Compliance
FINRA Fines Oppenheimer Over Market Timing Allegations
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that Oppenheimer&Co. will pay a $250,000 fine for allegations related to market timing in 2003.
Supreme Court Allows Individual ERISA Suits in Landmark Ruling
In a landmark ruling eagerly awaited by the retirement services community, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday declared that defined contribution participants can bring fiduciary breach suits to...
Supreme Court Lets Rollover Exemption Decision Stand
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a case in which an appellate court determined a profit-sharing plan was not subject to spousal consent requirements of the Employee...
Court Clears CIGNA of Cash Balance Wrongdoing
A federal judge in Connecticut has joined with most of his colleagues around the country in ruling on a seven-year-old lawsuit that CIGNA Corp’s cash balance plan is...
Lawmaker’s Proposal Eases Plan Start-up for Small Businesses
A Wisconsin Congressman has proposed a measure increasing small business incentives and reducing administrative requirements to start SIMPLE IRAs or 401(k) plans.
Excessive Fee Suit Against Fidelity Survives Initial Challenge
A federal judge in Missouri has determined that the fiduciary breach lawsuit over excessive fees and revenue sharing practices in ABB’s 401(k) plan, filed by the St. Louis-based...
Breach Suit against Broker Too Late
A judge has dismissed a profit-sharing plan participant’s fiduciary breach suit against the plan’s broker because it was filed after the three-year statute of limitations required under the...
Law Firm Gets to Proceed with Fee Lawsuit Against Hancock
Because John Hancock Life Insurance Co. could be judged to have been a fiduciary for a law firm’s 401(k) plan, the plan’s trustee can continue with his fiduciary...
Regulators to Share Best Practices in Working with Senior Investors
Securities regulators have launched an initiative to identify effective practices used by financial services firms in dealing with senior investors.
Company Stock Price Not Only Factor in ERISA Prudence
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts recently held that employer W.R. Grace and Co. and State Street Bank and Trust Co. did not breach their...
SSgA Hit with Two More Subprime Suits
Lawsuits against State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) over its money management decisions to put client funds in subprime mortgage-related vehicles continue to pile up.
EBSA: Fiduciaries on Hook for Collecting Plan Contributions
Federal regulators have released new guidance that asserts that a named or functional fiduciary who has authority to appoint a plan’s trustee(s) must make sure the proper party...
Feds Offer Cash Balance Conversion Relief
New guidance issued by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides that cash balance conversions that have filed for an IRS determination letter and occur...
403(b) Interests Excluded from Bankruptcy Turnover
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio has ruled the interests of seven debtors in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Section 403(b) plans did...
SEC Smacks Firm with $3.9 Million Fine for Fund Mispricings
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has fined Heartland Advisors Inc. $3.9 million for mispricing two municipal bond funds.
AIG Settles Producer Compensation Investigation for $12.5M
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has reached settlements with nine states and the District of Columbia relating to industry-wide investigations into producer compensation and insurance placement practices.
Appellate Court Splits with Sister Court on 401(k) Breach Remedies
As the U.S. Supreme Court ponders whether a 401(k) participant can pursue a fiduciary breach suit on behalf of himself rather than on behalf of the plan, a...
Merrill Accused of Wrongdoing in MA Town’s Investments
Accusations of mismanagement have been leveled against Merrill Lynch by government clients in a second state, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Fiduciary Breach Suit over ‘Transfer Adjustment’ Fee Allowed to Proceed
A federal judge in Indiana is allowing a Merrillville, Indiana law firm to continue with its lawsuit against its 401(k) investment managers and recordkeeper over the amount of...