Though the prospect of more DB plans in large and mid-sized companies is bleak, estimates indicate that there is as much money in private DB plans as there is in DC plans. Companies with DB plans are trying to limit their exposure by either converting them or not including new employees. But the... READ MORE

With growing concern about health care costs on the part of both employers and workers, the popularity of health savings accounts should grow. Unlike Section 125 cafeteria plans where you lose what you don’t use at year end, HSAs offer many benefits, including rollover freedom, investment and some... READ MORE

As negotiations between the White House, House Republicans and Senate Democrats heat up over the impending “fiscal cliff,” plan advisors should expect numerous ups and downs along the way, says Brian Graff, Executive Director/CEO of NAPA and ASPPA — with the ultimate outcome far from certain.“There... READ MORE

FYI, we’ve updated our list of national record keepers. The National 401(k) Record Keepers list includes vendors that provide record keeping services at the national level. This means that they have significant presence in all regions, whether measured by plans under management or by sales... READ MORE

With the economy slowing and expected to be slow for a while, it will only become harder and harder for active equity managers to deliver returns. There doesn't seem to be a silver bullet — so many firms turn to experienced portfolio managers with good histories to guide them. To that end, Nuveen... READ MORE

A study of 2,000 advisors across distribution channels conducted by LIMRA and McKinsey shows that even though providers have increased value added services over the last 10 years by 40%, most of them are poorly delivered and not valued by advisors. Other highlights of the study:• more advisors are... READ MORE

The team of Reish and Ashton, reviewing the process plan fiduciaries need to follow, the participant disclosure requirements and the implications of participants selecting an RIA to manage their accounts using the window.Topics covered by the team at Drinker Biddle include:• Whether offering a... READ MORE

The growth of RIA firms continues, fueled by recruitment, breakaway brokers and clients putting more money into the channel, according to a study by the market research firm Cerulli Associates. Bigger firms (those with more than $1 billion) are gaining market share more quickly and achieving scale... READ MORE

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), the three-year decline in participation rates precipitated by the Great Recession halted in 2011, as 54% of full-time workers age 21-64 participated in their employers’ retirement plans. When part-time, seasonal and self-employed workers... READ MORE