Retirement plan management Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

Alternative Investments in 401(k)s: What the DOL’s New Safe Harbor Can—and Can’t—Do

By Fred Barstein / DOL, DOL Guidance, erisa, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Liability, investment, lawsuits, Plan design, Retirement plan management

When President Trump’s executive order encouraging 401(k) plans to include alternative investments first dropped, it sparked strong reactions. Some advisors warned plans to stay away...

The 401(k) Revolution Is Underway

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) advisor trust, 401k Advisor, 401k Trends, Adaptability, AI for Retirement, artificial intelligence, benefits committee, collaboration, DC Plan Sponsors, Economy, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Liability, Financial Advice, Financial Stress, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, funds, Future Self, investment, Retirement plan management, Retirement planning, retirement security

The defined contribution (DC) world—especially 401(k) and 403(b) plans—is no longer the quiet, complex corner of finance it once was. What used to be a...

PEPs: Scalable Solution or Still the Wild West of Retirement Plans?

By Fred Barstein / 401k plan, Changing dynamics, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, erisa, ERISA Attorneys, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, PEPs, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement plan management, Retirement Plan Participation

Are Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) a smart solution for expanding retirement coverage—or an overly complex, underregulated space that hasn’t lived up to expectations? PEPs were...

Rethinking Retirement Support: Time for Plan Sponsors to Step Up

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Changing dynamics, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, education, Employee engagement, Employee feedback, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Wellness, Plan design, Plan Participation, Retirement Committee, Retirement plan management, Retirement Plan Participation, Retirement planning, retirement security

With nearly 59 million employees lacking access to workplace retirement plans, according to a recent TIAA study, we’re facing a retirement readiness crisis that demands...

Hardship Withdrawals & Loans: What’s Allowed—& What’s Not

By Fred Barstein / Communication, Compliance, Emergency Savings, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Hardship Withdrawals & Loans, Health & Wellness, Retirement Plan Fees, Retirement plan management, Retirement Savings Concern

Hardship withdrawals and 401(k) loans allow employees to tap into their retirement savings in certain situations, but they come with different rules and consequences. Hardship...

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 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...

Key Questions 401(k) Plan Sponsors Often Overlook

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 401k plan, AI, benefits committee, DC Plan Sponsors, education, Employee Benefits, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Plan design, Retirement plan management, Target Date Funds

In a recent Fiduciary News article, Christopher Carosa, CTFA spotlighted several critical questions that 401(k) plan sponsors frequently neglect to ask, even though they have...

John Hancock and Vestwell Partnership Signals Digital Evolution for the Retirement Industry

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Committees, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Design, Digital Tools, education, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Improving Outcomes, innovation, investment, product quality, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement plan management, Retirement Plan Testing, Retirement Readiness, Savings Rates, specialized team

In a move that signals a significant leap forward for the retirement industry, John Hancock Retirement has launched FutureStep™, an innovative open-architecture retirement plan solution...

Empowering Retirement Security: Form 5500 Reforms

By Fred Barstein / 401k audit, 401k News, DC plans, Fiduciary, form 5500, Ideal Plan, Plan design, Plan Participation, Retirement plan management, retirement security, small plans

Empowering Retirement Security: Form 5500 Reforms The government’s encouragement for small businesses to offer retirement plans stems from a commitment to economic security and...