55 GMT

Northern Trust Names Senior Investment Consultant Tara Cantore Northern Trust appointed Christopher A. Benson in its Denver office as a senior investment consultant. Before relocating to Denver this year, Benson served as a senior investment consultant and portfolio manager for fi

Younger Workers Are Most Attracted to Guaranteed Income Option

Jill — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:45:13 GMT

Younger Workers Are Most Attracted to Guaranteed Income Option Rebecca Moore Many American workers find it appealing to have a guaranteed income in retirement—the younger the employee, the greater the attraction. Three out of five Americans (64%) say their employer’s 401(k) or other retirement

Mercer Launches Retirement Planning and Education Campaign

Jill — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:33:44 GMT

Mercer Launches Retirement Planning and Education Campaign Tara Cantore Mercer introduced “My Retirement Workshop,” an online retirement planning and education campaign for employees whose 401(k) plans it administers The website provides interactive tools and hands-on instruction to help investors

Education Program Increases Participation in Workplace Plans

Jill — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:54:52 GMT

Education Program Increases Participation in Workplace Plans Rebecca Moore A workplace investor education program field tested in three states increased employee participation in workplace savings and investing programs, its creators claim. “Investor Education in Your Workplace” (IEiYW), a proj

Report Calls for 10 to 16 percent DC Plan Contributions

Jill — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:16:46 GMT

Report Calls for 10% to 16% DC Plan Contributions Tara Cantore Target income replacement ratios should be higher than the 70% to 75% conventionally accepted as a rule of thumb, the Retirement Advisor Council contends. In a position paper, the Council says the higher ratio is to ac

Fee Disclosure Guidance Provides 403 b Comfort

Jill — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:22:30 GMT

Fee Disclosure Guidance Provides 403(b)s Comfort Rebecca Moore Recent fee disclosure guidance addresses some unanswered questions for 403(b) plans. Annuity options are more prevalent in 403(b)s, and many plans offer multiple service providers. More service provider choices may require greater need

Fidelity Names Leader of Stock Plan Services

Jill — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:05:17 GMT

Fidelity Names Leader of Stock Plan Services Tara Cantore Kevin Barry was named executive vice president of Fidelity Investments’ stock plan services business. Barry will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the stock plan services business, which provides stock plan admi

UBS Names Director to Consultant Relations Team

Jill — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:57:27 GMT

UBS Names Director to Consultant Relations Team Jill Cornfield UBS Global Asset Management, a division of UBS AG, named Christine Schneider as executive director and consultant relations manager on its U.S. consultant relations team. Schneider is responsible for managing and enhanci

Boulevard R Unveils Customizable App for Advisers

Jill — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:54:19 GMT

Boulevard R Unveils Customizable App for Advisers Jill Cornfield Amp, an interactive marketing tool, was introduced by Boulevard R for advisers to use with prospects and clients on an iPad. “After hearing from advisers that they wanted to use their iPads to better engage people, givi

PSCA President Announces Plans to Retire

Jill — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:33:24 GMT

PSCA President Announces Plans to Retire Tara Cantore David L. Wray, president of the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA), will retire effective September 30. Bob Benish, PSCA executive director, will serve as interim president upon Wray’s retirement while the Board of Directors

Fidelity Launches Its First Global Equity Income Funds

Jill — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:21 GMT

Fidelity Launches Its First Global Equity Income Funds Tara Cantore Fidelity Investments launched its first global equity income funds. The funds include the Fidelity Global Equity Income and Fidelity Advisor Global Equity Income Fund.. Fidelity’s equity income funds are designed to meet

Interest In ustainable Investing Growing Among Plan Sponsors

Jill — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:12:22 GMT

Interest In Sustainable Investing Growing Among Plan Sponsors Tara Cantore Sustainable investing has become of more interest to investors and plan sponsors. During a PLANSPONSOR webcast, John Hale, portfolio construction adviser of the ESG Managers Portfolios for Morningstar Associates, explored

Pensionmark Expands Footprint with Santa Clarita Location

Jill — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:05:47 GMT

Pensionmark Expands Footprint with Santa Clarita Location Jill Cornfield Teri Hutchison joined Pensionmark Retirement Group at the firm’s new Santa Clarita office, added to the advisory network in April. Hutchison will be acting as managing director of the office. Previously, sh

Mothers Are Household CFOs Except When it Comes to Retirement

Jill — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:50:17 GMT

Mothers Are Household CFOs Except When it Comes to Retirement Jill Cornfield A majority of women act as chief financial officers of their households, making most of the financial decisions or sharing responsibility. But men are still likelier than women to hold investments, have fin

U S Equity Funds See Net Outflows For Second Month

Jill — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:27:02 GMT

U.S. Equity Funds See Net Outflows For Second Month Tara Cantore Investors put only $26.5 billion in net inflows into stock and bond mutual funds in the U.S. in April. This marked a decline from March, when investors put net $32 billion in flows into long-term funds, according to

Positive Q1 Returns for U S Master Trust Universe

Jill — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:20:30 GMT

Positive First-Quarter Returns for U.S. Master Trust Universe Tara Cantore The median return of BNY Mellon’s U.S. Master Trust Universe was 7.12% for the first quarter of 2012. This marked the second consecutive quarter of positive returns. For the 12 months ending March 31, 2012, the median

Retirees Provide Insight for Retirement Planning Success

Jill — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:39:35 GMT

Retirees Provide Insight for Retirement Planning Success Corie Russell Plan participants and advisers can learn from the experiences of current retirees. More than 90% of participants polled in BlackRock’s fourth annual retirement survey agreed they have something to learn from retirees (the majo

Arnerich Hires Van Dyke as Investment Adviser

Jill — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:23:44 GMT

Arnerich Hires Van Dyke as Investment Adviser Tara Cantore Arnerich Massena Inc. hired Chris Van Dyke as investment adviser. Van Dyke will service public, private and nonprofit organizations for the firm’s institutional client group. Van Dyke comes to Arnerich Massena with more than 12 y

Penn Liberty Adds to Advisory Team

Jill — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:20:43 GMT

Penn Liberty Adds to Advisory Team Jill Cornfield Penn Liberty Wealth Advisors, a division of Penn Liberty Bank in Wayne, Pennsylvania, expanded its team with three hires. Joining the division are Shawn T. Higginbotham, Deborah Davis and Joseph Dowling. Higginbotham joined P

MassMutual Retirement Adds National Practice Leader to Sales Team

Jill — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:23:07 GMT

MassMutual Retirement Adds National Practice Leader to Sales Team Jill Cornfield Doug DeNigris was named MassMutual Retirement Services Division’s national practice leader for the Taft-Hartley market segment. In this newly created role, DeNigris is responsible for the strategic development of Mass

Health Care Costs Could Consume Retiree’s Income

Jill — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:49:43 GMT

Health Care Costs Could Consume Retiree’s Income Tara Cantore Households relying on Social Security benefits to cover health care costs should expect medical bills to consume 61% of their Social Security payments by 2027. According to Fidelity Investments, a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2012 i

EBSA Hosts Fiduciary Seminars in Boston and NYC

Jill — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:41:16 GMT

EBSA Hosts Fiduciary Seminars in Boston and NYC Rebecca Moore The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) scheduled two “Getting it Right: Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities” seminars. The event will take place in Boston on June 6 and in New York City on June 13.

Nearly Half of Americans Not Saving For Retirement

Jill — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:37:10 GMT

Nearly Half of Americans Not Saving For Retirement Tara Cantore Forty-nine percent of Americans say they are not contributing to a retirement plan, according to a survey from LIMRA. Americans ages 18 to 34 were more likely (56%) to be among those not saving for retirement.

Segal Hires VP and Consulting Actuary

Jill — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:31:25 GMT

Segal Hires VP and Consulting Actuary Tara Cantore Robert Kurak joined The Segal Company as a vice president and consulting actuary. Kurak has more than 30 years experience in the employee benefits field. For more than 25 years, he worked for Mercer in Minneapolis, where he was inst

DCAdvisors Names John Rowe for Client Consulting Group

Jill — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:42:16 GMT

DCAdvisors Names John Rowe for Client Consulting Group Jill Cornfield DCAdvisors announced the addition of John Rowe to the client consulting group and the firm’s leadership team. Rowe brings 30 years of experience, including senior leadership roles in business development, client management and pr

FiPath Launches Client Acquisition Tool for Advisers

Jill — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:00:28 GMT

FiPath Launches Client Acquisition Tool for Advisers Jill Cornfield FiPath for Advisors introduced ReferMyAdvisor, which generates prospective clients through an automated e-mail marketing platform that contacts an adviser’s existing clients. Advisers can leverage a good client relationship to as

ASPPA Submits Recommendations for Lifetime Income Proposals

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:30:56 GMT

ASPPA Submits Recommendations for Lifetime Income Proposals Rebecca Moore The American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA) applauded efforts by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help ensure lifetime income for Americans. The IRS proposed relief from the minimum distribution

TDF Glide Paths Change Little in 2011

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:10:55 GMT

TDF Glide Paths Change Little in 2011 Rebecca Moore It was a relatively quiet year on the target-date fund glide path front—at least as far as major equity/fixed-income changes go, according to Morningstar. It appears likely that the series stung by poor asset allocation in 2008’s market crash

App Enables Stock Plan Participants to Conduct Transactions

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:52:40 GMT

App Enables Stock Plan Participants to Conduct Transactions Tara Cantore The Fidelity Investments App was updated to enable stock plan participants to better access and track their portfolios, and conduct transactions. With the updates, participants with stock option plans can exerc

CAPTRUST Names Three to Senior Management Positions

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:40:06 GMT

CAPTRUST Names Three to Senior Management Positions Jill Cornfield CAPTRUST hired three industry veterans in executive positions: Bonnie McCullough, John Curry and Doreen O’Dowd. McCullough, chief financial officer, comes to CAPTRUST with experience at firms such as Parish Capital

Penn Mutual Unveils Suite of Variable Annuities

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:04:49 GMT

Penn Mutual Unveils Suite of Variable Annuities Jill Cornfield The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company introduced the Smart Foundation Variable Annuities that add some flexibility to guaranteed retirement income. The Smart Foundation product suite has three variable annuity options,

Many Investors Need Help Navigating the World of Investments

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:59:21 GMT

Many Investors Need Help Navigating the World of Investments Jill Cornfield “Overly complex” and “overwhelmed” are two of the feelings expressed by investors in the MFS Investing Sentiment Survey. “Investors have a ton of information at their fingertips, but that is not knowledge or p

The Hartford Expands DC Plan Investment Options

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:27:54 GMT

The Hartford Expands DC Plan Investment Options Corie Russell The Hartford introduced three investment managers and 16 investment options to its defined contribution (DC) retirement program offering. Two investment managers, Calamos Investments and Delaware Investments, were added to retiremen

Commonfund Appoints New Director of Consultant Relations

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:36:04 GMT

Commonfund Appoints Director of Consultant Relations Jill Cornfield Stephen J. Wagenbach, an institutional relationship manager, was chosen to lead Commonfund’s efforts in the firm’s Midwest region. Commonfund, an investment manager for institutional investors, Tuesday announced the appointmen

Women Are Saving More, Borrowing Less from 401k Plans

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:46:07 GMT

Women Are Saving More, Borrowing Less from 401(k) Plans Jill Cornfield Two groups of participants—women and Gen Y members—are increasing their savings in defined contribution plans, according to MassMutual Retirement Services. Women increased their deferral rates at twice the level o

J.P. Morgan Offers Financial Engines' Income to 401k Clients

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:35:59 GMT

J.P. Morgan Offers Financial Engines' Income+ to 401(k) Clients Tara Cantore Financial Engines' Income+ has been integrated into J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services’ 401(k) offering. Income+ is part of J.P. Morgan’s in-plan professionally managed account program, J.P. Morgan Personal Asset M

ETF Assets Decrease 5B in April

Jill — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:53:37 GMT

ETF Assets Decrease $5B in April Rebecca Moore Exchange-traded fund (ETF) assets dropped by $5.3 billion (0.4%) in April. According to State Street Global Advisors’ ETF Snapshot report, 1,246 ETFS with $1.2 trillion in assets were managed by 36 ETF managers as of April 30. Investors added

Putnam Plans Addition of R Share Classes

Alison — Tue, 08 May 2012 04:56:51 GMT

Putnam Plans Addition of R Share Classes Alison Cooke Mintzer Putnam Investments plans to offer two new share classes to qualified retirement plans. Putnam filed May 3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission to add two share classes—R5 and R6—to allow qualified retirement plan sponsors to separat

Employees Not Taking Advantage of 401 k Plan Offerings

Jill — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:53:38 GMT

Employees Not Taking Advantage of 401(k) Plan Offerings Rebecca Moore Despite efforts by employers to educate workers on their 401(k) offering, most workers are not taking full advantage of their plans. More than half (54%) of employers report that employees participating in plans are not taking fu

Tuttle Announces Plans to Step Down as FPA Executive Director

Jill — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:43:38 GMT

Tuttle Announces Plans to Step Down as FPA Executive Director Jill Cornfield Marvin W. Tuttle Jr., executive director of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) since 2004, said he will step down from the position in 2014. Tuttle began his involvement in financial planning as director

DOL Issues Additional Guidance for Participant Fee Disclosures

Jill — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:41:03 GMT

DOL Issues Additional Guidance for Participant Fee Disclosures Tara Cantore The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued frequently asked questions about the requirements of new participant fee disclosure rules. Field Assistance Bulletin 2012-02 answers quest

Tool Helps Advisers Focus on Retirement Income Planning

Jill — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:32:39 GMT

Tool Helps Advisers Focus on Retirement Income Planning Jill Cornfield Pacific Life introduced an online tool to help advisers engage clients in a conversation about building sustainable lifetime retirement income. The tool was developed using product-allocation research, which ble

Findley Davies Launches App for Retirement Accounts

Jill — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:06:00 GMT

Findley Davies Launches App for Retirement Accounts Rebecca Moore Findley Davies, a human resources consultant, launched “Retirement Focus,” a mobile application for iPhones and Android smartphones. The app allows client plan sponsors and their plan participants to get real-time information about t

Price Takes a Backseat to Trustworthiness of Advisers for Service Members

Jill — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:00:04 GMT

Price Takes a Backseat to Trustworthiness of Advisers for Service Members Jill Cornfield Service members who work with an adviser cited financial know-how and moral fiber as the top attributes they look for, a survey found. The cost of planning services is not as significant a consi

BFT Financial Adds to Advisory Team

Jill — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:52:27 GMT

BFT Financial Adds to Advisory Team Jill Cornfield Travis Crowell joined the firm BFT Financial Group in Bedford, Texas. Crowell’s seven years of experience include past positions at Mills, McCaghren & Associates, Ameriprise Financial and most recently, Chase Investment Services. He receive

Wealthy Americans Terrified of Health Care Costs in Retirement

Jill — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:42:02 GMT

Wealthy Americans Terrified of Health Care Costs in Retirement Tara Cantore More than half of high-net-worth Americans (59%) lack confidence in their advisers’ ability to help manage health care costs in retirement. According to a survey from Nationwide Financial, nearly three in four soon-to-be-r

DALBAR and Rosenbaum Law Firm Team Up to Provide 3 38 Training

Jill — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:06:12 GMT

DALBAR and Rosenbaum Law Firm Team Up to Provide 3(38) Training Jill Cornfield A certification program for ERISA 3(38) for advisers was initiated by Rosenbaum Law Firm and DALBAR Inc. An important consequence of ERISA fee disclosure regulations is the visibility of fiduciaries who will be requir

Primerica Expands Professional Development Resources for Advisers

Jill — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:33:10 GMT

Primerica Expands Professional Development Resources for Advisers Jill Cornfield Primerica began an on-demand, online training program developed by Integrated Retirement. The courses allow a greater number of Primerica registered advisers to master the technical concepts needed to

Real Assets Can Help Participants Achieve Goals

Jill — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:06:33 GMT

Real Assets Can Help Participants Achieve Goals Rebecca Moore A research paper from Russell Investments explores the impact of adding "real assets" to a defined contribution (DC) plan menu. “[To] achieve true diversification, DC plan sponsors now need to move beyond the practice of simply diversify

Most Future Retirees Will Still Be Working

Jill — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:11:30 GMT

Most Future ‘Retirees’ Will Still Be Working Corie Russell U.S. workers and their employers have different views about whether employees will have to work for income in retirement. More than half (55%) of defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors think most of their workplace retirement plan pa

Employees Increasingly Concerned about Retirement Preparedness

Jill — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:39:45 GMT

Employees Increasingly Concerned about Retirement Preparedness Rebecca Moore A report from Financial Finesse detailing employee communications received online and to its call center shows increased concern about retirement preparedness. Adjusted for seasonal tax questions, 73% of financial ques

ERIC Suggests Changes to Lifetime Income Proposals

Jill — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:23:54 GMT

ERIC Suggests Changes to Lifetime Income Proposals PLANSPONSOR staff The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) says it welcomes proposals by the Treasury Department to remove regulatory barriers to lifetime income options. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Industry Committee submitted t

Japanese Company May Be Liable for U S Pension

Jill — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:08:31 GMT

Japanese Company May Be Liable for Terminated U.S. Pension Rebecca Moore A Japanese company that acquired the now-defunct Metaldyne Corporation may be found liable for termination premiums for Metaldyne’s pension plan. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found the Pension Benef

ERIC President Announces Retirement

Jill — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:05 GMT

ERIC President Announces Retirement Rebecca Moore Mark Ugoretz, president of The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), announced he will retire on June 1. Ugoretz has been president of ERIC since 1983, overseeing the association's legislative, regulatory and educational mission. “My career w

Women Less Prepared for Retirement

Rebecca — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:59:09 GMT

Women Less Prepared for Retirement Corie Russell Women have distinct challenges and special needs when planning for retirement. According to a study commissioned by the ING Retirement Research Institute called “Retirement Revealed,” women are less prepared for retirement than men—with nearly $41,00

Mercer Encourages Greater Partnership with Advisers

Jill — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:15:24 GMT

Mercer Encourages Greater Partnership with Advisers Rebecca Moore Advisers can help retirement plan sponsors with the task of creating the most effective plan for participants and maintaining a plan compliant with various regulations. Mercer’s latest Retirement, Risk & Finance Perspective , “D

Pensionmark Retirement Group Names New Wealth Management Adviser

Jill — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:10:36 GMT

Pensionmark Retirement Group Names New Wealth Management Adviser Jill Cornfield Mallory Van Leeuwen, previously with Wells Fargo Advisors, will lead the strategies division at Pensionmark Retirement Group. Van Leeuwen joined Pensionmark Retirement Group last month at its corporate o

DOL Hosts Fiduciary Responsibilities Seminar in Dallas

Jill — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:06:47 GMT

DOL Hosts Fiduciary Responsibilities Seminar in Dallas Rebecca Moore The Department of Labor (DOL) is hosting “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities” in Dallas on May 22. Topics include: Understanding your plan and your responsibilities; Carefully selecting

Employer Cannot Use ERISA to Stop Deferred Compensation Benefits

Jill — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:01:43 GMT

Employer Cannot Use ERISA to Stop Deferred Compensation Benefits Rebecca Moore An employer cannot use the Employee Retirement Income Security Act’s provisions to terminate benefit payments under a deferred compensation agreement. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana found t

Advisers Say They Need Broader Education on Retirement Income Planning

Jill — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:44:29 GMT

Advisers Say They Need Broader Education on Retirement Income Planning Jill Cornfield A majority of advisers (93%) surveyed said they felt the need for more education on retirement income planning. For the next 20 years, an average of 10,000 Baby Boomers will retire every day. It is not just t

Towers Watson Details Fairer Hedge Fund Fees

Jill — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:20:57 GMT

Towers Watson Details Fairer Hedge Fund Fees Tara Cantore Approximately one-third of outperformance from skill should go to hedge fund managers in the form of fees, with the rest going to the investor, according to Towers Watson. In its research report “Hedge Fund Investing—Opportunities and

Fidelity Reports 8 Percent Jump in Average 401 k Balance

Jill — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:08:07 GMT

Fidelity Reports 8% Jump in Average 401(k) Balance Rebecca Moore Fidelity Investments reported its average 401(k) balance rose to $74,600 at the end of the first quarter, up 8% from the end of the fourth quarter 2011. The first-quarter balance also represents a 62% increase since the end of the fir

ABG Wants Clarity for Advisers about Participant Fee Disclosure

Jill — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:08:41 GMT

ABG Wants Clarity for Advisers about Participant Fee Disclosure Rebecca Moore Alliance Benefit Group (ABG) asked the Department of Labor to clarify certain aspects of the participant fee disclosure regulations that go into effect this summer. Of particular concern is a provision of the 404(a)5

Groups Seek Grace Period for Fee Disclosure Regulations

Jill — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:04:59 GMT

Groups Seek Grace Period for Fee Disclosure Regulations Jill Cornfield A coalition of organizations asked the Department of Labor (DOL) to institute a one-year transition period to comply with new fee disclosure regulations. The regulations, slated to take effect July 1, require service prov

Turn the Retirement Conversation to Boomers Personal Concerns

Jill — Tue, 01 May 2012 07:27:19 GMT

Turn the Retirement Conversation to Boomers’ Personal Concerns Jill Cornfield Boomers mostly ignore intangible digital assets when planning retirement, a report shows. Online presence and activity figure little in Baby Boomers’ retirement plans, according to research from the Bank of Montreal

iPads Provide Benefits for Advisers

Corie — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:30:14 GMT

iPads Provide Benefits for Advisers Corie Russell Many retirement plan advisers are joining the iPad craze and discovering opportunities for their business. In fact, twice as many financial professionals used mobile devices (22%)—like iPads and other tablets—compared with usage a year

Study Shows Shift from DB to DC

Jill — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:20:55 GMT

Study Shows Shift from DB to DC Rebecca Moore Among benefits most directly related to economic security, employers with 50 or more employees are most likely (96%) to offer 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plans. In addition, the Families and Work Institute’s 2012 Study of Employers found 83% of empl

Bipartisan Bill Seeks Expanded Oversight of Advisers

Jill — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:57:34 GMT

Bipartisan Bill Seeks Expanded Oversight of Advisers Jill Cornfield The House Financial Services Committee introduced legislation that would authorize one or more self-regulatory organizations (SROs) for advisers. Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) and Rep. Carolyn McCar

Ford Offers Lump Sums to De Risk Pension

Jill — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:03:47 GMT

Ford Offers Lump Sums to De-Risk Pension Tara Cantore Ford Motor Company announced it will offer approximately 90,000 eligible U.S. salaried retirees and former employees the option to receive a voluntary lump-sum pension payment. In its first-quarter earnings statement, Ford said t

Regulations Changing DB Use of OTC Derivatives

Jill — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:00:09 GMT

Regulations Changing DB Use of OTC Derivatives Rebecca Moore Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, such as interest rate swaps, have become standard tools for defined benefit pension plans. These instruments allow pension plans to reduce risk and manage portfolios more efficiently. However, Towers

Calif Bills that Would Tax Financial Advice Are Amended

Jill — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:11:32 GMT

Calif. Bills that Would Tax Financial Advice Are Amended Jill Cornfield Two California Assembly bills that would have imposed taxes on a variety of services, including services from financial advisers, were amended. California AB 1963 would have expanded the category of taxable services and

Retirement Income Planning an Increasing Part of Advisory Business

Jill — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:57:28 GMT

Retirement Income Planning an Increasing Part of Advisory Business Jill Cornfield Most advisers who offer retirement income services said they had adjusted their business to do more retirement income planning over the past year, a study found. “Advisor Perspectives on Retirement Planning,” a

White Paper Examines ETFs

Jill — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:53:24 GMT

White Paper Examines ETFs Rebecca Moore A new white paper explores how exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are created, and takes an in-depth look at the potential risks and advantages. Although increasingly popular, ETFs are not well understood by most investors. In the new white paper, “Examining E

Cellular Company Owner Accused of Misusing ESOP

Jill — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:13:06 GMT

Cellular Company Owner Accused of Misusing ESOP Rebecca Moore The U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit seeking to recover losses suffered by participants in the Parrot Cellular Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The suit alleges that the defendants caused or permitted the ESOP to purchas

TDFs See Positive Returns in Q1 2012

Jill — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:54:35 GMT

TDFs See Positive Returns in Q1 2012 Tara Cantore A lingering low interest rate environment helped make equities more attractive in the first quarter, Ibbotson reports. The effect was strong outperformance of target-maturity funds further from retirement as those funds tend to allocate much hi

JPMorgan Cleared of Charges for Lehman Investments

Jill — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:30:43 GMT

JPMorgan Cleared of Charges for Lehman Investments Rebecca Moore JPMorgan Chase did not breach its fiduciary duties to a pension plan by investing the plan's assets in Lehman Brothers notes through JPMC's securities lending program. In dismissing the charges against JPMorgan Chase (JPMC), U.S.

Court Refuses to Dismiss Claims over Misplaced Transfer

Jill — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:39:23 GMT

Court Refuses to Dismiss Claims over Misplaced Transfer Tara Cantore A federal court decided neither a plan participant nor ConAgra Foods retirement plan and committee has met its summary judgment burden in a breach of fiduciary duty suit. Plaintiff James Simpson filed under the Employe

Court Moves Forward Excessive Fee Claims Against John Hancock

Jill — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:26:07 GMT

Court Moves Forward Excessive Fee Claims Against John Hancock Corie Russell The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court's decision about excessive fee claims against John Hancock. Plaintiffs Danielle Santomenno, Karen Poley and Barbara Poley brought a suit against defendant

Hearing Examines Tax Treatment of Retirement Plans

Alison — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:42:32 GMT

Hearing Examines Tax Treatment of Retirement Plans Tara Cantore The House Committee on Ways and Means heard testimony about the tax-favored status of retirement accounts Tuesday. Several organizations spoke favorably about the retirement accounts. “Employer-sponsored retirement savings plans are an

Morgan Keegan Ordered to Pay Ten Pension Plans

Jill — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:08:45 GMT

Morgan Keegan Ordered to Pay 10 Pension Plans Tara Cantore Morgan Keegan and Co. Inc. agreed to pay $633,715.46 to 10 pension plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This agreement follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits

Appeals Court Affirms US Steel Did Not Violate ERISA

Jill — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:58:28 GMT

Appeals Court Affirms U.S. Steel Did Not Violate ERISA Tara Cantore A U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed a district court’s ruling that United States Steel Corporation employees did not have a claim that their union, employer and plan administrator violated provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security

Taxable Bond Funds Lead Mutual Fund Flows Again

Jill — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:41:37 GMT

Taxable-Bond Funds Lead Mutual Fund Flows Again Rebecca Moore Flows into U.S. open-end mutual funds in the first quarter mirrored the equity market’s blistering performance, but investors were not chasing stocks. For the seventh straight month, taxable-bond funds led all asset classes in flows,

U.S. Economy to Expand 2.9 Percent

Alison — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:07:17 GMT

U.S. Economy to Expand 2.9% Tara Cantore The U.S., Japan and Australia are expected to escape the recession over the next 12 months. The U.S. economy is expected to expand by 2.9% over this period, according to the Spring Outlook report from Mellon Capital Management Corporation, part of BNY Mellon

US Equity Funds End Inflows Streak in March

Jill — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:34:17 GMT

U.S. Equity Funds End Inflows Streak in March Tara Cantore U.S. mutual fund investors cautiously put an estimated $13 billion in net inflows into stock and bond funds during March 2012. This marked a sharp drop from February, when investors put net $46 billion in flows into long-term funds,

ETF Assets Increase in March

Jill — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:43:28 GMT

ETF Assets Increase $14B in March Rebecca Moore Exchange-traded fund (ETF) assets totaled $1.2 trillion as of March 31, 2012. In March ETF assets increased by more than $14 billion, or 1.2%, according to State Street Global Advisors’ (SSgA’s) ETF Snapshot report for March 2012. ETF flows t

Investment Consultants Recommend Custom TDFs

Jill — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:57:04 GMT

Investment Consultants Recommend Custom TDFs Rebecca Moore Over two-thirds (69%) of investment consultants surveyed by PIMCO either support client interest or actively promote creating custom target-date strategies. Others (8%) base their views on whether custom is appropriate for the situatio

Women Face Unique Challenges in Retirement Planning

Corie — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:08:21 GMT

Women Face Unique Challenges in Retirement Planning Jill Cornfield Baby Boomer women face challenges unprecedented in retirement planning, according to the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER). Although women capably manage daily finances and family budgeting issues, they are less like

Avoiding Common Social Media Mistakes

Alison — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:07:55 GMT

Avoiding Common Social Media Mistakes Corie Russell The constant evolution of social media spurs many questions about how to effectively use it for your business. Dave Shut, vice president of marketing for Transamerica Retirement Services, told PLANADVISER that his company conducted listening

Taking a Different Route to Winning Retirement Plan Business

Alison — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:59:36 GMT

Taking a Different Route to Winning Retirement Plan Business Rebecca Moore Adding college planning and tax planning to an adviser’s service offerings can result in retirement plan leads. “If you can address an immediate concern a client has, for example, late state college planning, you will gain t

Actions Speak Louder than Words Mastering Body Language

Alison — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:45:42 GMT

Actions Speak Louder than Words: Mastering Body Language Rebecca Moore February 13, 2012 – Potential clients must “buy” you before they buy any products or services from you. So noted Bill Acheson, faculty member of the Department of Communication at the University of Pittsburgh, when speaking to a

The Secret to a Happy Retirement

Alison — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:01:31 GMT

Perspective: The Secret to a Happy Retirement E. Thomas Foster Jr. Bobby Layne, the Hall of Fame quarterback for the Detroit Lions, once described the perfect plan for generating an income in retirement: “The secret to a happy life,” Layne mused, “is to run out of cash and air at the same time.” Unfor

Merrill Lynch Advisers to Focus on 250k Clients

Alison — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:24:19 GMT

Merrill Lynch Advisers to Focus on $250k Clients Nicole Bliman Merrill Lynch advisers will no longer get paid on new accounts that total less than $250,000, according to published reports. Merrill Lynch, a unit of Bank of America, released details of the 2012 plan to its advisers earlier this mont

Social Media Better Suited for Communication Not New Business

Nicole — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:10:40 GMT

Social Media Better Suited for Communication, Not New Business Nicole Bliman Advisers are seeing limited or diminished returns from their use of social media, but most have unrealistic expectations or fail to use it correctly. The conclusion is discussed in a new report from Aite Group, analyzing

403b Plan Improvement An Adviser Opportunity

Nicole — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:08:03 GMT

403(b) Plan Improvement: An Adviser Opportunity Rebecca Moore “There is still tremendous opportunity for advisers in the 403(b) space, particularly among smaller plans,” says Aaron Friedman, national non-profit practice leader, The Principal. The latest 403(b) plan sponsor survey from the Plan Spo

Mitigating Risks in Deferred Compensation

Alison — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:57:04 GMT

Mitigating Risks in Deferred Compensation Jeff Wirth For many plan advisers, deferred compensation is an unexplored area of retirement services—but one that offers many potential rewards. Advisers will discover plans with large account balances, hands-on access to a client’s senior executives, and

Transamerica Sees Strong Value Props as Biggest Trend among Advisers

Alison — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:20:21 GMT

Strong Value Props as Biggest Trend among Advisers Nicole Bliman Through a national “listening tour," Transamerica Retirement Services has identified the most common trends among financial advisers in the retirement industry. Some of the top trends facing plan advisers of small and mid-sized comp

Complex Products Justified by Complex Problems

Nicole — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:22:35 GMT

Complex Products Justified by Complex Problems Nicole Bliman If critics of the financial services industry or the retirement industry in particular say product offerings are too complicated, Prudential contends that’s where advisers come into play. At a press meeting in New York City this w

DCIO Shift towards Advisers Expected to Grow

Alison — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:22:13 GMT

DCIO Shift towards Advisers Expected to Grow Nicole Bliman The current selling process has shifted beyond the “gatekeeper” role for advisers, to one where the adviser or consultant is much more involved in the investment menu design and fund selection. According to Cerulli's latest research, advi

Half of Participants Unattached at Retirement

Alison — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:01:26 GMT

Half of Participants Unattached at Retirement Nicole Bliman Two market-research firms have found that more than half of defined contribution plan participants do not have a relationship with a financial adviser around the time of retirement. In their third annual “2011 DC Participant Experience S

Krawchecks Take on the Future of WM

Nicole — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:39:19 GMT

Krawcheck’s Take on the Future of WM Nicole Bliman Sallie Krawcheck, former President of global wealth management at Bank of America, says the two biggest challenges facing the wealth management industry are attracting the next generation of investors and working with women, both on Wall Street and off.

Wirehouse and Indie BD Advisers Key to DCIO Sales Success

Alison — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:38:02 GMT

Wirehouse and Indie B/D Advisers Key to DCIO Sales Success Nicole Bliman The institutional defined contribution (DC) market is out of reach for most mutual fund managers; therefore, the focus of many DCIO sales efforts is the retail market, concludes a new report. In Sway Research’s latest repor

IMHO Thanks Giving 2011

Nevin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 11:58:19 GMT

IMHO: Thanks Giving Nevin E. Adams, JD A fter a dozen years here at PLANSPONSOR and PLANADVISER , effective November 1, I will join the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) in Washington, D.C., as Director, Education and External Relations, and Co-Director of the EBRI Center for Research on Retire

IMHO Lessened Learned

Nevin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 19:33:38 GMT

IMHO: Lessened, Learned? Nevin E. Adams, JD When I’m talking to plan sponsors (and advisers) about the challenges of being an ERISA fiduciary, a lot of things come to mind. I’m generally inclined to emphasize the awesome responsibilities that come with the “assignment”: the impact exerted on part

Advisers Not Keeping Pace with Small-Market Needs

Alison — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:11:11 GMT

Advisers Not Keeping Pace with Small-Market Needs Nicole Bliman Although advisers have a higher approval rating than recordkeeper relationship managers among mid-market plan sponsors, they have been struggling to keep pace in the small-market, according to Richard Schroder, President of Anova Consulting Gr

Sponsors More Satisfied with Providers than Advisers

Nicole — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:00:11 GMT

Sponsors More Satisfied with Providers than Advisers Tara Cantore According to an Anova Consulting Group survey, small-market retirement plan sponsors report that defined contribution providers (or recordkeepers) are delivering a higher level of client service than retirement plan advisers. The re

IMHO Catching Your Drift

Nevin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:22:46 GMT

IMHO: Catching Your "Drift" Nevin E. Adams, JD I recently found myself driving in an unfamiliar city without the aid of a GPS (global positioning system). Sadly, I had become so accustomed to having that device available, I hadn’t even taken the time to print out instruction

A Process Not a Product

Alison — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:20:17 GMT

A Process, Not a Product Nicole Bliman According to Geoffrey Ward, National Director of the MetLife Pension Resource Center, the retirement plan advisory business has transformed from one that sells products to one that takes on a consultative role. In the 26 years that Ward has been in this bus

Advisers See Word of Mouth Marketing as Most Effective

Nicole — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:45:27 GMT

Advisers See Word of Mouth Marketing as Most Effective Nicole Bliman Many financial advisers are not using the most efficient marketing tactics, according to a suvey from ByAllAccounts, Inc., an account aggregation service firm. More than 42% of advisers rely on word of mouth and referrals for new

IMHO The IKEA Experience

Nevin — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 07:38:20 GMT

IMHO: The IKEA “Experience” Nevin E. Adams, JD We spent some time this past weekend getting my eldest daughter squared away in her new apartment. It’s her first, and as with nearly all first apartments, there is a lot you need to get that you never needed in your room at home or in your dorm

IMHO Nigh Five

Nevin — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:17:46 GMT

IMHO: “Nigh” Five Nevin E. Adams, JD A few weeks back, I offered some notions about what the next five years will bring in terms of industry trends. However, in preparing for our recent PLANADVISER National Conference, I came up with five more (see “ IMHO: Fifth ‘Avenues ’”).

IMHO Better Business

Nevin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:17:33 GMT

IMHO: “Better” Business Nevin E. Adams, JD There was another judicial decision in another revenue-sharing case earlier this month—and another victory for a plan sponsor. The case was Loomis v. Exelon , a case argued before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (see Appellate Court

IMHO Working Outs

Nevin — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 11:47:37 GMT

IMHO: Working “Outs”? Nevin E. Adams, JD Last week the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on “promoting retirement security.” While options were presented to improve things (see “ Industry Groups Urge No Changes to Retirement Savings Tax Advantages ” , the discussion quickly

IMHO Back Pay

Nevin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:12:16 GMT

IMHO: “Back” Pay? Nevin E. Adams, JD During last week’s GOP presidential candidate debate, Texas Governor Rick Perry grabbed headlines by reaffirming his position that Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme.” Pundits were quick to jump on the comment, apparently believing that such rhetori

IMHO Hurricane Forces

Nevin — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 03:41:31 GMT

IMHO: Hurricane Forces Nevin E. Adams, JD It’s been a stressful week—and it’s not over yet. Over the past 10 days, I’ve managed to survive three college move-ins, an earthquake in our nation’s capital and—with a little luck—a hurricane bearing down on the Northeast even as I writ

Preparing for Nonfinancial Shocks

Alison — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:55:16 GMT

Perspective: Preparing for ‘Nonfinancial Shocks’ E. Thomas Foster Jr. When The Hartford asked Americans age 45 and older about their retirement plans, two in five said they intended to work longer and delay retirement, or work part time as a way to generate income in retirement. The study, condu

IMHO Checking Accounts

Nevin — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:26:42 GMT

IMHO: “Checking” Accounts Nevin E. Adams, JD I finally got to the dentist last week. Don’t get me wrong, I like my dentist. The folks there are more than nice, they treat you like an adult (even when you clearly haven’t flossed since your last visit), and they outline options in a w

IMHO Decision Points

Nevin — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:23:13 GMT

IMHO: Decision “Points” Nevin E. Adams, JD I have watched with increasing interest the growing furor over the Department of Labor’s proposed new fiduciary definition. My first impressions of the proposal were positive: generally speaking, IMHO, the more people who work with ERISA plans that

IMHO Fifth Avenues

Nevin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:11:29 GMT

IMHO: “Fifth” Avenues Nevin E. Adams, JD The year we began publishing PLANADVISER was a big year in many ways for me. That year marked my twentieth wedding anniversary, it was the year my father passed away, the year my eldest went off to college for the first time, and also the year that “cat

IMHO Free Ride?

Nevin — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:14:40 GMT

IMHO: “Free” Ride? Nevin E. Adams, JD I was late to the NetFlix game—switching over only when my local Blockbuster closed its doors. Honestly, I was more than a little skeptical about paying to rent movies while spending most of the month waiting for the mail carrier to shuffle things back

IMHO Savings Bonds

Nevin — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:57:31 GMT

IMHO: Savings “Bonds” Nevin E. Adams, JD In my experience, there are three major reasons that people save for retirement. There’s the lure of the “free money” represented by the employer match, the benefit in deferring the payment of taxes, and there’s the hopefully obvious benefit of helping

IMHO Much Ado

Nevin — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 10:35:26 GMT

IMHO: “Much” Ado Nevin E. Adams, JD There were three big disclosure announcements last week. The first two were the pushback of the effective date for 408(b)(2) fee disclosures to April 1, 2012, from the previously announced effective date of January 1 of that year (see “ Borzi Chats about

IMHO Starting Points

Nevin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 05:51:54 GMT

IMHO: “Starting” Points Nevin E. Adams, JD You may have missed it, but there was a bit of a “dust up” in our industry last week. It started on July 7 when The Wall Street Journal ran a front-page story titled “401(k) Law Suppresses Saving for Retirement” (a story that is still, as I write on S

Gaining a Compliance Advantage with Deferred Compensation

Alison — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:04:33 GMT

Perspective: Gaining a Compliance Advantage with Deferred Compensation Sam Brkich A growing number of plan advisers are entering the non-qualified deferred compensation (NQDC) marketplace. But while executive benefits are increasingly popular among advisers and their clients, a major issue needs to b