401k Investments Archives - Page 3 of 61 - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

When “Co-opetition” Becomes Co-option: Why Advisor Independence Still Matters

By Fred Barstein / Advisor Independence, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Benchmarking Fees, Client connection, Co-opetition, Co-option, collaboration, Communication, competition, DC Plan Sponsors, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Independence planning, Investments, Recordkeeping, Retirement Committee

The relationship between retirement plan advisors and recordkeepers has always involved some natural tension. But as both sides expand into overlapping territory, plan sponsors need...

SECURE 2.0 Self-Certification: Why Easier Hardship Withdrawals Are Driving Plan Leakage

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, Changing dynamics, DC plans, Emergency Savings, Employee engagement, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Stress, Financial Wellness, Hardship Withdrawals & Loans, investment, SECURE 2.0, SECURE Act

SECURE 2.0’s self-certification rules mark a consequential shift in how hardship withdrawals are accessed, with meaningful implications for plan sponsors. By eliminating the need for...

In-Plan Retirement Income: From Exploration to Execution

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, Changing dynamics, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Fiduciary, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Ideal Plan, in-plan retirement income solutions, Insurance, IRA Roll overs and Roll ins, PEPs, Retirement Committee, Retirement Income, Retirement Readiness, Target Date Funds

For years, in-plan retirement income solutions have generated plenty of interest but limited action. That’s about to change. The Institutional Retirement Income Council (IRIC) is...

Student Loan Wage Garnishment Is Back and Employers Are on the Front Line

By Fred Barstein / 401k plan, AI for Retirement, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Economy, education, Employee engagement, Fiduciary, Financial Literacy, financial stress management, financial wellness, Millennials saving, Plan design, Retirement Readiness, student loan, Student Loan Debt, Student loan wage garnishment

After years on pause, student loan wage garnishment has officially returned. The Department of Education confirmed that garnishment notices went out the week of Jan....

Recordkeeper Switches Can Go Wrong Fast. Is Your Plan Protected?

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, benefits committee, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, DOL Guidance, Employee engagement, ERISA Advisory Council, fee lawsuits, fees, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Liability, financial wellness, Improving Outcomes, lawsuits, Lifestyle Benefits, Qualified Advisor, Record Keepers, Recordkeeping, recordkeeping, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Readiness

Switching recordkeepers might seem like a straightforward administrative move, but when things go sideways, the consequences can be severe. A recent lawsuit against a Florida...

Co-Manufactured Target-Date Funds: Lower Fees, But at What Cost?

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Economy, fee compression, fee transparency, fees, Financial Wellness, Retirement Readiness, Target Date Funds

Fee pressure is reshaping how 401(k) plans cover administrative costs, and plan sponsors—especially those overseeing smaller plans—are increasingly turning to a new breed of target-date...

Top 10 401(k) Stories in 2025

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, AI for Retirement, benefit education, Benefits integration, Change, Client connection, Convergence, DC plans, Emergency Savings, Employee engagement, evolving and adapting, Fiduciary, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Investments, Latest News, Latest Stories

The retirement industry saw significant transformation in 2025, with several major themes shaping how employers, advisors, record keepers, and participants navigate the 401(k) landscape. The...

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...

Free Tools Plan Sponsors Can Use to Vet Prospective Retirement Plan Advisors

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) advisor trust, 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, Client connection, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Digital Tools, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Improving Outcomes, Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services, Record Keepers, Regs and Regulators, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Fiduciary, Retirement Readiness

Choosing the right financial advisor for your retirement plan is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a plan sponsor. It’s also a...

Why Fiduciary Confusion Still Plagues Plan Sponsors

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, erisa, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Training, Financial Wellness, Plan design, Retirement Plan Fiduciary, Retirement Readiness

Despite the rapid evolution of the retirement industry, one challenge continues to surface among plan sponsors nationwide: persistent confusion surrounding fiduciary roles. Even though more...

Top 10 401(k) Stories in 2025

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