Regulation

Fiduciary obligations are making access to up-to-date information and analytics from recordkeepers and service providers increasingly important.

A substantial watering-down of the protections in the rule is possible, says Carol Buckmann, so the ultimate status of the new regulation is still in question.

The legislation ― called the Financial Choice Act ― has little chance of passing the Senate in its current form.

Plan sponsors need to understand how the regulation affects their roles and communication efforts — and should pay attention to exemptions.

Given the range of personnel who will be expected to understand the law, advance planning by employers will be critical.

Retirement specialists are likely to increasingly turn to recordkeepers to provide data that justifies adviser fees through strong plan performance.

Keep in mind that there is no fee structure free of conflict, cheaper doesn’t mean better and recommendations don’t come in a vacuum, says investment strategist Jess DeGabriele.

Higher compliance requirements, and their associated costs, may drive firms to look for partners.

Lawsuits against Cigna self-insured plans for alleged fraudulent behavior is a warning for employers that there will be more, says attorney Brenna A. Davenport.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is proposing to keep in place the ACA’s protection against higher health-insurance premiums for people with pre-existing conditions when they buy individual coverage.