Convergence & Advisor M&A Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

Hybrid Advisors Lead the Wealth–Retirement Convergence

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) advisor trust, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, Creative approach, Financial Advisors, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Hybrid Advisors

Market Volatility and 401(k) Plans Navigating the Impact of Recent Tariff

A new NMG Consulting DC Advisor Insights study led by Joshua Dietch reveals that the convergence of retirement and wealth management is reshaping the advisor...

401(k) Plans Are Changing—Here’s Why

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k plan, Adaptability, Changing dynamics, Client connection, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DC plans, erisa, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Retirement Plan Advisor, WealthManagement.com

The 401(k) industry is buzzing about private markets, crypto, ESG, and PEPs, but these trends pale in comparison to the real forces reshaping retirement plans. ...

Will Wealth Advisors Start Managing More 401(k) Plans?

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k plan, AI, AI for Retirement, artificial intelligence, Client connection, Consolidation, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Tools, Retirement Plan Consultants, WealthManagement.com

More 401(k) plans are being created because of state rules and tax incentives, but most wealth advisors aren’t rushing to get involved. They usually focus...

Wealth + Retirement: The Race to Stay Relevant

By Fred Barstein / AI for Retirement, Change, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, Financial Literacy, Financial Wellness, participation, Plan Conversion, Private Wealth & Retirement Planning, Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Plan Advisor

A major broker/dealer recently asked if the convergence of wealth and retirement is real—and the answer is yes. But the real question is: Who’s equipped...

The Recordkeeping Industry Faces an Existential Moment

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, Communication, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DC Plan Sponsors, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, innovation, investment, Recordkeeping, Retirement Plan Advisor

The 401(k) recordkeeping industry stands at a pivotal moment. With $12.5 trillion in assets and 121 million accounts, recordkeepers are navigating intense pressure driven by:...

The Ongoing Consolidation of the 401(k) Industry

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, Consolidation, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DC Plan Sponsors, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Improving Outcomes, participation, RPA Aggregator Roundtable, RPA Consolidation

The 401(k) industry is experiencing consolidation, driven by plan sponsors who are becoming more involved in managing their plans. This consolidation follows a four-stage process:...

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...

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...

Voya’s Acquisition of OneAmerica: What Advisors Need to Know

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, acquisition, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Change, Compensation, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, cybersecurity, DC Plan Sponsors, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, investment, Plan Acquisition

Voya’s recent acquisition of OneAmerica’s retirement division is noteworthy, particularly due to the significantly lower price compared to previous industry acquisitions. This deal highlights the...

Key Takeaways from the 6th Annual RPA Roundtable & Think Tank

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Benchmarking Fees, Benchmarking Funds, benefit education, collaboration, Committees, Communication, Compliance, Conflict of Interest, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DOL, Economy, evolving and adapting, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, financial wellness, participation, Recordkeeping, Regs and Regulators, Retirement Committee, Retirement Plan Committee, Senior Management Engagement

At the 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable held in NYC September 4 and 5, key themes centered on the convergence of wealth management and retirement...