Compliance

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released amendments to the pay-to-play rule under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Distinguishing between education and advice is among the most difficult issues when updating the definition of fiduciary, according to a Department of Labor (DOL) official.

When discussing how plan sponsors can protect against litigation, the main message from panelists at the 2012 PLANSPONSOR National Conference concerned documentation.

Phyllis Borzi, assistant secretary for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), announced tools to help participants understand fee disclosures.

What regulatory changes are in store for retirement plans? 

The bill is crucial to protect middle-class Americans who need the services of a financial adviser, the president of the Financial Services Institute (FSI) told Congress.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) pointed out that oversight of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been mixed.

 The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has announced more workshops for retirement plan fiduciaries. 

The American Benefits Council welcomes proposed regulations to Internal Revenue Code Section 417(e), on the treatment of benefits paid partially as an annuity and partially in another form...

The American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA) has asked for additional guidance concerning Roth 401(k) accounts.

A Los Angeles law firm has begun an investigation into the Chesapeake Energy Corporation Savings and Incentive Stock Bonus Plan.

 Increasing 401(k) plan participation rates is high on many companies’ priority lists, but what are the most effective tactics?  

The Department of Labor appointed an independent fiduciary to manage the 401(k) plan of a now-defunct New Jersey company in the wake of a lawsuit.

Some advisers say certain issues did not make the FAQs about fee disclosure in the Department of Labor’s recently issued field assistance bulletin. 

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of retirement plan documents showed some sponsors face challenges in understanding the fees they and their participants are charged.

When reading Field Assistance Bulletin 2012-02, relating to participant fee disclosures, some industry experts are particularly surprised by the Department of Labor’s (DOL) response to Question 30.

A former JPMorgan Chase & Co. employee is suing the firm on behalf of retirement plan participants who lost money after the bank reported a $2 billion trading...

 Several Morningstar divisions sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) urging the regulator to require target-date series to provide more details on the investments.

Two companies settled lawsuits with the Department of Labor (DOL), agreeing to restore retirement assets to participants.

The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration made a technical correction to the recently released Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2012-02.