Changing Recordkeepers Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

The Next Wave of 401(k) Record Keeper Consolidation

By Fred Barstein / Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Consolidation, Convergence, Financial Wellness, Record Keepers, recordkeeper consolidation, Recordkeeping, Regs and Regulators, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence

The 401(k) record-keeping industry is entering a new wave of consolidation, with more providers expected to merge or exit in the next three to five...

The Future of Aggregators: Key Takeaways From the 2025 Roundtable

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, Aggregators, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Changing Recordkeepers, Client connection, DC plans, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Investment Managers, Plan Acquisition, Recordkeeping, Regs and Regulators, Retirement Committee, Roundtables

Aggregator Roundtable 2025: How RPAs and RIAs are Reshaping Workplace Saving and Benefits

The 2025 Aggregator Roundtable brought together leaders from major RIA and RPA aggregators to discuss how workplace retirement, wealth, and benefits are converging. With fees...

The Coming Battle Over 401(k) Participant Data

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, 401(k) Plan Management, Changing Recordkeepers, DC plans, Employee Data Protection, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, financial wellness, Investment Managers, participation, personal financial advice, Recordkeeping

The 401(k) industry is heading toward a major conflict over who can access and use participant data. Record keepers and advisors both depend on this...

Switching Retirement Plan Providers? Don’t Skip These Steps

By Fred Barstein / Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, DC plans, Employee Benefits, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, HR, Lifestyle Benefits, Plan design, Plan Optimization, provider due diligence, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, Retirement plan providers, Roth 401k, Roth Contributions, Third party administrators

Changing retirement plan providers sounds straightforward. Move from Provider A to Provider B, transfer the assets, and you’re done. But anyone who’s actually been through...

Empower Lawsuit Highlights Need for Better Recordkeeper Oversight

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, Changing Recordkeepers, DC plans, erisa, ERISA Attorneys, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, lawsuits

A new lawsuit against recordkeeper Empower raises serious questions about how retirement plan providers use participant data for cross-selling purposes. The allegations, if proven true,...

Automation Is Reshaping the 401(k) Industry

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, AI for Retirement, automation, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Tools, Due Diligence

The 401(k) industry is undergoing a major shake-up. As technology rapidly transforms how retirement plans are evaluated and selected, automation is accelerating a wave of...

The 10 Biggest Lies Told to 401(k) Plan Sponsors

By Fred Barstein / 401kCafé, benefit education, Change, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, fee transparency, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, HR, product quality, Record Keepers, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, Retirement Plan Fees, Retirement plan management, Retirement Readiness

At the May 401(k) Café webinar for plan sponsors, Fred Barstein, revealed the 10 biggest lies told to 401(k) and 403(b) plan sponsors. Despite ERISA’s...

Who Should Help 401(k) Participants: Advisors or Record Keepers?

By Fred Barstein / 401k plan, AI, benefit education, benefits committee, Changing Recordkeepers, collaboration, Communication, competition, DC Plan Sponsors, education, Employee Benefits, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Private Wealth & Retirement Planning, Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services, Retirement Plan Advisor

As the retirement industry shifts focus from just saving to helping people use their 401(k) money wisely, a big question has come up:Who’s best suited...

The Coming of Age for Defined Contribution Plans

By Fred Barstein / 401k plan, Adaptability, AI, AI for Retirement, Changing Recordkeepers, collaboration, Collective Investment Trust, Convergence, DC plans, Digital Tools, Economy, Financial Advisors, Record Keepers, Target Date Funds

The 401(k) Industry Is Growing Up—Fast. With $12.5 trillion in assets, 100 million+ accounts, and 800,000 plans, 401(k) and 403(b) plans have officially moved from...

How Consolidation & Convergence Are Shaping the 401(k) Industry

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, acquisition, Adaptability, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Consolidation, Convergence, Digital Tools, Employee happiness, Financial Wellness

The 401(k) industry is undergoing significant changes due to consolidation and convergence, driven by the increasing demand for plan sponsors to support employees and the...