SEC assigns ‘duty of loyalty’ for financial advisers
The latest proposal clarifies an RIA’s duty of care and other fiduciary obligations when dealing with clients.
Retirement benefits
Supercuts taps Decisely to offer employee benefits to employees
The hair-salon chain chooses a benefits and HR services firm to deliver services to its franchise owners and workers.
Benefits Think Hardship withdrawal compliance makes retirement plan administration easy (well, easier, anyway)
Recent IRS guidance and legislative changes show hardship withdrawals is an area where both plan sponsors and participants may still have questions.
Belinda S. Morgan
Foley & Lardner LLP
Planning for retirement: Should workers pay off the house early?
The new tax law has nearly doubled the standard deduction and limits the deduction for state and local taxes, making it less likely for taxpayers to itemize their deductions.
Wealthy U.S. children count on inheritance to fund their retirement
The rise in student debt, increased life expectancy and the many competing priorities for money that are considered the “new normal” for younger generations have them wondering how they will pay for it all.
Benefits Think 4 tips for how to talk benefits with millennials
While advisers tend to see them as younger workers, these employees are getting married, starting families and purchasing more benefits through their employers.
Cy Moser
Trustmark Voluntary Benefits Solutions
7 signs of a successful 401(k)
Reasonable costs, healthy account balances and a high percentage of employee participants are attributes of great retirement plans.
Workers’ retirement may be saved by a side hustle
The gig economy ushered in a new way of working, which in turn has ushered in a new way of retiring.
Higher interest rates fuel retirement account annuities
Employees may want to cash in their retirement accounts but other variables complicate the outlook.
Claiming Social Security early could lead to poverty later in life
About 4.3 million of the 18 million workers in the 55-64 age bracket are likely to live in poverty once they reach 65, according to a study.
Benefits Think Why plan sponsors don’t need to be right with their investment picks
Displaying care, skill and due diligence in their methodology is a higher consideration in the process.
Jess DeGabriele
LHD Retirement
Medicare Part D drug coverage gap closing at faster clip
The gap for brand-name prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries is likely to narrow down to 25% of drug costs from the scheduled 30% next year.
Tomorrow’s lesson plan: Tutoring teachers how to retire
Durham Public Schools institutes Financial Fitness program to boost employees’ financial acumen.
Higher interest rates fuel retirement account annuities
Employees may want to cash in their retirement accounts but other variables complicate the outlook.
Benefits Think Defined contribution = benefits shopping spree
Advisers will find a powerful tool in communicating enhanced benefits from a defined contribution perspective that puts employee’s in the driver’s seat.
Eric Silverman
Voluntary Benefits
How to defuse your client’s tax time bomb
To avoid a hefty tax bill when taking withdrawals from retirement accounts, clients should consider holding their assets in three "tax buckets.”
Benefits Think How to deal with the biggest IRS issue employers didn’t know they had
It’s a common benefit to offer, and one that can add up quickly: It’s an employer paying out accumulated unused sick or vacation to their employees at retirement.
Bruce Nelson
Precision Retirement Group
SEC’s regulation best interest falls short of making broker-dealers fiduciaries
Industry experts believe the final rule needs to spell out how this rule differs from past suitability standards.
Tomorrow’s lesson plan: Tutoring teachers how to retire
Durham Public Schools institutes Financial Fitness program to boost employees’ financial acumen.
Benefits Think Four reasons to integrate health savings into retirement
HSAs can address future costs, they’re triple tax-free, integrate with existing plans and can boost employee recruitment.
Jonathan Maertz
Bronfman Rothschild