Due Diligence Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

Plan Sponsor Finds New Value Through Advisor Review

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) advisor trust, 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, Benefits integration, Communication, DC plans, Due Diligence, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Retirement Readiness, rpaDD

Regularly reviewing your retirement plan advisor is one of the smartest moves a plan sponsor can make. It ensures the person guiding your plan is...

Are Managed Accounts the Future of 401(k) Defaults?

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, 401(k) Plan Management, 401k News, Alternative Investing, benefit education, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Due Diligence, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Ideal Plan, Improving Outcomes, investment comittee, Investment Managers, Investments, managed accounts, Mutual Fund Fees, Plan Conversion, Plan design, Regs and Regulators, Research, Target Date Fund, Target Date Funds

As retirement plans evolve, so do the default investment options offered to participants. Target date funds still dominate the market, but attention is shifting toward...

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...

Why Advisor Due Diligence Matters for 401(k) and 403(b) Plan Sponsors

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, 401k News, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Due Diligence, Employee engagement, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, HR, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, Retirement plan management

Many plan sponsors are recognizing the complex responsibilities tied to managing retirement plans. While ERISA requires them to act as prudent experts, most lack formal...

The 10 Biggest Mistakes Plan Sponsors Make with Their Retirement Plan Advisor

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 401k plan, 401kCafé, benefit education, Communication, Compliance, DC Plan Sponsors, Due Diligence, Fiduciary, HR, Ideal Plan, Plan design, Plan Participation, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, Retirement Plan Fiduciary, Retirement Plan Participation, Retirement Readiness

We were overwhelmed by the response to the April 2nd 401(k) Café 30-minute webinar, “What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You.” Many of you were...

Annual Benchmarking Is a Must for Plan Sponsors

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, auto enroll, auto escalate, Auto Portability, Benchmarking & Fees (ERISA, retirement plan), Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Benchmarking Fees, Benchmarking Funds, Benefits integration, Communication, Compensation, Compliance, Consolidation, Convergence, cybersecurity, DC Plan Sponsors, Documents & testing, Due Diligence, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, investment, Recordkeeping, Regs and Regulators, Retirement Committee, Retirement Plan Fees

Evolving regulations mean plan sponsors continue to face increasing scrutiny when it comes to their fiduciary responsibilities. A recent analysis of 50,000 retirement plans in...

Raising the Bar: Essential Traits of Top Retirement Plan Advisors

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, AI, artificial intelligence, Authenticity, Change, Client connection, Communication, Confidence, Convergence, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Design, Digital Tools, Due Diligence, education, Employee engagement, Employee feedback, Employee happiness, Family involvement, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Health & Wellness, mindfulness, participation, Private Wealth & Retirement Planning, retirement advisor satisfaction, Retirement Advisor Specialist, Retirement Plan Advisor

Over the past few decades, the role of Retirement Plan Advisors (RPAs) has drastically expanded. What once involved basic oversight of investment portfolios and fulfilling...

Important Considerations for Hiring a Retirement Plan Consultant

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, auto re-enroll, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, benefit education, Compliance, cybersecurity, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Digital Tools, Due Diligence, Employee training, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial therapy, Financial Wellness, Retirement Advisor Specialist, Retirement Plan Consultants, Retirement Readiness

Working with a retirement plan consultant can help you design and offer a competitive retirement plan benefit to attract and retain top talent. A good...

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...

Convergence in DC Plans: Challenges, Opportunities & the Path Forward

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, Change, Client connection, Communication, Convergence, Due Diligence, Economy, Employee training, evolving and adapting, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, mindfulness

The defined contribution industry is buzzing with the potential for advisors and providers to leverage the convergence of wealth, retirement, and benefits at the workplace. ...