Retirement

Probably you. The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) is moving forward in its quest to define who is a fiduciary for various client/adviser transactions.

New York City’s police pension won’t sell about $10 million in gun-related holdings, the president of the biggest officer union says.

Many employer plan sponsors are expressing a high level of interest in adding Roth 401(k) in-plan conversions as an option to their 401(k) plans in 2013. The recently passed Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 made it possible for retirement plan participants to convert existing 401(k) plan balances to Roth 401(k) balances, whether or not the participant is distribution eligible.

The challenges confronting many retirement plan advisers are familiar.

New 401(k) loan transactions were down approximately 5% year-over-year, and total hardship and in-service withdrawals were down nearly 8%, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s most recent 401(k) Wellness Scorecard, released Thursday.

At least one expert at a panel at this week’s ASPPA 401(k) Summit in Las Vegas said the plans work well for people who can afford to contribute large amounts and who don’t withdraw the money, but acknowledged they do little for low- to moderate-income workers.

Pressure is growing to change incentives for retirement savings as U.S. lawmakers look for revenue, and top earners may pay the price.

Try a little “brain-based sales and marketing,” suggests ASSPA’s Lisa Allen. Speaking about building a loyal client base this week at the ASSPA/NAPA 401(k) Summit, Allen offered the view that plan sponsors typically choose to work with an adviser because they find a “good personal fit,” then retroactively confirm that all of the objective and numbers-based reasons for that decision are in line.”

Principal Financial Group Inc., the seller of life insurance and retirement products, agreed to buy a 55% stake in Liongate Capital Management LLP to expand in hedge funds and meet demand for alternative investments.

It’s nothing new that Americans are working and living longer. But with 401(k)s, IRAs, Roth IRAs and the old money-under-the-mattress plan, what could possibly be added to secure Americans’ financial security? Pension Advisory Group thinks it has the answer — a new group long-term disability insurance product.