On July 9, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) signed into law a measure that makes it illegal to transfer or assign public pension benefits. The Show-Me state is the first to enact such legislation.   The new law arose, at least in part, in response the practice of third parties providing a cash advance... READ MORE

More than one-third of RIAs have doubled their assets under management since 2009, according to a new Charles Schwab study. In “The Power of the Independent Advice Business Model,” Schwab says that in 2013, RIAs showed record growth and had the highest profitability in any year they have measured... READ MORE

A recent settlement agreement announced by the DOL provides plan trustees and advisors with some serious food for thought. As the law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP reports, the $5.25 million settlement ended a suit in which the DOL said the trustee of Sierra Aluminum Company’s ESOP did not... READ MORE

We work to ensure a secure retirement for Americans and preserve and advance the American Dream every day. But sometimes it’s good to step back a little and recall the living national heritage that is the backdrop behind our efforts and the amazing society of which those we serve are a vital part.... READ MORE

Early withdrawals — loans taken against plan balances, hardship withdrawals and retirement account payouts when changing jobs — can provide participants quick infusions of cash that help meet pressing needs. But these forms of “leakage” can come at the expense of their future retirement security. A... READ MORE

At their current savings rate, many Americans will have tough choices to make as they age. Not only that, but a low savings rate has broader serious implications for the U.S. economy and its solvency. “Another Penny Saved: The Benefits of Higher U.S. Household Saving,” a paper by Oxford Economics,... READ MORE

Critics argue that 401(k) plan will not deliver on what they promised. But MSN Money reports that the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) has provided empirical evidence that their assessments may be very much off the mark. To illustrate, EBRI examines the way workers age 25-29 save for... READ MORE

Automatic enrollment and automatic escalation can drive the solution to the retirement readiness problem, Putnam’s Bob Reynolds said in a recent interview with Forbes. Reynolds cited a study his firm and Brightwork Partners did in 2012 that found that automatic enrollment significantly increases... READ MORE

You may have a diploma on the wall, but learning never stops. Or at least it shouldn’t — and fiduciary skills are no exception to the wisdom of expanding knowledge and making sure one is equipped to meet current and future conditions and challenges. The Roland Criss law firm points out that simple... READ MORE