Why It’s Hard to Build ESG Consensus
A big part of the challenge is that everyone’s view of exactly what constitutes social and environmental responsibility is different.
News
Advisers Giving Back: Atlanta Retirement Partners
As the firm’s founder, David Griffin, explains, retirement plan advisers have a particular skillset that can be very useful in...
Politics Aside, Union Pension Funding Crisis Remains Solvable
On its face, the multiemployer pension relief included in House Democrats’ fourth relief proposal resembles a plan floated last year by two influential Republican senators—though the devil is...
Retirement Industry People Moves
Cetera announces additional teams and roles; Principal adds multiple sales team members; Schroders hires sales directors for regional teams; and...
A Playbook and Coach Help During the Tough Times
Endowments and foundations broadly embrace tactical approaches to asset allocation, though some clearly do it better than others, often by relying on outside expertise.
DC Plans and Pensions Partly Spared from Energy Rout
Many plans’ and individual investors’ exposure to energy stocks has dropped amid underwhelming results over the past five years, investment...
Investment Product and Service Launches
DWS Group renames fixed income ETFs and MassMutual and NextCapital offer managed advice solution.
Goldman Sachs to Acquire Folio Financial
Financial services industry merger and acquisition activity has been affected the by coronavirus crisis, but deals continue to be inked—especially among firms looking to serve the needs of...
BBVA Fails to Gain Summary Dismissal of ERISA Complaint
The interim ruling permits the lawsuit to proceed to discovery and emphasizes the importance of language included in summary plan descriptions.
Recordkeepers Holding Steady on Staffing—So Far
DCIIA and SPARK surveyed members in early April with regard to the CARES Act and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
IRS Offers Review of Special 403(b) Catch-Up Contribution Rules
The agency says proper use of catch-up contributions will be an examination focus for 403(b) plans in fiscal year 2020.
Assessing the State of Trump’s EBSA
The Employee Benefits Security Administration is among the regulators with the most direct influence over the retirement planning industry. It...
State Tax Treatment May Be Different for CARES Act Provisions
Participant communications about coronavirus-related distributions should include language that state tax treatment may vary, or that participants should check with an expert about what state taxes may apply.
Endowments and Foundations Also Carry Unrealistic Return Expectations
New data from CAPTRUST shows there is a continued misalignment between foundations’ and endowments’ expected returns, risk preferences and asset allocations.
Majority of Americans Are Concerned About Finances
More than one-quarter are extremely or very concerned, according to Fidelity.
Aegis Media Faces ‘Down Market’ Excessive Fee ERISA Challenge
The case is an example of class action fee litigation targeting a ‘large’ rather than a ‘jumbo’ plan, as the Aegis retirement plan under scrutiny holds less than...
Union Pension Partitions Included in Democrat’s 4th Relief Proposal
The draft of the legislation, which will likely be subject to debate and amendment, at this stage includes a number of retirement-focused provisions, including ‘special partition relief’ for...
Franklin Templeton Details Ambitious Technology Plans
With the acquisition of AdvisorEngine, Franklin Templeton expects to enable its independent adviser partners to efficiently deliver goals-based financial planning at scale—including in the retirement plan context.
Iowa Finalizes and Adopts Best Interest Standard for Annuities
“Iowans expect their financial professional to act in the consumer’s best interest when recommending an annuity,” says Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. “Iowa not only expects it, but...
Tracking Providers’ Responses to COVID-19
Retirement plan recordkeepers have announced fee cuts, service expansions and more.