The 2008 economic crisis forced potential buyers in the DC world to shore up their own businesses rather than looking at acquisitions. But those concerns are all past, it seems. Major deals and... Read More
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Industry Trends and Research
BY Fred Barstein | 4/24/2014
With nearly one-quarter of the $23 trillion in U.S. retirement assets in DC plans, it’s important to keep track of the activities of participants. In its latest report, the ICI — in partnership with... Read More
BY John Iekel | 4/23/2014
Just under half of employers in a study by the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute say that the Affordable Care Act has affected the way they run their retirement plans and how much they spend on them... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/23/2014
A recent GAO report found that while 81,000 new employer-sponsored retirement plans were formed during the 3-year period between 2009 and 2011, the overall trend was negative due to plan terminations... Read More
BY John Ortman | 4/22/2014
Last week’s top five most-read posts on NAPA Net reflected keen interest in TIAA-CREF’s acquisition of Nuveen, Victory’s acquisition of Munder Capital, Jerry Bramlett’s take on an advisor’s value-add... Read More
BY Nevin E. Adams, JD | 4/22/2014
My eating habits have always tended toward what my mother politely calls “finicky.” Oh, she tried repeatedly over the years to broaden my horizons, but without much success. My wife has similarly... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/21/2014
Will smaller BDs go the way of small banks and community banks? Based on recent data as well as increased regulation, the similarities are striking, according to an industry recruiter quoted in a... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/21/2014
While most online advice firms have gotten more attention from VC firms than from clients, there’s one firm that could pose a serious threat to FAs: Vanguard. The online service that Vanguard... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/18/2014
PIMCO just released its 8th annual “DC Consulting Support and Trends Survey,” which included 49 firms — mostly so-called “Tier 2” consultants — representing 7,800 clients and $2.8 trillion of DC... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/17/2014
Two of the more well-known online financial advice providers raised a total of $60 million recently, increasing the stakes and discussions about the viability of online advice firms. Betterment... Read More
BY John Iekel | 4/16/2014
In an exclusive interview with Christopher Carosa of FiduciaryNews, Brian Graff, Executive Director/CEO of NAPA and ASPPA, reaffirms the strong support of ASPPA and its sister organizations for real... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 4/15/2014
Last week’s top five most-read posts on NAPA Net reflected keen interest in the IRS’ post-Windsor guidance for qualified plans, the implications of Great-West’s acquisition of JP Morgan’s record... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/15/2014
Is the recent wave of broker dealer acquisitions about to get even bigger? In an earnings call, Well Fargo CEO John Stumpf announced that the firm could be in the market for companies that would... Read More
BY John Ortman | 4/11/2014
Recent studies have highlighted the importance of adequately factoring in Americans’ increasing longevity in retirement planning, most often focusing on the cost of health care in retirement. That... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/11/2014
Responding to the lack of access to workplace retirement plans, Illinois has become the latest state to consider a mandatory retirement plan for private sector employers. The “Illinois Secure Choice... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/10/2014
Detroit reached a tentative settlement with bond holders representing $388 million this week to take 74 cents on the dollar. The $50 million in savings that would result from the settlement would go... Read More
BY Jerry Bramlett | 4/10/2014
Just as Michael Lewis’ newly published book, Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt is shedding light on the practice of high-frequency trading (HFT), a new threat to market transparency is beginning to... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/9/2014
Not letting up on their acquisition of IBDs, Nicholas Schorsh’s RCAP Holdings is in exclusive negotiations with another unnamed BD, according to an SEC filing. Investment News reports that with four... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 4/7/2014
Last week’s top five most-read posts on NAPA Net reflected keen interest in author Michael Lewis’ claim that the stock market is rigged, Yale Law Prof. Ian Ayres’ comments in Forbes, Great-West’s... Read More
BY Nevin E. Adams, JD | 4/7/2014
Over the past several years, a growing amount of attention has been focused on the decumulation of defined contribution plan balances. Much of that focus has, of course, been driven by concerns that... Read More
BY John Iekel | 4/4/2014
The fees associated with administering a 401(k) plan have been grist for news, criticism and regulation for years now. While that may not be entirely unjustified, a closer look at plan fees, the... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 4/1/2014
Last week’s list of the top five most-read posts on NAPA Net was dominated by our onsite coverage of the NAPA 401(k) Summit: whether 401(k) plans only benefit the wealthy, Graff and Ghilarducci face... Read More
BY Nevin E. Adams, JD | 3/28/2014
“How do they expect to retire on that?” In the week or so since the 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey hit the streets, I think I’ve heard that question more than any other, both from advisors and... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 3/28/2014
And the beat goes on. Total retirement assets reached $23 trillion at the end of 2013, according to the ICI. While this reflects a healthy increase of 5% in the fourth quarter of the year, assets in... Read More
BY John Ortman | 3/24/2014
It didn't take long for the politically charged issue of income inequality, especially as it pertains to 401(k) plans, to take center stage at this year's NAPA 401(k) Summit. At the always-popular... Read More
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