While discussing one of his new ideas, a fellow entrepreneur asked me recently, “What is the biggest problem in the retirement industry?” I answered, “Every part of the industry has its own unique problems.” Which led me to think about the real problem for everyone.DCIOs. Let’s start with DCIOs,... READ MORE

Pendulums tend to swing to extremes before they stabilize. It seems that everyone is advocating a move towards professionally managed investments like target-date funds (TDFs) for most participants. But are they right for everyone and, if not, what’s the alternative?While conceding that most DC... READ MORE

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2015 issue of NAPA Net the Magazine. To view a PDF version of this article, CLICK HERE. To view the full list of Young Guns winners, CLICK HERE.The conventional wisdom these days is that most of the good plan advisors are old and getting older, and... READ MORE

A defining moment for most entrepreneurs is when they fire their first client. It signals a shift from chasing revenue at any cost to knowing yourself and your value and understanding that a client may not fit your business model. For DC plan advisors acting as fiduciaries, this dynamic goes beyond... READ MORE

With retirement front and center for most Americans and economic growth being fueled by smaller businesses — among which the Government Accountability Office says only 14% with 100 or fewer employees offer a retirement plan — there’s either a disconnect or an opportunity, depending on how you look... READ MORE

A knock on the current crop of TDF providers is that many have underlying investments largely comprised of proprietary funds.It seems to make sense to be able to select best of breed for each asset class to maximize returns. Jeffrey Snyder and colleague Denis Burns, consultants at Cammack... READ MORE

The mid-year update of NAPA Net’s list of record keepers is complete, and we’ve updated both the list and the accompanying commentary.While the number of record keeper deals this year has been relatively low, the deals have been significant nonetheless: John Hancock closed on their purchase of NY... READ MORE

The mid-year update of NAPA Net’s list of broker dealers in the DC market is complete. We’ve updated both the list and its accompanying commentary.Life is not easy for BDs and RIAs in the retirement market. Though fewer than 50 have at least one person dedicated to supporting DC plan advisors, all... READ MORE

The SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) has launched a new initiative dubbed “ReTIRE” (Retirement Targeted Industry Reviews and Examinations) focused on retirement savings. Acknowledging the growing importance of retirement and the broad and changing array of products,... READ MORE