Author Archives: admin

Down goes Pentegra in a jury trial verdict

If you’re a 401(k) plan provider and think you can get away with charging sky-high fees while prioritizing your own bottom line, think again. A federal jury just reminded us all—fiduciary responsibility under ERISA isn’t just a suggestion, it’s the law. In … Continue reading

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T. Rowe launches Pension Linked Emergency Savings Account

T. Rowe Price announced today the launch of in-plan emergency savings accounts (ESAs) for participants in retirement plans. This ESA solution was made possible by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, which includes a provision for pension-linked emergency savings accounts. … Continue reading

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Surprise. Nasdaq 100 survey shows demand for Nasdaq 100 fund

Nothing surprises me much anymore, neither should the results of the survey that a Nasdaq 100 survey supports the inclusion of Nasdaq 100 index funds. According to the Annual Nasdaq-100 Retirement Plan Survey, nearly 80 percent of 401(k) plan participants … Continue reading

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I’m an ERISA attorney, curb those inappropriate LinkedIn sales pitches

Look, I get it. There are a lot of lawyers out there. Ambulance chasers, courtroom showmen, legal eagles with late-night TV spots and suspiciously white teeth. But here’s the thing: I’m not one of them. I don’t sue over wet … Continue reading

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Choices are good unless it cannibalizes your business

You know what everyone’s talking about lately in the retirement plan world? Pooled Employer Plans — PEPs! Yeah, PEPs. Like they’re the second coming of sliced bread. Spoiler alert: they’re not. I’ve been talking to a bunch of TPAs, advisors, … Continue reading

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Affiliated plan providers of big plans get slaughtered

Following a jury’s decision to award over $38 million to a class of more than 26,000 participants in Pentegra’s multiple employer plan, the issue of working with providers affiliated with the plan sponsor highlights the potential conflict of interest that … Continue reading

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“Crawling Through a River of (Metaphorical) Sewage: What The Shawshank Redemption Taught Me About Law Firms, Narcissists, and Freedom”

Let’s get one thing straight: The Shawshank Redemption isn’t just about prison. If you think it’s just a story about a guy escaping through 500 yards of foulness, you’re missing the point—and probably still stuck in your own version of … Continue reading

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I will never understand a TPA asset based fee

Alright, listen—I’m stubborn. I admit it. There are just some things I don’t understand, and when I don’t understand something, it sticks with me. It burrows into my brain like a woodpecker with an agenda. So I get this call. … Continue reading

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Being aggressive on your mistakes could be a bad idea

Many moons ago, I got a call from a bank with a problem. For two decades—yes, twenty years—they had failed to include bonuses as part of plan compensation. The kicker? They were supposed to. This wasn’t a gray area; the … Continue reading

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Gambling against a government audit is a bad bet

I love Las Vegas. Great restaurants, great shows, and five trips in a row without dropping a nickel into a slot machine. Why? Because I hate gambling. I hate losing even more. Honestly, just getting out of bed every morning … Continue reading

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