Though the demand for active equity funds has fallen, with many companies experiencing net outflows (perhaps driven in DC plans by the growing popularity of TDFs), fees remained stable, according to Mercer’s 2012 Global Asset Manager Fee Survey, the fifth such biennial survey. Mercer’s analysis was... READ MORE

Here are the 10 most-read items on NAPA Net during 2012, listed Letterman-style:10. 408(b)(2.0) – The Next Steps for Plan Advisors9. 401k Heaven Redefined8. Watching Wholesalers to Predict Consolidation and Business Health7. Four Resources on Selling You May Have Missed6. Six Good Websites for... READ MORE

Will the 401(k) industry have another federal agency looking over its shoulder? Though the SEC and DOL have been the primary regulators, there are signs that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) could be entering the fray, according to a report by Bloomberg. Though the consumer bureau... READ MORE

Americans’ job tenure increased slightly in 2012, but the average stay in a job is still shorter than many assume. The median length of time on the job for American workers in 2012 was just 5.4 years, according to new research from EBRI. Among the report’s findings:• The median tenure for male wage... READ MORE

While about 87% of full-time state and local government employees participate in DB plans, this leaves a significant number who are in DC plans. A lot of those DC participants are higher education faculty and staff, many of whom were given a choice between a DB plan and a DC plan. Also, a number of... READ MORE

Esri, a pioneer in geospatial analysis based in Redlands, CA, has applied its “tapestry segmentation” approach (which classifies all U.S. neighborhoods into 65 segments based on their socioeconomic and demographic characteristics) to 401(k) participation and contribution data. The result is a... READ MORE

Now that we’ve put the fiscal cliff behind us, “a bigger cliff” lies ahead, says Brian Graff, Executive Director/CEO of NAPA and ASPPA. “Fiscal Cliff II: The Sequel” will come at the end of February, Graff says, when the debt ceiling is scheduled to be reached and the country will have to either... READ MORE

Stace Hilbrant, Managing Director and Founder of Chicago-based 401k Advisors, identifies the four most important and effective things he sees the very best advisors doing to help their clients. 1. Focus on 401(k) ParticipantsAfter “surviving” 408(b)(2), 404(a)(5) and the Pension Protection Act and... READ MORE

Record keeper search activity is expected to increase, according to the latest research from Cerulli Associates. However, RFPs will only serve to benchmark pricing."More than half of plan sponsors have indicated they are likely to conduct a search for a record keeper within the next two years,"... READ MORE