Monthly Archives: March 2012

Making sure you get the plan services you bargained for

People can promise you the moon, but they may deliver far less. That is why despite the promises made by your plan providers; you should always read their contract to determine whether they are actually delivering you what they promised. … Continue reading

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What is a reasonable plan fee?

Thanks to the fee disclosure regulations of Section 408(b)(2) and 404(a)(5), all of us in the retirement plan industry are a little fee-centric or fee-aphobic (depending on your role in the business). The question I get a lot from a … Continue reading

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The first casualty of fee disclosure?

The third party administration (TPA) business is the Rodney Dangerfield of the retirement plan industry, they don’t get any respect. TPAs do the bulk of the work and get all of the blame if things go bad and none of … Continue reading

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401(k) Plans after Fee Disclosure

My latest article on JDSupra.com can be found here.

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Your client may not like it, but they will have to

When it comes to my law practice, I have an open phone call policy. I entertain phone calls from financial advisors and TPAs around the country and try to help them by answering questions regarding their current clients or potential … Continue reading

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The DOL comes down from the mountain

For some reason whenever I hear there is an appearance by a Department of Labor official at an American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), I think of Charlton Heston coming down as Moses with the Ten Commandments. I … Continue reading

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Some plan providers will never be ready for fee disclosure

When it comes to the fee disclosure regulations, I was always troubled by the frequent delays by the Department of Labor in implementing the Section 408(b)(2) fee disclosure regulations. Many plan providers and retirement industry trade groups wanted the delay … Continue reading

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Retirement Plan Sponsors’ Ideas that Looked Good on Paper at the Time

My latest JDSupra.com article can be found here.

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MA to sponsor MEP?

Apparently, a multiple employer plan sponsored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts just awaits Gov. Patrick’s signature into law in order to be implemented. While any retirement plan that promises to cover more employees and act as a cost effective plan … Continue reading

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….And FINRA Justice for All

For the longest time, Al Pacino was my favorite actor (I think Clint Eastwood finally surpassed him). Pacino earned an Academy Award nomination for a film that is pretty much forgotten “…And Justice For All”. For the longest time I’ve … Continue reading

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