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

Convergence & Advisor M&A: Shaping the Future of Wealth, Retirement, & Benefits

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Client connection, collaboration, Communication, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DC Plan Sponsors, evolving and adapting, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, financial literacy, Financial Wellness, innovation

The concept of convergence between wealth management, retirement planning, and workplace benefits is no longer seen as a passing trend, as indicated by a recent...

How Education Can Transform Auto-Enrollment & 401(k) Participation

By Fred Barstein / adult learning, auto enroll, auto re-enroll, benefit education, benefits committee, Client connection, Communication, Compensation, Confidence, DC plans, Education, Fiduciary, financial wellness, hiring, participation, Plan Participation, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Plan Participation

How Education Can Transform Auto-Enrollment & 401(k) Participation Education is critical for companies when it comes to benefits like 401(k) plans and auto-enrollment because it...

Transamerica: For Most Workers, Retirement at Age 65 Isn’t Likely

By Fred Barstein / Behavioral Finance, benefit education, Communication, Compensation, Confidence, Economy, Emergency Savings, Employee happiness, financial behaviors, financial insecurity, financial stress management, financial uncertainty, Financial Wellness, Health & Wellness, Health Savings Account, healthcare, Healthcare & other benefits, hiring, inflation concerns, inflation stress, personal financial advice, Recession, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Plan Testing, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern

When it comes to retirement, many middle-class workers are finding themselves in a precarious position. A significant number of American workers plans to continue working...

IRS Issues New Guidance for SECURE 2.0 401(k) Student Loan Match

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefit education, benefits committee, Change, Communication, Confidence, DC Plan Sponsors, Economy, Emergency Savings, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, ira, IRA Roll overs and Roll ins, Legislation, Plan design, SECURE 2.0, Secure Act Changes, Student Loan Debt

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently issued new guidance regarding a SECURE 2.0 Act provision that aims to provide significant benefits for employees repaying...

Why Financial Advisors Need a Strong, Purpose-Driven Brand

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, Authenticity, Change, Client connection, collaboration, Communication, Convergence, Creative approach, DC plans, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, financial behaviors, mindfulness, purpose driven brand

Building a strong, purpose-driven brand is essential for financial advisors to stand out in a crowded and commoditized market. A brand is not just about...

Aligning Retention Strategies with Talent Needs

By Fred Barstein / acquisition, Adaptability, auto enroll, benefit education, benefits committee, Communication, Economy, Employee happiness, Financial Wellness, Job growth, Recruiting and Retaining Talent, Vesting

Aligning Retention Strategies with Talent Needs In this highly competitive labor market, it’s crucial that employers implement strategies that not only focus on retaining talent...

Fidelity’s 2024 Plan Sponsor Survey: Evolving Advisor Roles & Expectations

By Fred Barstein / adult learning, auto re-enroll, Benchmarking Fees, Communication, Compensation, Consolidation, Convergence, Economy, evolving and adapting, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, financial behaviors, Financial Stress, PEP, Regs and Regulators, Target Date Funds

Fidelity Investments’ 15th annual plan sponsor survey, conducted in January 2024, reveals significant trends and shifts in the retirement plan landscape, particularly in the role...

Choosing the Right Advisor: The Case For Independent Due Diligence

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Client connection, Confidence, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Due Diligence, Employee engagement, Employee feedback, Employee happiness, ERISA Co-Fiduciaries, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Security, Financial Wellness

Choosing the Right Advisor: The Case For Independent Due Diligence Choosing the right advisor is the most critical decision a 401(k) or 403(b) plan sponsor...

Transforming the 401(k) Landscape: Embrace the Change

By Fred Barstein / Adaptability, AI, artificial intelligence, Change, Client connection, collaboration, Communication, Convergence, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Documents & testing, Economy, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Fintech Record Keepers, mindfulness, Regs and Regulators

The 401(k) and defined contribution industry is going through major changes, driven by a mix of historical events and recent developments. The COVID-19 pandemic has...

Gen Z Most Optimistic About Their Retirement Outlook

By Fred Barstein / Aging Workforce, Behavioral Finance, Communication, Communication, DC plans, diversity, Emergency Savings, Employee Benefits, Employee happiness, Employer Contribution, employer match, Fiduciary, financial behaviors, financial insecurity, financial literacy, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Future Self, generation x, Health & Wellness, Independence planning, inflation concerns, investment, Job growth, managed accounts, Millennials saving, multi-generational workforce, Partners, personal financial advice, Plan design, Plan Optimization, Plan Participation

Different generations have differing perspectives on their retirement prospects. Generation Z seems to be the most optimistic. A pair of recent BenefitsPro articles highlighted two...

Fred Barstein