New York Times business columnist Gretchen Morgenson lauded the attempt by the EBSA’s Phyllis Borzi to change the rules related to the retirement plans of bankrupt companies. Reviewing the plight of Penn Specialty, whose $4 million plan remained in limbo while the company went through bankruptcy... READ MORE

Though he’s not popular with New Jersey public employees, Gov. Chris Christie (R) seems likely to play the “Constant Gardener” with the state pension scheme in the wake of a report by the State Budget Crisis Task Force headed by Paul Volker and Rutgers professor Richard Keevy. Though recent reforms... READ MORE

Are advisors who are not parties in interest or ERISA fiduciaries liable if they knowingly participate in a prohibited transaction and receive compensation from plan assets? The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals thinks so.In the case at issue, employers had established a trust within an ERISA-... READ MORE

Advisors and industry professionals know that training, certification and continuing education are important — not just for personal and professional growth but also because clients value it. In fact, according to industry research, 95% of plan sponsors value advisor credentials, and 90% are more... READ MORE

Editor’s Note: This article was published in the most recent issue of "Market Beat," published by the National Tax Sheltered Accounts Association (NTSAA), the nation's only independent, non-profit association dedicated to the 403(b) and 457 markets. Used with permission.By Ellie Lowder, TGPC,... READ MORE

Proposals to scale back or eliminate retirement savings incentives in 401(k) plans not only endanger the ability of low- and moderate-income workers to enjoy secure retirements but are based on faulty math, Forbes columnist Jeffrey Brown points out in a Dec. 12 column.Here’s why: When evaluating... READ MORE

Curtailing the current tax treatment of contributions that workers and their employers make to 401(k) plans will significantly reduce employers’ willingness to sponsor plans and employees’ ability to save, according to a survey of more than 500 companies conducted by Mathew Greenwald &... READ MORE

Updating recent auto-enrollment research across its retirement clients, New York Life Retirement Plan Services found that over time, plans with auto-enrollment saw steady deferral increases and sustained high participation, versus the opposite in plans without auto-enrollment. According to a New... READ MORE

Echoing the refrain from the Beatles classic, “Strawberry Fields Forever,” PIMCO’s Bill Gross predicts slower growth of the economy over the next decade, or a “new normal” of 2%. While it’s understandable that “living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see,” Gross explains how... READ MORE