Ted Godbout

FINRA Hits Betterment with $400,000 Fine

By Ted Godbout | 6/25/2018

Without admitting or denying the findings, Betterment Securities agreed to a $400,000 settlement and censure over alleged violations that its practices during a period of rapid growth did not comply with certain FINRA and SEC financial and operational rules and interpretations.Betterment LLC, an... READ MORE

Participants Still Not Making Most of HSAs’ Benefits

By Ted Godbout | 6/25/2018

Despite the continuing growth of health savings accounts, Fidelity has found that many participants in its clients’ 401(k) plans are not making the most of the benefits HSAs offer.Fidelity’s “Building Healthy Futures” report, an analysis of how people are saving for health care based on the firm’s... READ MORE

Retirement Paradigm Shift Needed to Assist Millennial Gig Workers

By Ted Godbout | 6/25/2018

New policies are needed to address retirement savings access and portability issues that Millennials and other generations face as part of the growing gig economy, according to panelists at a Capitol Hill forum.“The Millennial Perspective: An Intergenerational Discussion on Retirement Savings”... READ MORE

401(k) Mutual Fund Expense Ratios Continue Downward Trend

By Ted Godbout | 6/21/2018

The cost of investing in mutual funds through 401(k) plans has declined substantially since 2000, with the average expense ratios that participants incurred for investing in equity, bond and hybrid mutual funds all falling in 2017, new research shows.According to the Investment Company Institute’s... READ MORE

Factors Affecting Social Security Income Largely Misunderstood

By Ted Godbout | 6/15/2018

New survey findings suggest a need for financial advisers to discuss optimizing Social Security benefits with their clients, as many do not understand what factors determine their benefits.In fact, Nationwide Retirement Institute’s survey of 252 financial advisers finds that only 25% of respondents... READ MORE

FINRA to Transform Registration Systems, Reducing Compliance Costs

By Ted Godbout | 6/15/2018

In an effort to reduce costs for firms and make it easier to satisfy their reporting and compliance obligations, FINRA announced June 14 the details of a multi-phased effort to overhaul its registration and disclosure programs, including its Central Registration Depository (CRD).A new WebCRD... READ MORE

Is a Custom Option Right for Your DC Plan?

By Ted Godbout | 6/14/2018

Many plan sponsors and consultants may be considering customized investment options for their DC plan investment menus, but there are a number of issues to consider before going down that path.A new white paper by Vanguard – “Considering custom for your DC plan” – offers commentary on the potential... READ MORE

Is It Back to the Future for the DOL’s Fiduciary Rule?

By Ted Godbout | 6/14/2018

While June 13 was widely cited as the last day the Department of Labor could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court the 5th Circuit’s ruling vacating the fiduciary rule, that day has now come - and gone.So now the prevailing wisdom is that the DOL fiduciary rule, as it largely existed, is now dead and... READ MORE

Better Timing and Market Conditions Led to Solid Investor Returns

By Ted Godbout | 6/13/2018

Times have been good lately for investors, with proof not only in strong market returns but also solid investor returns, according to Morningstar’s 2018 “Mind the Gap” study.Among the key takeaways from this year’s report are that the gap improved for U.S. equity, balanced and municipal bond funds... READ MORE

Many Millennials Planning to Retire Either Early or Not at All

By Ted Godbout | 6/13/2018

Millennials have high expectations about when they plan to retire and how much they plan to retire with, but achieving their desired goals will take some adjustments, according to new survey results.TD Ameritrade’s 2018 Millennials and Money Survey of more than 1,500 adults ages 21 to 37 finds that... READ MORE

How Do DC Plan Sponsors View Retirement Risks and Objectives?

By Ted Godbout | 6/12/2018

A recent survey of DC plan sponsors and consultants finds that when selecting a target-date strategy or other QDIA, plan sponsors were most concerned about participants’ longevity risk and their ability to achieve higher retirement account balances over the long term.T. Rowe Price’s survey, “... READ MORE

In-Person Financial Advice is Still King, Study Suggests

By Ted Godbout | 6/11/2018

While emerging technologies are drastically shaping the future of financial guidance, a new report finds that wealthy Americans still value in-person knowledge and expertise for financial advice.When it comes to making financial decisions, 81% of respondents to a recent poll of mass affluent... READ MORE

Is Retirement Income Next on the Agenda for 401(k) Plans?

By Ted Godbout | 6/11/2018

A new report forecasts how the innovations brought on by the Pension Protection Act will continue to evolve, foreseeing a DC industry that takes on some of the traditional features of the DB industry.In its 250th issue of The Cerulli Edge–U.S. Asset and Wealth Management Edition, Cerulli predicts... READ MORE

Participants with Single TDFs Expected to Dominate by 2022

By Ted Godbout | 6/7/2018

Target-date funds have continued to reshape the investment patterns of retirement savers and are now expected to make up the vast majority of DC plan investments in less than five years, new research shows.According to Vanguard’s annual DC benchmarking report, “How America Saves 2018,” more than... READ MORE

SEC Takes an E-Delivery Step for Fund Reports

By Ted Godbout | 6/6/2018

The Securities and Exchange Commission approved a proposal on June 4 that it says will improve the method for delivering fund shareholder reports to investors in mutual funds, ETFs and other investment funds.The SEC also announced that it is inviting comments on improving the fund disclosures and... READ MORE

SEC Reaches Settlement with Adviser Firm over Misleading Retail Clients

By Ted Godbout | 6/5/2018

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that it reached a settlement agreement with a New York-based investment firm for failing to disclose conflicts of interest to its retail clients.According to the SEC’s June 4 announcement, investment adviser deVere USA, Inc. has agreed to pay an... READ MORE

GOP Senate Banking Counsel Tapped to Fill SEC Slot

By Ted Godbout | 6/4/2018

President Trump has nominated Senate Banking Committee aide Elad Roisman to serve as a Republican member of the Securities and Exchange Commission.Roisman, who currently serves as Chief Counsel to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee under Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID), would... READ MORE

Slight Uptick in Q1 Self-Directed 401(k) Trading Activity

By Ted Godbout | 6/4/2018

Amid the high market volatility experienced in the first quarter of 2018, there was a slight increase in self-directed brokerage account trades from the fourth quarter of 2017, according to new data from Charles Schwab.The firm’s Self-Directed Brokerage Account Indicators Report shows that trades... READ MORE

Disruptive Megatrends Cited in Call for New Retirement ‘Social Contract’

By Ted Godbout | 6/1/2018

Megatrends such as increases in longevity and declining birth rates are placing a growing financial strain on social security safety nets and workplace retirement plans, compelling a need for a new social contract for retirement, a new report suggests.The New Social Contract: A Blueprint for... READ MORE

SEC Proposal Would Promote Sharing of Investment Fund Research

By Ted Godbout | 5/30/2018

The Securities and Exchange Committee released a proposal on May 23 that seeks to reduce obstacles to providing research on investment funds by harmonizing the treatment of such research with research on other public entities.If adopted, the proposal would generally establish a safe harbor for a... READ MORE

You are here

Ted Godbout

Pages

NAPA's 401(k) Rollover Specialist (k)RS Credential

Recent Headlines

Recent Comments