The Massachusetts Securities Division has filed charges against a firm for knowingly violating its internal policies regarding implementation of the DOL fiduciary rule – and taken a shot at the Labor Deparment.Specifically, Commonwealth Secretary William Galvin, the state’s top securities regulator... READ MORE

Once primarily associated with passively managed investment strategies, interest in collective investment trusts, or CITs, is said to be increasing – but have we reached an adoption tipping point for CITs?Well, according to respondents to this week’s NAPA Net reader poll… it’s not altogether clear.... READ MORE

Did you know that plan sponsors are personally solicited for plan business four times a year on average?Your rivals are meeting with your plan sponsor clients, demonstrating expertise through blog articles, educating on social media and gaining more and more local market share. Each day that your... READ MORE

In its FY 2019 budget request, the Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking a slight increase in funding for inspections and examinations.The SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) was allocated $347,273 for fiscal year (FY) 2017; the SEC is requesting $365,781 for FY... READ MORE

The IRS and Treasury have proposed a plan to streamline tax regulations, including some that are related to retirement plans. The proposal is set to be published in the Federal Register on Feb. 15.The proposal would remove 298 regulations the IRS and Treasury say are no longer necessary because... READ MORE

In a time when some of the largest institutions have been hacked (including the federal government), it’s not surprising that our industry has already experienced issues with cybersecurity. But is there a fiduciary duty to safeguard that information – and if so, how far does it go?In a recent blog... READ MORE

Workers are routinely educated on the benefits of pre-tax savings – there is, however, another tax incentive of which most are unaware.We’re talking, of course, about the so-called Saver’s Credit; Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies’ (TCRS) 18th Annual Retirement Survey found that two in... READ MORE

Rising contributions and a strong stock market drove the average 401(k) and IRA balances of Fidelity accountholders over the $100,000 mark in the last quarter of 2017, the firm’s recent quarterly analysis revealed.The average 401(k) balance rose to $104,300 and the average IRA balance climbed to $... READ MORE

The 2nd quarter update to the 2017-2018 Treasury Priority Guidance Plan includes projects stemming from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s compensation-related changes. The updated plan also includes several retirement policy projects that Treasury says it hopes to complete by June 30, 2018.Overall, the... READ MORE

Plan fiduciaries have prevailed on appeal – as they did at the district court level – against charges that they violated their fiduciary duties under ERISA by continuing to allow employer stock as an investment option, even as the firm slipped into bankruptcy.The plaintiffs here – Manoj P. Singh,... READ MORE

A recent survey suggests that three-quarters of Americans are in the dark when it comes to 401(k) fees. Is that the case with the plans – and plan sponsors – NAPA Net readers work with?The TD Ameritrade survey of more than 1,000 investors found that the vast majority of people either erroneously... READ MORE