Fred Barstein, Author at 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

PE Industry Considers Move to Enter 401(k) Market

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, DC plans, DOL, DOL Guidance, Early retirement, Economy, education, fee compression, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, investment, Investments, Private equity, product quality, Regs and Regulators, Retirement Advisory, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, specialized team

With President Trump just days away from his second term in the White House, private equity firms are eyeing the massive 401(k) market with renewed...

The Power of a Specialized Team in Retirement Plan Management

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefit education, benefits committee, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Communication, Fiduciary, generational gap in retirement planning, HR, product quality, Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services, Retirement Advisory, Retirement Committee, Retirement Plan Committee, Retirement planning, Retirement Readiness, specialized team

The Power of a Specialized Team in Retirement Plan Management Did you know that nearly half of employers struggle to manage their retirement plans effectively...

Younger Workers Need More Financial Education

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, adult learning, benefit education, Communication, education, Employee happiness, Employee training, evolving and adapting, Fiduciary Training, financial behaviors, financial insecurity, financial literacy, Financial Literacy, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Health & Wellness, Millennials Delaying Milestones, multi-generational workforce, Retirement Happiness, student loan debt, War for Talent

A recent survey by Corporate Insight and the SPARK Institute reveals a sobering reality about financial literacy among young Americans. The 2024 Financial Literacy Survey...

How RPAs Are Seizing Opportunities in the Evolving 401(k) Landscape

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Changing dynamics, Client connection, Communication, competition, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DC Plan Sponsors, Financial Advisors

The retirement plan advisory (RPA) industry is gaining traction as defined contribution (DC) plans like 401(k)s present unique opportunities compared to traditional wealth management. While...

Auto Portability: A Potential Game-Changer for Retirement Savings in America

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Auto Portability, Benefits integration, Consolidation, Convergence, diversity, Diversity equity inclusion, Employee engagement, Financial Wellness, investment, onboarding, participation, Savings Rates

Auto portability is a powerful innovation that’s addressing one of the most persistent challenges in the retirement industry: lost and forgotten 401(k) accounts. Auto portability...

The Evolving Retirement Industry: What Advisors Need to Know

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, Adaptability, adult learning, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Client connection, Communication, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DC Plan Sponsors, Early retirement, evolving and adapting, fee compression, fee lawsuits, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Training, generational gap in retirement planning, HR, incentivizing financial meetings, Legislation, product quality, Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services, Regs and Regulators, Retirement Advisory, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, RPA Aggregator Roundtable, Specialization

The Evolving Retirement Industry: What Advisors Need to Know The retirement industry has evolved dramatically over the past decade, bringing new challenges and opportunities for...

Hearts & Wallets: Employees Taking on the Majority of Retirement Planning Responsibility

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefit education, Benefits integration, Client connection, collaboration, Communication, competition, Consolidation, DC Plan Sponsors, Economy, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Security, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, HR, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern

Employees perceive themselves as largely self-reliant when it comes to retirement planning. So finds recent research by financial benchmarking firm Hearts & Wallets, cited in...

The Evolution of Retirement Plan and Record Keeper Relations

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Client connection, competition, Compliance, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Digital Tools, Emergency Savings, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Recordkeeping, Regs and Regulators, Retirement Income

The relationship between retirement plan advisors and their provider partners, especially record keepers, is changing driven by consolidation and the convergence of wealth, retirement and...

Navigating Employee Benefits & Retirement Plans During Acquisitions

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, acquisition, Adaptability, benefit education, benefits committee, Benefits integration, collaboration, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Financial Stress, Financial Wellness, investment comittee, Plan Conversion, Plan Optimization, War for Talent

Navigating Employee Benefits & Retirement Plans During Acquisitions Expanding through acquisitions allows companies to scale quickly, but it also brings significant challenges, particularly in managing...

Financial Inclusion Is an Opportunity for Employers to Support Financial Security

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, auto re-enroll, benefit education, benefits committee, Client connection, diversity, Emergency Savings, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Inclusion, Retirement Savings Concern

Financial inclusion is about ensuring all individuals have access to essential financial tools and services that enable them to build financial stability and well-being. For...

Fred Barstein