
Consumer Researchers Rank Fidelity, American Funds Among Best Digital Experience
J.D. Power and Corporate Insight ranked retirement plan providers on their digital and mobile offerings, showing overall increased satisfaction from consumers.

TPA Strongpoint Partners Adds Pension Financial Services to Network
Strongpoint will have more than 4,000 plans and $7B in assets under administration with the deal.

Fidelity AUA Jumps 18% Year-Over-Year in Q2 to $11.7T
Recordkeeper Principal reports SMB retirement plan growth and volatility among large plan sponsors, and Prudential's institutional retirement unit had pension risk transfer growth.

Epic Snags Recordkeeper Retirement Direct
Meanwhile, workplace retirement and benefits aggregator Mercer picks up $720M wealth manager.

Empower CEO Expects Continued Recordkeeper Consolidation
Edmund Murphy discussed Empower’s push into wealth management and building brand name recognition during investor day.

July Acquires Sunwest Pensions to Expand National Presence
The 401(k) provider continues its PE-backed acquisition strategy by booking its fourth deal of the year.

Recordkeeper “House” Investment Options Worth a Look, But Carefully, Advisers Say
Proprietary recordkeeper fund options can be worth the fee reduction in investment plans, but they must be looked at carefully, note advisers in a PLANADVISER practice progress webinar.

Recordkeeper Consolidation: Good or Bad News for Small Managed Accounts?

Financial Education Gap Remains Even as Provider Offerings Improve
Financial illiteracy may be costing the average American $1,819 per year, even as educational guidance and tools are advancing.

Retirement Industry People Moves
Securian Financial announces promotions, new head of asset management subsidiary; Alerus Financial names new retirement specialist; MassMutual CIO to retire; and more.

Recordkeepers Beat Out External Managers for IRA Rollovers
While new research finds recordkeepers took the lead for overall rollover count in 2022, IRA providers outside of employer retirement plans kept their dominance for accounts of $250,000 or more.

Plan Advisers Value Trustworthiness, “Personal” Touch from DC Recordkeepers
Retirement plan advisers respond to DC recordkeepers that are present, active, and trusted partners, according to an annual Cogent Syndicated brand survey.

A Future of ‘Coopetition’

The Standard Plans to Purchase Recordkeeping Business from Securian
The combined retirement recordkeeping businesses will operate under The Standard brand.

Masterminds of the Plan

Defining Roles
Empower to Acquire Full-Service Retirement Business of Prudential
Empower will acquire Prudential’s DC, DB, non-qualified and rollover IRA business, in addition to its stable value and separate account investment products and platforms.

Talking Scale With Voya, Sterling Resources Leaders
Over the past decade, the universe of retirement plan recordkeepers has contracted from about 400 to approximately 150, with no signs of slowing. Experts say one lesson learned in this time is that not all scale is created equal.

Court Affirms Arrangement Between Sponsor and Recordkeeper Not a Prohibited Transaction
After reviewing a decision in an ERISA lawsuit against Banner Health, the 10th Circuit also found no reason to order the sponsor to implement an RFP process.
Principal Financial Group Strategic Review Leads to New Focus
The firm is getting out of the retail annuity business and focusing on its retirement and asset management businesses, including initiatives to improve the participant experience.