This Week on NAPA Net

Highlights of our posts for the week of March 11 included: Plan Optimization • Research commissioned by MetLife shows that most plans are not considering making changes to their stable value lineup in the next 12 months. • Institutional investors are increasingly turning to active global ex-U.S. strategies, says NAPA Net’s global investing Conductor, Kathleen Beichert of Oppenheimer. • According to the Callan DC Index, asset flows into TDFs dominated last year, at the expense of large, small and mid-cap equity funds and company stock. • Fixed income and bonds, which fall into the general category of capital preservation and can also include stable value and GICs, are a hot topic in DC plans — even as their yields are anything but hot. Trends & Research • Data on employee tenure show that the so-called “career jobs” of the past never really existed for most workers. Over the past nearly 30 years, the median tenure of all wage and salary workers age 20 or older has held steady at approximately five years, noted NAPA Net Conductor Nevin Adams of EBRI. • Research from LIMRA reveals that 42% of participants who said they know what they’re paying in 401(k) fees thought their fees were more than 10%, and more than 25% believed they paid 25% or more in fees. Managing a Practice • Sam Brkich commented on the spate of stories in the popular press lately that are quite critical of 401(k) plans. Technical Competence • NAPA Net Conductor John Carl addressed retirement plans for the self-employed. • The SEC is seeking information on the impact of a new fiduciary rule and is going to take a look at 12(b)1 and other distribution fees too. Sales & Marketing • NAPA Net Conductor Marcus Chandler offered advice about making association marketing pay off. Inside NAPA • Issues discussed at the NAPA/ASPPA 401(k) Summit in Las Vegas last week will shape advisors' future, Brian Graff noted in his monthly video update. • NAPA announced plans for a new online directory, weekly newsletter and magazine. • Winding down our coverage of the 401(k) Summit, we wrote about workshops on advisor fees and TDF selection.