In what is likely to be one of her last appearances as a Securities and Exchange Commission official, Commissioner Kara Stein argued that the agency must ensure that investment professionals are giving their clients unconflicted advice, suggesting that is not always the case.Stein appeared Oct. 16... READ MORE

A new report suggests that more than $2 trillion in potential future 401(k) account balances will be lost due to plan loan defaults over the next 10 years unless action is taken by plan sponsors and policymakers.The analysis by Deloitte finds that the cumulative effect of loan defaults — including... READ MORE

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced a new four-year strategic plan with a distinctive focus on Main Street – and an acknowledgement that the line between investment advice and security sales needs clarity.While the plan does not specifically reference the agency’s work on its... READ MORE

As employers increasingly determine that financial wellness programs can help improve employee productivity and reduce financial stress, it would seem that such programs are no longer in their pilot program days.The findings of NEPC’s Defined Contribution Financial Wellness Survey reveal that... READ MORE

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8% in 2019, the Social Security Administration announced today.The 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to beneficiaries in January. For SSI... READ MORE

Apparently wanting to have a bigger say in how they run their business, the number of new advisors filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission as registered investment advisors (RIAs) showed no signs of slowing down, according to new industry research.Based on an analysis of SEC ADV filings... READ MORE

Health savings accounts (HSAs) are a high-value option with triple tax benefits that help employees prepare for health care costs in retirement, but many employees continue to miss out on the benefits, according to a new study.Willis Towers Watson’s 2018 Health Accounts Employee Attitudes Survey... READ MORE

When asked about the biggest hurdles they face in growing their practice, plan advisors cite identifying new opportunities, especially those already managed by incumbents, as well as managing scale, according to a new industry report.Vestwell’s 2018 Retirement Trends Report is based on the results... READ MORE

While workers are now more secure in their retirement preparations than before the Great Recession, they still face a number of shortcomings, says a new report.The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies report, “A Retirement Security Retrospective: 2007 Versus 2017” illustrates the resilience... READ MORE