401(k) plans don't work for low- and middle-income Americans, Jack Lew, President Obama’s nominee to replace Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary, said yesterday. Lew’s comment came in response to a question posed by Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) about the tax incentive and effectiveness of 401(k)... READ MORE

According to research conducted by Annova Consulting Group with mid-large plan sponsors ($20-$500 million) after a finals exercise in 2012, 31% decided to stay with their incumbent — up from 18% five years ago and 28% last year. Over the past five years, the percentage of plans that remain with... READ MORE

Every advisor knows that the best way to prospect is through referrals and that the more good relationships you have, the more business opportunities you’re likely to get. But even if you have lots of clients and relationships, how do you leverage them? There are many books and coaches who give... READ MORE

Editor’s Note: This is the latest in a series of posts about the 2013 NAPA/ASPPA Summit, March 3-5, 2013 in Las Vegas. C. Todd Lacey, Senior Vice President, Transamerica Retirement Solutions, and co-chair of this year's conference, addresses the critically important task facing advisors: how to do... READ MORE

What is liability driven investing (LDI) and why should you care?LDI is not a product but a process — one that can include investments selected by an advisor. It uses information readily available for each participant in the plan, which should determine how much risk they need to take based on... READ MORE

Editor’s Note: This is the first of three in-depth interviews with the finalists for the 2013 401(k) Advisor Leadership Award. Sponsored by NAPA and ASPPA, the award reflects the multi-faceted efforts of advisors to serve their clients (both plan sponsors and participants), act as a mentor,... READ MORE

The DOL is considering requiring DC plan providers to provide participants with retirement income projections based on their current balances. Specifically, the guidance would require that “an individual benefit statement should and could present a participant’s accrued benefits in a defined... READ MORE

Editor’s Note: This is the latest in a series of posts by speakers at the 2013 NAPA/ASPPA 401(k) Summit, March 3-5, 2013 in Las Vegas. Barbara Lewis, a former journalist who has written for The Wall Street Journal as well as many other national publications, shares tips on how — and why – to get a... READ MORE

After experiencing two boom-and-bust cycles in the financial market, Millennials (that is, people in their 20s), have become more skeptical of financial advice and more conservative than older investors, especially Baby Boomers. According to a survey by Accenture involving 1,000 high-income,... READ MORE