So many actions have unintended consequence. A perfect example: enactment and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which may have an unintended impact on retirement plans. “One would think this wouldn’t have much of an effect,” said Wagner Law Group president Marcia S. Wagner at a March 23... READ MORE

“You’re a consultant. Don’t let yourself be commoditized.” That’s what Ellen R. Lander of Renaissance Benefit Advisors would tell someone just starting out as an advisor. Speaking at a March 24 session of the NAPA 401(k) Summit in New Orleans, Lander advocated a new mindset toward what advisors do... READ MORE

Research released by EBRI March 18 shows that a sizable portion of the population has saved very little. That’s sobering by itself, but a closer look reveals more regarding what that means for retirement plan participants and sponsors. EBRI’s 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey included a finding... READ MORE

Some rays of sun appear to be dispelling the gloom that has long engulfed employees’ confidence in their ability to fund a comfortable retirement. The Employee Benefit Research Institute in its 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS) reports that more than half of employees are at least somewhat... READ MORE

Saying that she is troubled by 401(k) providers that are circumventing the 408(b)(2) fee disclosure rule’s demands, EBSA’s Phyllis Borzi warned providers March 11 that they need to do a better job at following the rule’s requirements to provide information that is easy to understand. In a... READ MORE

Offering participants too many options can discourage enrollment. But what’s the “sweet spot” in terms of the optimal number of enrollment options? A test by Fidelity found that 78% of participants preferred a three-part enrollment option — and that those who chose that option contributed more. In... READ MORE

When it comes to saving through a DC plan, more is better. But how much? A new paper by Fidelity offers a guideline: Targeting a percentage of an average earner’s final net pay as a goal for income replacement. Fidelity recognizes that individual circumstances and goals, as well as plan... READ MORE

Plan advisors are well aware that one of their clients’ newest — not to mention most publicized and even controversial — demands is fee disclosure. To meet that demand, some advisors are going a step further. Investment News reports that some advisors are providing fee policy statements in addition... READ MORE

Investors — and those who manage their funds — are no strangers to risk. But acceptance of risk does not equate to helplessness, nor to inevitable loss. “Using Tactical Asset Allocation to Manage Participant Risk,” (free; login required) a recent webinar by F-Squared Investments moderated by NAPA... READ MORE