In 2015, NAPA launched its first-ever “Black Book,” a directory of the nation’s leading providers in three key service categories for retirement plan advisors: Recordkeepers, DCIOs and BD/RIAs. Last year we added TPAs — and this year, we’re expanding it even further!Since its launch, the NAPA Black... READ MORE

In the course of my day, I talk to (and email with) people, read a lot, and every so often jot down a random thought or insight that gives me pause and makes me think. See what you think. Disclosure isn’t the same thing as clarity. Sometimes it’s the opposite. It’s not what you’re doing wrong; it’s... READ MORE

While robo-advisors are rising in popularity and are projected to handle $8 billion of all global AUM by 2020, a new poll finds that a significant majority of Millennials still prefer a real-life financial advisor to make decisions.The poll commissioned by LendEDU shows that a large part of this... READ MORE

Plaintiffs could have told almost from the very first sentence it wasn’t going to go well.Judge Patrick J. Schiltz described the suit as “…one of many actions in which plaintiffs’ attorneys have taken what is essentially a securities-fraud action and pleaded it as an ERISA action in order to avoid... READ MORE

Congress has released draft legislation consistent with recent recommendations by the American Retirement Association to expand access by victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria to their 401(k) and similar plans without incurring IRS penalties and taxes.The draft legislation, currently named... READ MORE

Recent reports indicate a surge in adoption of cash balance plans in recent years, particularly among smaller employers. What are NAPA Net readers seeing in their practices?Cash balance plans certainly have made inroads – a full 80% of this week’s respondents say their current clients offer such a... READ MORE

The American Retirement Association is urging Congress to approve legislation providing victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria access to their 401(k) and similar plan savings without incurring IRS penalties and taxes.The ARA has been making the case that legislation should mirror the relief... READ MORE

A majority of both active and passive portfolio managers believe that the ongoing shift toward passive strategies will continue for many years, new survey results show.To address this ongoing movement, active managers should be experimenting with new products, alternative data sets and other... READ MORE

The IRS and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) have extended some forms of relief for victims of Hurricane Irma in Georgia, which had been affected by the storm as it churned northwest from Florida. The relief applies in all 159 counties in the state.The IRS said on Sept. 19 that Form... READ MORE

The ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs and qualified retirement plans.A recent call with an advisor in Maryland is representative of a common inquiry involving rollovers.... READ MORE

A new report contends that robo-advisors’ “goal-based” advice falls short of a “best interest” standard for fiduciary advice.The paper, “Are Robo-Advisors Fiduciaries?” by attorney Melanie L. Fein argues that only “those investment advisers and broker-dealers whose advice meets the prudent investor... READ MORE