As we near the end of our annual investment due diligence meetings for plan year 2024, I am reminded that the job we do is such a blessing. To be trusted with any employee’s retirement savings is a privilege, and we appreciate those who put their faith in us to do it well. If you […]
In the 401(k) world we, as specialists in the space, spend a substantial amount of time consulting with plan sponsors on a handful of big decisions when starting or operating an effective retirement plan. Most of these revolve around some of the main fiduciary aspects like managing a prudent lineup, making sure that plan design […]
Another year is coming to an end and another round of chaotic but fun family times is upon us. This has not been a normal year in the 401(k) world. We’ve had a lot of fun, but also a lot of change and a sprinkle of “they said what?” moments. As a lighthearted […]
When either starting or evaluating a 401(k) plan, choosing the right partners is paramount to the overall success of the plan. These are typically the Recordkeeper, the Third Party Administration (TPA), and the plan’s investment Advisor. When choosing these providers, there are many considerations around what is the best fit for you and your […]
As a plan sponsor, running an effective 401(k) plan can be time consuming and take your focus away from your day-to-day responsibilities. With the stress of your everyday job sometimes pieces of a 401(k) plan can be pushed to the side. One part of an effective 401(k) plan that is often overlooked is education. […]
We have likely heard the latest phrase in the news “forever labor shortage” or perhaps you are even experiencing this right now in a hiring process. To some, it certainly feels like the economy is humming along and creating jobs, but finding the right candidate to fill a role is becoming increasingly difficult. To others, […]
Christmas is a wonderful time of year. Personally, it’s one of my favorites! Each year it’s a time to remember the things we’re thankful for and spend time with loved ones. For this article, I wanted to take a different approach to both share some blessings and hopefully a funny anecdote. This year has been […]
In the retirement plan advisory business, there are three types of plan advisors. The first is the traditional plan investment advisor. This type of advisor will simply monitor the plan’s core menu of funds and make recommendations on when/what to change. The second is more of a plan specialist role. They’ll manage the plan’s […]
Recently the Employee Benefit Research Institute released the 2023 “Retirement Confidence Survey Results” and the results are eye opening. Within the last 18 months we’ve seen some historically bad market volatility, including the worst year ever for the bond market in 2022, recent highs in inflation, and three of the biggest bank failures on […]
By now, I’m guessing that most people reading this have heard that the Secure Act 2.0 was passed by Congress and signed into law late last year. The second iteration of the Secure Act was crafted with the intention of increasing employee retirement savings while also expanding access to company retirement savings plans. With […]