PLANADVISER

Industry Players Mostly Pleased with Final Rule on 408b2

Corie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:23:59 GMT

Industry Players Mostly Pleased with Final Rule on 408(b)(2) Corie Russell Members of the retirement plan community were mostly positive about the final rule on 408(b)(2) fee disclosure regulations. The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DoL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBS

Segal Advisors Acquires Rogerscasey

Corie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:02:31 GMT

Segal Advisors Acquires Rogerscasey Tara Cantore Segal Advisors acquired the business of Rogerscasey. The combined entity has more than 325 clients with worldwide advisory assets approaching $400 billion. With more than 120 staff members, Segal Rogerscasey is privately held w

P Solve Acquires Cassidy Retirement Group

Corie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:55:49 GMT

P-Solve Acquires Cassidy Retirement Group Tara Cantore P-Solve completed the merger of its U.S. subsidiary with Cassidy Retirement Group (CRG). The acquisition forms a new business in the P-Solve Group—P-Solve Cassidy. P-Solve will now be able to provide clients with full integrated, end-to-

EPIC Advisors Selects Platform to Provide 408b2 Compliance

Corie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:45:17 GMT

EPIC Advisors Selects Platform to Provide 408(b)(2) Compliance Tara Cantore EPIC Advisors Inc. (EPIC) chose Castle Rock Innovations’ (CRI) AXIS Retirement platform to provide compliance with the Department of Labor’s 408(b)(2) fee disclosure requirements. The AXIS Retirement analytics platform w

Retirement Plan Advisors Names VP

Corie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:36:48 GMT

Retirement Plan Advisors Names VP Corie Russell Retirement Plan Advisors (RPA) appointed Vernon Kempker as vice president of finance and operations in its Jefferson City, Missouri office. Kempker oversees all aspects of RPA’s Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction Branch operation

Prudential Adds Two Funds to Guaranteed Lifetime Income Component

Corie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:05:22 GMT

Prudential Adds Two Funds to Guaranteed Lifetime Income Component Corie Russell Prudential Retirement is offering J.P. Morgan SmartRetirement Target-Date Strategies and Fidelity VIP (Variable Insurance Product) Freedom Funds in its lineup of target-date funds with a guaranteed lifetime income component.

US Treasury Proposal to Reduce Regulatory Burdens for Retirees

Corie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:39:51 GMT

U.S. Treasury Proposal to Reduce Regulatory Burdens for Retirees Tara Cantore The U.S. Treasury Department announced a proposal to reduce regulatory burdens and make it easier for retirees to choose to receive their benefits as a stream of income in regular payments for as long as they live.

DoL Issues Final Rule on 401k Fee Disclosure

Corie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:15:01 GMT

DoL Issues Final Rule on 401(k) Fee Disclosure Tara Cantore The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DoL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued a final rule on 401(k) fee disclosure Thursday. The DoL also announced a three-month extension to the rule’s effective date, mea

Lincoln Financial Provides Predictions on Retirement Industry

Corie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:24:44 GMT

Lincoln Financial Provides Predictions on Retirement Industry Tara Cantore F ee disclosure regulations, in-plan guarantees, target-date strategies and retirement planning optimism will significantly impact the retirement plans industry in 2012, predicts Chuck Cornelio, president of Lincoln’s

BofA Merrill Lynch 2011 Retirement Savings Actions on Par with 2010

Corie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:40:19 GMT

BofA Merrill Lynch 2011 Retirement Savings Actions on Par with 2010 Rebecca Moore Nearly 1.5 million participants within Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s proprietary 401(k) business are actively contributing to their 401(k) plans. More than 900,000 employees took a positive savings a

TD Ameritrade Expands Programs

Corie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:26:57 GMT

TD Ameritrade Expands Practice Management Programs Corie Russell Independent registered investment advisers (RIAs) have access to a series of new technology assessment tools, educational content and coaching programs from TD Ameritrade Institutional. TD Ameritrade Institutional

US Bank Acquires Trust and Custody Business of Union Bank

Corie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:14:24 GMT

U.S. Bank Acquires Trust and Custody Business of Union Bank Tara Cantore U.S. Bank National Association entered into a definitive agreement with Union Bank, N.A. U.S. Bank will purchase the institutional trust business providing services to retirement plans, labor management trusts and regis

kasina Hires Head of Research

Corie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:03:48 GMT

kasina Hires Head of Research Corie Russell Larry Petrone was appointed as kasina’s head of research. Petrone’s expertise will help grow kasina’s research offerings and will allow kasina’s clients to better position their product development and distribution. Petrone has more than 15

Curian Appoints Vice President

Corie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:58:56 GMT

Curian Appoints Vice President Corie Russell Curian Capital LLC hired Keith Johnson as vice president of practice management. Johnson will lead the practice management group and work closely with financial advisers to provide them education, tools and support to manage and grow their busine

Independent Advisers Better Off Financially

Corie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:31:22 GMT

Independent Advisers Better Off Financially Corie Russell More than three-quarters (76%) of financial advisers who moved to an independent business model report they are better off financially, according to a Fidelity Investments study, “Fidelity Insights on Independence.” Of those, 64% indica

403b Transparency Taskforce Launches Model Disclosure Form

Corie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:54:06 GMT

403(b) Transparency Taskforce Launches Model Disclosure Form Tara Cantore The 403(b) Transparency Taskforce launched the 403(b) Model Disclosure Form—transparency standards for disclosure of fees and services in the public school 403(b) marketplace. The taskforce includes the

Putnam Creates Head of Strategic Accounts Position

Corie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:33:14 GMT

Putnam Creates Head of Strategic Accounts Position Corie Russell Putnam Investments appointed James F. Bumpus as the firm’s head of strategic accounts. Bumpus will focus on managing relationships and developing opportunities to serve the large wirehouses and regionally-based broker/dealers.

Those Who Work With Financial Adviser Better At Retirement Planning

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:56:29 GMT

Those Who Work With Financial Adviser Better At Retirement Planning Tara Cantore Two-thirds (66%) of those who work with a financial adviser have an understanding of how much of their retirement savings they will withdraw annually at retirement. According to the 2011 Franklin

White Paper Urges Call to Action for Retirement Industry

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:28:02 GMT

White Paper Urges Call to Action for Retirement Industry Corie Russell A white paper called “The Savings Crisis of Working Americans: The Retirement Industry Call to Action” is available from the Legg Mason Retirement Advisory Council (LMRAC). Developed by LMRAC, with significant input from Di

PwC Offers Providers Steps to Prepare for Participant Level Fee Disclosure

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:33:07 GMT

PwC Offers Providers Steps to Prepare for Participant-Level Fee Disclosure Rebecca Moore Under new Department of Labor rules, retirement plan sponsors must provide fee disclosures to participants by May 31, 2012. In light of the complexity and comprehensive nature of the participant-level disclosu

Allianz Life Launches FIA

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:34:58 GMT

Allianz Life Launches FIA Corie Russell Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) launched the Allianz 365i Annuity and Income Maximizer Rider. The Allianz 365i Annuity and Income Maximizer Rideris an FIA with optional rider that is exclusive to Field Marketin

MassMutual Announces Topics for 2012 RetireSmart Education Series

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:30:33 GMT

MassMutual Announces Topics for 2012 RetireSmart Education Series Tara Cantore MassMutual's Retirement Services Division announced a topic lineup for its RetireSmart interactive participant education series for 2012. The program, focused on helping plan participants break through b

Bennett Group Launches Four Mutual Funds

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:47:31 GMT

Bennett Group Launches Four Mutual Funds Corie Russell Bennett Group Financial Services (BGFS) launched four mutual funds consisting of A shares available through financial professionals, banks, brokerages and insurance companies for their clients. The funds are the Bennett Con

Long Term Outlook of Stock Market Likely Attractive

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:02:10 GMT

Long-Term Outlook of Stock Market Likely Attractive Tara Cantore The long-run outlook for the global stock market is likely to be attractive despite a backdrop of elevated market volatility, below-average growth expectations, and near-0% short-term interest rates, according to Vanguard’s Long-Term Economi

Dalbar Introduces Fee Disclosure Certification Program

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:54:21 GMT

Dalbar Introduces Fee Disclosure Certification Program Tara Cantore Dalbar introduced a Fee Disclosure Certification program for the evaluation of plan provider services. The Certification values the intangibles of services, provides an independent evaluation to plan sponsors and cr

Alliant Expands Presence in Northeast

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:26:47 GMT

Alliant Expands Presence in Northeast Tara Cantore Alliant Insurance Services acquired Thesco Retirement Planning Services (TRPS). TRPS has offices in New York City, Long Island and New Jersey. The firm is headed by President John Cunningham, who has 20 years of 401(k) advisory experience, an

NFP Offers Complimentary FSI Membership

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:50:19 GMT

NFP Offers Complimentary FSI Membership Corie Russell NFP Advisor Services Group offered a complimentary, first-year Financial Services Institute (FSI) membership to all 1,400 of its financial advisers. “We believe that protecting advisers’ ability to serve their clients in the cap

Retirement Plan Advisory Group Forms Alliance with National Planning Holdings

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:57:13 GMT

Retirement Plan Advisory Group Forms Alliance with National Planning Holdings Corie Russell Retirement Plan Advisory Group (RPAG) formed an alliance with National Planning Holdings Inc. (NPH) to provide access to its network of registered representatives looking to grow their retirement plan business.

Pensionmark Expands to Indiana

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:58 GMT

Pensionmark Expands to Indiana Corie Russell Pensionmark Retirement Group opened an office in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Tony Winkeljohn and his team at Retirement Plan Advisors Inc. joined Pensionmark Retirement Group in early January, creating Pensionmark Fort Wayne, Indiana. The affiliation allows

Few Investors Aware That US Stock Market Outperformed BRIC

Corie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:15:16 GMT

Few Investors Aware That U.S. Stock Market Outperformed BRIC Corie Russell During the 10 th annual Dow Jones Indexes Global Economic Outlook, Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC said that few investors are aware that the U.S. stock market has outperformed BRIC markets for four years. The U.S. stock m

Prudential Appoints Senior VP

Corie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:44:38 GMT

Prudential Appoints Senior VP Corie Russell Prudential Retirement appointed Joan Bozek as senior vice president of investment products. As head of investment products, Bozek is responsible for Prudential Retirement’s proprietary and sub-advised fixed income, equity, balanced an

Neuberger Berman Appoints Vice President

Corie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:54:56 GMT

Neuberger Berman Appoints Vice President Corie Russell Neuberger Berman Group LLC appointed Brian Saltzman as a wealth adviser and vice president in the firm's New York City office. Saltzman will focus on addressing a range of investment, tax and estate planning needs for high-

Astor Long Short ETF Fund Added to Paychex Platform

Corie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:04:40 GMT

Astor Long/Short ETF Fund Added to Paychex Platform Tara Cantore Knight Capital Group Inc. announced that Astor Long/Short ETF Fund was added to the 401(k) platform at Paychex Inc. Astor specializes in constructing portfolios by investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based

IGS Launches Mutual Fund Tool

Alison — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:30:54 GMT

IGS Launches Mutual Fund Tool Corie Russell Investment Guidance Solutions (IGS) launched a mutual fund investing tool called IGSignals. IGSignals enables investors to actively manage risk, versus the traditional buy and hold strategies that can contribute to portfolio volatility, the company said.

Reliance Trust Adds ESOP Valuation Expert

Corie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:07:14 GMT

Reliance Trust Adds ESOP Valuation Expert Tara Cantore Reliance Trust Company added employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) valuation expert Bucky Wright to its investment team. Wright will work closely with the investment and fiduciary services groups at Reliance Trust. Wright was previousl

Putnam Officials Optimistic about US Economy

Corie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:11:40 GMT

Putman Officials Optimistic about U.S. Economy in 2012 Corie Russell At a recent Putnam Investments media briefing, company officials said they predict the U.S. economy could surprise on the upside in 2012. In the context of the negative market tone of the second half of 2011, the U.S. econo

Cohen Grigsby Appoints Director

Corie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:45:18 GMT

Cohen & Grigsby Appoints Director Tara Cantore Cohen & Grigsby, a business law firm, appointed Martha Jo (“Marty”) Wagner as a director in the firm’s ERISA and Employee Benefits and ERISA Litigation Groups. Cohen & Grigsby has headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvani

Boomer Retirements Likely to Boost IRA Share of Retirement Market

Corie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:32:04 GMT

Boomer Retirements Likely to Boost IRA Share of Retirement Market Rebecca Moore Total asset levels in the U.S. retirement market grew 9.6% from 2009 to 2010, totaling $15.8 trillion as of end of year 2010. Cerulli Associates estimates total retirement markets to grow modestly (a

FIA Opens Boston Office

Corie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:19:24 GMT

FIA Opens Boston Office Corie Russell Fiduciary Investment Advisors opened a Boston office at 112 Water St. Vincent Smith will be the first consultant based in the Boston office. Smith has more than a decade of experience providing investment advisory services to retirement plans. His focus is on pro

FRC Announces New Practice Leaders

Corie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:25:31 GMT

FRC Announces New Practice Leaders Rebecca Moore Following the recent acquisition by Asset International, Financial Research Corporation (FRC) has a new focus on research priorities. FRC, a division of Strategic Insight, announced Research Analyst Bridget Bearden now leads the firm’s Lifecycle Practi

Great West Hires Regional Sales Director for Nebraska

Tara — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:59:48 GMT

Great West Hires Regional Sales Director for Nebraska Tara Cantore Great-West Retirement Services appointed Jay Killgore as regional sales director for Nebraska. In this new position, Killgore is responsible for developing 401(k) plan business through brokers, financial advisers, consultants, wire h

Court Dismisses Benefits Interference Claim Against Duke Energy

Tara — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:10:53 GMT

Court Dismisses Benefits Interference Claim Against Duke Energy Rebecca Moore The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a claim of benefits interference against Duke Energy Corporation. In affirming a lower court’s summary judgment ruling, the appellate court found Eric French’s claim under the E

ERISA Claim Based on WalMart Gender Discrimination Dismissed

Tara — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:08:46 GMT

ERISA Claim Based on Wal-Mart Gender Discrimination Dismissed Rebecca Moore A federal court dismissed a claim that Wal-Mart Stores breached its fiduciary duties in underpaying retirement plan contributions based on wages that were discriminatory against women. The U.S. District Court for the Northern

Newport Group Appoints Regional Directors

Corie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:47:11 GMT

Newport Group Appoints Regional Directors Tara Cantore The Newport Group appointed Monica Elvira and William Callaway as regional directors. Elvira and Callaway will develop business relationships and identify market opportunities to promote the sale of Newport’s retirement plan admin

Great West Appoints AVP Marketing Strategy

Tara — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:00:37 GMT

Great West Appoints AVP, Marketing Strategy Tara Cantore Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company appointed Sid Kotwal as assistant vice president, marketing strategy. In this new position Kotwal will be responsible for competitive research, marketing analysis and benchmarking, branding and p

Financial Stress Impacting Retirement Savings

Corie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:04:48 GMT

Financial Stress Impacting Retirement Savings Tara Cantore U.S. workers’ financial worries are impacting their work performance and retirement savings plans. A survey from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) asked HR professionals, "In the past 12 months, have employees been more like

Broadridge Provides Fee Disclosure Overview to Plan Sponsors

Corie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:55:56 GMT

Broadridge Provides Fee Disclosure Overview to Plan Sponsors Tara Cantore A report from Broadridge Financial Solutions provides insights designed to help firms successfully navigate the new fee disclosure regulation being implemented by the Department of Labor. The report, A Look at the New

Retirement Plan Participants Want Simple Guidance

Corie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:49:45 GMT

Retirement Plan Participants Want Simple Guidance PLANADVISER staff Retirement plan participants are in need of direct, simple guidance to help them reach their retirement goals, according to State Street Global Advisors’ (SSgA) Defined Contribution (DC) Investor survey. Seventy-

CPI Rebrands Website

Corie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:39:09 GMT

CPI Rebrands Website Tara Cantore CPI Qualified Plan Consultants released its rebranded website at cpiqpc.com. The redesigned site is better adapted to current Internet trends, including the increased usage of mobile devices. It has improved navigational features, layout, presentation and funct

Commonwealth to Continue Adviser Coaching Program

Corie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:15:53 GMT

Commonwealth to Continue Adviser Coaching Program Corie Russell Commonwealth Financial Network’s Power in Practice business development coaching program will continue in 2012. Power in Practice was designed for Commonwealth advisers. The year-long inaugural intensive allowed advisers to lead thei

Putnam Grows Adviser-Focused Sales Team

Alison — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:44:18 GMT

Putnam Grows Adviser-Focused Sales Team Alison Cooke Mintzer Putnam Investments has added three to its adviser-focused defined contribution sales team, and says more hires are to come. Steven McKay has been named regional 401(k) sales director for New England and Upstate New York. Based in Boston, McK

RIA Deals Increased in 2011

Corie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:01:15 GMT

RIA Deals Increased in 2011 Corie Russell Registered investment adviser (RIA) deals increased in 2011 despite a decline in the overall number of deals, according to an industry-wide RIA mergers and acquisitions transaction report from Schwab Advisor Services. There were 57 mergers and acquisi

ETF Industry Crossed 1T in 2011

Corie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:30:41 GMT

ETF Industry Crossed $1T in 2011 Rebecca Moore The U.S. exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry grew to more than $1.04 trillion in assets under management in 2011, according to a report from State Street Global Advisors (SSgA). This is a 5.5% increase from the previous year, with investor inflows off

401k Participant Transfer Activity Slowed in December

Corie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:59:43 GMT

401(k) Participant Transfer Activity Slowed in December Rebecca Moore The volume of 401(k) participant transfer activity was below average for December, according to the Aon Hewitt 401(k) Index. In December, the daily average of total defined contribution plan balances transfer

Saving More a Top Priority for Americans in 2012

Corie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:36:12 GMT

Saving More a Top Priority for Americans in 2012 Rebecca Moore Cutting debt and saving more are top priorities for Americans in 2012. Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they plan to reduce their debt in 2012 and 50% plan to save more, according to the New York Life Kitchen Ta

Retirement Planning Differs Between Genders

Corie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:22:02 GMT

Retirement Planning Differs Between Genders Rebecca Moore Men and women are preparing for retirement in very different ways, according to research released by Ameriprise Financial. Findings from the New Retirement Mindscape City Pulse index indicate that while men outpace women in planning for the

Paychex Launches Service for Fee Based Advisers

Corie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:11:23 GMT

Paychex Launches Tool for Fee-Based Financial Advisers Corie Russell Paychex Inc., a provider of 401(k) recordkeeping services, launched Paychex Advisor Select 401(k). Paychex Advisor Select 401(k) provides online account administration for employer-plan sponsors and their employee-plan participa

TwoThirds of Gen X Lack Confidence in Retirement

Corie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:45:07 GMT

Two-Thirds of Gen X Lack Confidence in Retirement Rebecca Moore The recent economic recession impacted many Gen Xers’ financial savings, according to a report. The study for the Insured Retirement Institute’s (IRI) report, “Retirement Readiness of Generation X: An Overview of the Next Generation o

Groups Ask IRS not to Abandon 403(b) Prototype Program

Corie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:18:31 GMT

Groups Ask IRS not to Abandon 403(b) Prototype Program Rebecca Moore Industry groups sent a comment letter to the Internal Revenue Service to support the inclusion of 403(b) plans in the prototype program for pre-approved plan documents. The National Tax Sheltered Accounts Associati

FiPath Launches Retirement Education Campaign for Gen X

Corie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:19:59 GMT

FiPath Launches Retirement Education Campaign for Gen X Rebecca Moore FiPath launched the Save Generation X! Campaign, which challenges 29- to 49-year-olds to take control of their financial future. Once signed up for a free membership, consumers have the option to complete a short

Affluent Investors Cite Incentives for Retirement Saving

Rebecca — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:56:40 GMT

Affluent Investors Cite Incentives for Retirement Saving Corie Russell Thirty-eight percent of affluent investors responding to Merrill Lynch's Affluent Insights Survey said a less volatile stock market would encourage them to start saving more for retirement. Other incentives to save more for retir

Target Maturity Funds Bounce Back at End of Year

Corie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:23 GMT

Target Maturity Funds Bounce Back at End of Year Rebecca Moore Target maturity funds experienced a welcome bounce-back during the fourth quarter, according to the Ibbotson Target Maturity Report. After an average loss of 11.8% during the third quarter, the fourth quarter saw an average gain o

Assets in ETF Managed Portfolios Grew 43pct in 2011

Corie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:47:57 GMT

Assets in ETF Managed Portfolios Grew 43% in 2011 Corie Russell Total assets in exchange-traded fund (ETF) managed portfolio strategies rose 43% in 2011, according to a report from Morningstar. The “ETF Managed Portfolios Landscape Report,” for which Morningstar analysts evaluated the growth, assets,

Finadium Identifies Challenges with Securities Lending Custody

Corie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:35:41 GMT

Finadium Identifies Challenges with Securities Lending, Custody Rebecca Moore A survey of U.S. plan sponsors conducted by Finadium looked at the attitudes and opinions of institutional investors across securities lending, collateral management and custody. In securities lending and collateral

New Guidebook Available for Advisers

Brandon — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:18:21 GMT

New Guidebook Available for Advisers Corie Russell Pershing Advisor Solutions developed a new guidebook called Developing a Sustainable Business and Succession Plan: An Independent Advisor’s Guide . The guidebook examines the critical elements of business and succession plans. This continues a s

Wirehouses to Remain Largest Distribution Channel

Corie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:05:30 GMT

Wirehouses To Remain Largest Distribution Channel Corie Russell Cerulli Associates projects that in 2013, the wirehouse channel will remain the largest distribution channel, despite significant decline of assets under management (AUM) from 43% in 2010 to 35% in 2013. A

Most Advisers Do Not Fit Criteria for Financial Planner

Corie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:04:00 GMT

Most Advisers Do Not Fit Criteria for Financial Planner Corie Russell The majority of advisers perceive themselves as providing a level of service that merits the title of financial planner (59%), however, 56% fall into the investment planner category. According to survey findings

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

Capping Deferral Limit Wouldn’t Do Much to Fix Budget Deficit

Corie — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:25:53 GMT

Capping Deferral Limit Wouldn’t Do Much to Fix Budget Deficit Rebecca Moore A paper suggests that lowering deferral limits to 401(k)-type plans wouldn’t make much dent in the U.S. budget deficit and could result in workers not saving. Researchers with the National Tax Associatio

Equity Compensation Plans Continue Shift from Stock Options

Corie — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:12:40 GMT

Equity Compensation Plans Continue Shift from Stock Options Rebecca Moore Companies continue to shift away from stock options and other “appreciation” awards toward a greater emphasis on full-value awards in their equity compensation plans. Full-value awards now comprise 47% of

Plan Must Restore Misplaced Assets Although not Recovered

Corie — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:32:52 GMT

Plan Must Restore Misplaced Assets, Although not Recovered Rebecca Moore A federal appellate court has found that a profit-sharing plan must pay back more than $1 million in assets wrongly transferred from a participant’s account, even thought it has not recovered the misplaced funds.

US Mutual Funds See Net Inflows of 65B in 2011

Corie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:25:26 GMT

U.S. Mutual Funds See Net Inflows of $65B in 2011 Tara Cantore Strategic Insight (SI) reports investors withdrew an estimated net $22 billion from stock and bond mutual funds in the U.S. in December. December marked the second consecutive month of net outflows from long-term mutual

LongTerm Funds Mark Worst Stretch in Four Years

Corie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:21:16 GMT

Long-Term Funds Mark Worst Stretch in Four Years Tara Cantore Long-term mutual funds had a second consecutive month of net redemptions with outflows of $10.6 billion in December 2011. Morningstar, Inc. reports long-term funds have now experienced outflows in five of the last seven months to mark the w

EBSA Announces Voluntary Correction Program Events

Tara — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:09:40 GMT

EBSA Announces Voluntary Correction Program Events Rebecca Moore The Department of Labor (DOL) announced upcoming voluntary fiduciary correction program workshops in three states. An Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA) Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP) Workshop will be held in P

The Difference an Adviser Can Make

Alison — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:48:51 GMT

The Difference an Adviser Can Make Rebecca Moore A study for the Retirement Advisor Council found partnering with a professional retirement plan adviser offers benefits for plan sponsors. However, only 25% of 401(k) and 403(b) plan sponsors, with 100 or more employees and plan assets betwe

Canadians More Confident About Retirement than Americans

Corie — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:54:02 GMT

Canadians More Confident About Retirement than Americans Tara Cantore Nearly 60% of Canadians are confident in their ability to save for retirement versus fewer than 40% of Americans. These statistics are the results of a survey released by BMO Financial Group on a cross-bord

Institutional Investors Addressing Climate Risk

Corie — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:17:03 GMT

Institutional Investors Addressing Climate Risk Rebecca Moore Institutional investors that participated in a survey by Mercer addressed climate change risk via asset allocation and other initiatives. Mercer found more than half have decided to include climate change consideratio

Investors Express Optimism for Retirement Plan Investing

Corie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:38:14 GMT

Investors Express Optimism for Retirement Plan Investing Rebecca Moore The John Hancock Investor Sentiment Index score improved in the fourth quarter of 2011 from the annual low measured in the year’s third quarter. Many of those surveyed feel better about investing in retirement vehicles, lik

IRS Answers New Question on Form 8955-SSA

Corie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:56:35 GMT

IRS Answers New Question on Form 8955-SSA Rebecca Moore A new FAQ from the Internal Revenue Service addresses when a plan administrator may answer “yes” to Question 8 on the new Form 8955-SSA, affirming that the required information was timely furnished to participants. Question 8 on

Plan Sponsors Need to Be More Aware of Administrative Fees

Corie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:23:26 GMT

Plan Sponsors Need to Be More Aware of Administrative Fees Tara Cantore Plan sponsors are not fully knowledgeable of their plan administrative fees. According to Callan’s 2012 Defined Contribution Trends Survey: Where Have We Come From and What Lies Ahead , approximately 13% of

Majority of Women Not Talking About Retirement Planning

Corie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:13:48 GMT

Majority of Women not Talking About Retirement Planning Tara Cantore Only 8% of women strongly agree they are building a large enough retirement nest egg. According to research released by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, friends and family are the most frequently cited go-to sou

Americans Say Financial Plan Ensures Confidence

Corie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:28:23 GMT

Americans Say Financial Plan Ensures Confidence Tara Cantore More than half (58%) of Americans indicate they would feel more confident about their finances if they had a financial plan in place. According to a survey released by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc., if given

Institutional Investment Managers Express Optimism

Corie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:56:04 GMT

Institutional Investment Managers Express Optimism Rebecca Moore Institutional investment managers are gaining confidence in the U.S. economy, according to a quarterly survey conducted by Northern Trust. In Northern Trust’s fourth quarter 2011 survey, 81% of participating investment managers

U.S. ETF Industry up 5.5% for 2011

Corie — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:24:34 GMT

U.S. ETF Industry up 5.5% for 2011 Tara Cantore ETF flows topped $19 billion in December 2011. According to the State Street Global Advisors (SSga) ETF Snapshot report, The Large Cap category had the most significant inflows in December with $11.4 billion entering the category. The Fixed Incom

Penn Company to Restore $34K to 401(k) Plan

Corie — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:19:02 GMT

Penn. Company to Restore $34K to 401(k) Plan Rebecca Moore Monocacyfabs Inc., of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has been ordered to restore $34,000 to its 401(k) plan. A lawsuit brought against the company and plan trustees, Michael Poole and Jean Shipley, resulted from an investigation by the Depa

Pension Funds’ Securities Fraud Suit Revived by Appellate Court

Corie — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:58:55 GMT

Pension Funds’ Securities Fraud Suit Revived by Appellate Court Rebecca Moore The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court’s dismissal of a securities fraud lawsuit brought by four pension funds. Investors of Celestica Inc., a Canadian electronics manufacturer,

BofA Merrill Lynch: Educating Plan Sponsors a Top Priority for Advisers in 2011

Corie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:03:06 GMT

BofA Merrill Lynch: Educating Plan Sponsors a Top Priority for Advisers in 2011 Corie Russell Education was chief among priorities for plan sponsors and advisers in 2011, according to Kevin Crain, head of institutional retirement and benefit services for Bank Of America Merrill Lynch.

Milliman Reports a Bad Year for Pensions

Corie — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:14:46 GMT

Milliman Reports a Bad Year for Pensions Tara Cantore Milliman, Inc’s latest Pension Funding Index shows that in December, pensions experienced a $59.7 billion decrease in pension funded status. According to Milliman, the poor performance of December cemented a bad year, leaving the nation's 100 l

J.P. Morgan Predicts Top Investment Trends for 2012

Corie — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:18:15 GMT

J.P. Morgan Predicts Top Investment Trends for 2012 Corie Russell The year 2011 was packed with market surprises from natural disasters to ratings downgrades to cultural revolutions. As a new year begins, it’s only natural that those working in the institutional space have many questions about what

IRS Updates Covered Compensation for Retirement Plan Contributions

Tara — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:04:11 GMT

IRS Updates Covered Compensation for Retirement Plan Contributions Rebecca Moore The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Ruling 2012-5 with the table of covered compensation for the 2012 plan year. The revenue ruling provides tables of covered compensation under § 401(l)(5)(E) to be used for d

SEC Issues Alerts on Social Media Risks for Investors and Firms

Corie — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:58:18 GMT

SEC Issues Alerts on Social Media Risks for Investors and Firms Tara Cantore The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued two alerts for investors and firms on social media risks. One of the alerts— “Investment Adviser Use of Social Media” —provides staff observations based on a review of i

SEC Charges Illinois-Based Adviser in Social Media Scam

Corie — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:54:49 GMT

SEC Charges Illinois-Based Adviser in Social Media Scam Tara Cantore The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged an investment adviser for offering fictitious securities through social media websites. The SEC’s Division of Enforcement alleges Anthony Fields of Lyons, Illinois offered mor

Tax Deadline Extended to April 17 in 2012

Nicole — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:18:36 GMT

Tax Deadline Extended to April 17 in 2012 PLANADVISER staff The Internal Revenue Service opened the 2012 tax filing season by announcing that taxpayers have until April 17 to file their tax returns. The reason for the Tuesday, April 17, deadline is that April 15 falls on a Sunday, and Emancipation Da

IRS Updates Procedures for Issuing Advice to Employee Plans

Nicole — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:26:03 GMT

IRS Updates Procedures for Issuing Advice to Employee Plans Rebecca Moore The Internal Revenue Service has issued a number of Revenue Procedures revising procedures for furnishing advice to employee plans. The IRS issues advice to plan sponsors via letter rulings, closing agreements, determination l

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

TCW Group and Gundlach Reach Settlement

Nicole — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:17:10 GMT

TCW Group and Gundlach Reach Settlement Nicole Bliman The ongoing legal battle between the TCW Group and Jeffrey Gundlach appears to have reached an end. The Trust Company of the West Group (TCW) and DoubleLine Capital - founded by former TCW employee, Jeffrey Gundlach - have settled all claims.

A Participant Lawsuit Against Employer Crosses State Lines

Nicole — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:29:50 GMT

A Participant Lawsuit Against Employer Crosses State Lines Nicole Bliman An employee sued her former employer, alleging it had failed to pay her for unvested shares earned through the company's profit sharing plan. Hillary Kunda sued her former employer, C.R. Bard, Inc., alleging that the co

Investigation into Sale of WCA Waste Corp Underway

Alison — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:31:57 GMT

Investigation into Sale of WCA Waste Corp. Underway PLANADVISER staff A law firm is investigating the Board of Directors of WCA Waste Corporation for possible breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale of the company to Macquarie Infrastructure Partners II. Levi & Korsinsky’s inve

Law Firm Investigating Sale of Winn-Dixie Stores

Alison — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:30:29 GMT

Law Firm Investigating Sale of Winn-Dixie Stores Nicole Bliman Bull & Lifshitz, LLP, is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with the proposed sale of Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., to BI-LO, LLC. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, BI-LO will acquire all of the ou

Adviser Confidence Rising yet Market Worries Remain

Nicole — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:19:13 GMT

Adviser Confidence Rising, yet Market Worries Remain Nicole Bliman The Advisor Confidence Index (ACI), a benchmark that gauges adviser views on the U.S. economy and stock market, ended the year on a slight decline from November to December. Conducted on an ongoing basis by Rydex|SGI AdvisorBenchm

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

BofAs Global Research Teams Looks to 2012

Alison — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:26:17 GMT

BofA’s Global Research Teams Looks to 2012 Nicole Bliman Investors should expect another turbulent year of market volatility caused by a mix of heightened policy risk, political uncertainty, low growth and low interest rates. All of these factors will translate into modest investment returns, accor

Mutual Funds See 6B Net Outflow in November

Nicole — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:35:12 GMT

Mutual Funds See $6B Net Outflow in November Rebecca Moore November was another "risk-off" month for mutual fund investors with $6.3 billion in long-term outflows, according to data from Morningstar. With one month left in 2011, long-term inflows for the year-to-date are down 70% from 2010's $244 bi

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

Varying Fees of RI Products are Important for Sponsors to Consider

Nicole — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:48:56 GMT

Varying Fees of RI Products are Important for Sponsors to Consider Rebecca Moore Plan sponsors looking to add a retirement income product to their 401(k) or other defined contribution plan need to fully understand what fees participants will be paying for these products, according to the Institutional

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

Helping Insurers Capture More Retirement Assets

Nicole — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:06:33 GMT

Helping Insurers Capture More Retirement Assets Rebecca Moore LIMRA has suggested five things insurers can do in order to capture more retiree assets. A recent LIMRA study reveals that 45% of retirees still have their assets in their retirement savings plans with their employers, most frequently

BofA Rebrands Institutional Consulting Group

Nicole — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:30:33 GMT

BofA Rebrands Institutional Consulting Group PLANADVISER staff Bank of America Merrill Lynch is rebranding its Institutional Consulting Group to become Global Institutional Consulting (GIC). BofA selected Tom McAuliffe to be Managing Director and Head of Global Institutional. In t

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 ’”).

Cerulli Reports on Opportunities in 403b Market

Nicole — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 06:57:30 GMT

Cerulli Reports on Opportunities in 403(b) Market PLANADVISER staff New legislation is shifting the 403(b) market from highly individualized and retail-focused, to one that is more efficient and institutionalized, according to Cerulli Associates. As a result of this shift, retirement advisers,

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

Opportunities Abound for TPAs in 403b Marketplace

Nicole — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:46:41 GMT

Opportunities Abound for TPAs in 403(b) Marketplace Rebecca Moore Third-party administrators (TPAs) are playing an increasingly important role in the 403(b) market segment, notes an Issue Brief by Retirement Research Inc. Under new regulations, employers assume a more active role monitoring an

PANC 2011-Growing Pains

Alison — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:15:43 GMT

PANC 2011: Growing Pains Nicole Bliman Whether you’re interested in acquiring another practice or valuing your own for sale, the “buy/sell” process can be tackled from several angles. At the PLANADVISER National Conference in Orlando last week, two advisers explained how they go about buying ot

Consistency Beats Out Sympathy with Pricing

Alison — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:21:21 GMT

Consistency Beats Out Sympathy with Pricing Nicole Bliman Financial advisers who cut their fees during market downturns, a practice referred to as 'sympathy pricing,' are hurting their businesses in both the long and short terms, a recent study found. PriceMetrix, offering intelligence solutions fo

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