By Maribeth KuzmeskiAre you using video to connect with prospects, clients, referrals and potential alliances? Did you know that, according to Forrester Research, a website with a video is 53 times more likely to come up on the first page of results on Google than the exact same page without video?... READ MORE

Fewer people leaving their 401(k) plans are keeping their money there, according to a JPMorgan study of participants in their DC plans. In 2008, 19% kept their money, compared with 17% in 2012. Participants seem to be more proactive — wanting more control of their retirement assets and someone to... READ MORE

3Ethos’ Don Trone, founder of fi360, and Warren Cormier of Boston Research Group, in cooperation with Financial Advisor magazine, have completed the first edition of an annual study intended to benchmark best practices and ultimately measure the rate of adoption and the success of advisors who have... READ MORE

Think that 401(k) lawsuits are over? Think again. Emboldened by recent successes and armed with more information through the fee disclosure regulations and benchmarking data, plaintiff attorneys’ next target could be advisors, warns Fred Reish of Drinker Biddle. Reish views the relevant law as more... READ MORE

Almost all advisors who have worked in the DC market for even a few years acknowledge that they are functional fiduciaries, even if their broker dealer or insurance policy does not allow them to be so named. It is nearly impossible for advisors to effectively help employers manage their DC plans... READ MORE

According to a study by The American College, 40% of small business owners have no retirement savings or pension plan in place — even though many are over 50. Furthermore, the study found that three-fourths of those owners have no written plan for funding their retirement. Equally surprising, many... READ MORE

I was asked recently about the so-called “4% rule.” That’s the rule of thumb that many financial advisors rely on as a formula for how much money can be withdrawn from retirement savings every year (generally adjusted for inflation) without running out of money. (Certified financial planner William... READ MORE

Is long term care insurance a long time gone? In the wake of a skeptical report by Moody’s and a dramatic price increase by one of the major carriers (driven by higher-than-expected medical costs and lower lapse rates), the potential buyers’ market has shrunk — as has the number of LTCI carriers.... READ MORE

The average crediting rate for stable value funds was about 2.73% as of March 31, 2012, according to the Stable Value Industry Association. Interest rates on high-quality U.S. bonds reached new lows this year, after falling steadily for decades. Inflation has averaged around 4.5% since 1970.So why... READ MORE

The recent recession had a greater impact on adults aged 36-40 than on any other age group, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. Americans’ median wealth dropped by half during the recession, partly due to far lower home values — leaving some homeowners underwater. Fewer of these adults... READ MORE

Aided by many low-cost providers and proponents of DB plans or a nationalized DC system, the media continue to focus on fees as the main culprit in the so-called retirement crisis. As a result, plan sponsors and participants are hearing the message that lower cost is better — as evidenced by a... READ MORE