Retirement benefits

While a tax-exempt retirement plan might look good on paper, it could likely use a little work in order to hit the right notes with employees. Aaron Friedman, national practice leader at The Principal Financial Group, provides some best practices to aid in creating a proper, effective participant education plan.

Tax the rich! Raise their rates! Limit their deductions! That seems to be the populist mantra. It’s perpetuated in the press, and there’s some indication that the general public seems to support the idea. Now middle class workers with higher than average incomes seem to be caught up in discussions defining those that are “rich,” says EBA Blogger and The Principal Financial Group’s tax-exempt national practice leader.

As Congress pushes the debt ceiling debate farther down the road, Americans’ personal finances are worse than ever. According to a new survey by the Personal Finance Employee Education Foundation, only 24% of respondents say they have “little financial stress.” That leaves 76% who would likely benefit from a financial education plan at work. According to PFEEF, a workplace financial fitness program can not only improve productivity, but also boost morale and company loyalty.

A new survey suggests workers under the age of 25 are significantly more confident than others that they are on track for a comfortable retirement. Is it youthful arrogance, or has the younger generation absorbed some of the financial lessons we need them to learn?

After reading research from the Investment Company Institute concluding that defined contribution plans don't "reduce retirement preparedness," EBN Editor Kelley Butler channeled a "Saturday Night Live" skit to offer her perspective.

Looking at the Department of Labor’s 408b2 rules six months later.

It’s likely no one pays more attention to retirement plan fees than the plan fiduciary, says The Principal Financial’s Aaron Friedman. After all it’s their job to work with the service provider and financial professional to make sure the fees paid by the plan are “reasonable.” But what exactly does “reasonable” mean and what does it have to with cars?

How Tussey v ABB is a new frontier in ERISA class-action litigation

The pros and cons of a benefit practice offering retirement plan services.

Rumor has it that the Department of Labor recently hired a lot of new field auditors, which could only mean one thing — more audits. Which Principal Financial's Aaron Friedman says means it is safe to say that more 403(b) plans will be put on the firing line as well. Just what we need, right? Well, a little work now and some knowledge may help, so keep reading.

15 employers from public and private sector competed in the 2012 EBN-EBA Financial Fitness Challenge

Fred Barstein on a market upheaval coming in the DC market.

ERISA 408(b)(2) fee disclosures may lead to less options, service

Employer matches aren't as strong of an inducement to get employees into the 401(k) plan as one might think, says Brigitte Madrian, a behavioral economist and professor of public policy and corporate management at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

Retirement readiness is just not a buzz word for EBA’s Retirement Adviser of the Year.

Fred Barstein on how new advisers are critical to growth of DC market.

The Labor Department's new regulations on 401(k) fee disclosures will serve as a wake-up call to plan sponsors and participants alike, once they stop hitting the snooze alarm, that is.

The American Institute of CPAs has sent a letter to members of the House Financial Services Committee supporting a bill aimed at narrowing the definition of “municipal advisor,” without weakening investor protections.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company has entered into a definitive agreement with The Hartford to purchase its Retirement Plans business for $400 million, subject to adjustment at closing.

Where brokers and advisers should focus on when communicating the value of fee transparency to clients