Obama looks to states on retirement readiness
President Obama this week asked the Department of Labor to propose a set of rules by the end of the year that would provide a clear path forward for states to create retirement savings programs.
Financial planning
What exactly is an at-will employee?
Commentary: While in most cases, employees can be terminated at any time and for any reason, in almost all cases there is a reason and if that reason doesnt violate a law, isnt in response to some type of legally protectable complaint or doesnt violate someones contract rights then it doesnt really matter if the reason is a good one or not. The question becomes whether a lawsuit ensues to further test exceptions to at-will employment.
IRS curtails lump-sum payouts in DB plans
The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department have thrown a wrench into the pension de-risking plans of many corporations with new regulations aiming to eliminate the lump-sum payout option for retirees who already are receiving retirement benefits from their defined benefit plans.
Boomers unrealistic about post-retirement work
As the baby boom generation approaches retirement, employers will need to ask themselves what role a highly experienced, part-time workforce can play in their organization.
Advisers are part of the ESOP team
Millions are covered under employee stock ownership plans, which take a considerable amount of research and planning before implementation.
Longevity the focus of new training program for benefit pros
As the White House kicks off its Conference on Aging this week, one financial services vendor is launching a new education program for its plan sponsor clients focused on creating greater awareness of the nations aging population.
Why plan sponsors should watch those BrokerCheck TV commercials
Have you seen those new BrokerCheck commercials on TV? With the help of these commercials, FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, would like to motivate anyone looking to hire a financial adviser to visit its BrokerCheck website first to vet candidates.
Employee well-being the new benefit mantra
Its no surprise that health care costs are continuing to rise and while employers remain committed to providing benefits, many are re-evaluating their benefit strategies.
10 common fiduciary errors
Failure to identify all retirement plan fiduciaries is just one common mistake employers make that can lead to trouble.
External asset management service vies for DC participant, plan sponsor business
There are more ways for defined contribution plan participants to gain access to professional investment management than by defaulting them into target-date funds or using a separately managed account.
401(k) brokerage account holders: More male, wealthy and active
What kind of employee takes advantage of the chance to select from potentially thousands of investment options available through a 401(k) brokerage account?
Gen Y wants safe savings options, yet unfamiliar with annuities
Student loan debt and jobs that dont offer 401(k) plans put added pressure on retirement savings for millennial workers.
Marriage ruling streamlines benefits administration
Fridays landmark ruling on gay marriage poses both challenges and benefits to employers.
Financial stress remains, despite improving economy
Women more likely than men to take advantage of workplace financial wellness programs, yet still experience more financial stress than men.
Benefits Think How to make mandatory distributions more fiduciary friendly
Commentary: The term fiduciary is often hard to define and can be interpreted in many ways, so it begs the question: How can plan sponsors best fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities in the context of a mandatory distribution program?
Spencer Williams
Portability Services Network and Retirement Clearinghouse
With the right retirement tools, an American dream is still possible
The majority of investors still believe in the American dream but many workers do not have a written financial plan to help them achieve their retirement goals.
Benefits Think How 401(k) participants can avoid sabotaging their returns
The average mutual fund investor typically underperforms the indexes each year by a wide margin. What can 401(k) plan participants (who comprise the majority of mutual fund investors) do to keep from sabotaging their annual returns?
Robert C. Lawton
Lawton Retirement Plan Consultants
Despite go-to status, TDFs remain an investment mystery to employees
While they have become a standard option in most employer-sponsored retirement programs, how much do participants really know about glide paths and real TDF performance?
States swoop in to help boost employee retirement prospects
With strategic federal-level assistance for retirement still lagging, states including Illinois, California and Oregon have stepped in with their own automatic IRA plans to boost employee savings.
Failure to rebalance, not frequent trading, cited as challenge for 401(k) plans
Market timing and frequent trades within 401(k) plan mutual funds seem to be a thing of the past, according to the Government Accountability Office.