Monthly Archives: May 2021

When the government calls, call an ERISA attorney

The worst thing you can do is to handle things that you can’t. The one thing that plan sponsors can’t handle and shouldn’t is when they are contacted by the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor for an audit … Continue reading

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Pay on that bonus

Bonuses are something I don’t know much about since the only bonus I got was $300 three months after I started as an ERISA attorney. What I do know about bonuses is my role as an ERISA attorney and I … Continue reading

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Hire an advisor when you get an employee

I’m still amazed when I find participant-directed 401(k) plans without a financial advisor. While I understand how solo 401(k) plans don’t have an advisor because individuals think they can do it on their own, it makes no sense when you … Continue reading

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Introducing That 401(k) University

You don’t have time, I get it. So I will be developing a YouTube series of 8–10-minute videos by myself, or with other plan providers on how you can help your retirement plan business. The first video can be found … Continue reading

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Now Do You Care About Your 401(k) Plan? Well, You Should

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

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Dropping the plan document ball

One of the problems with being a plan sponsor is trying to make sure that when it comes to the interaction and work of plan providers that the “ball” isn’t dropped. The problem for the plan sponsor, most of the … Continue reading

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Yesterday’s funds in today’s lineups

If you ever want to know what the top mutual funds were 3-5 years ago, you can look at the mutual fund lineup of many 401(k) plans today. While it may sound like a joke, it isn’t. Too many 401(k) … Continue reading

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Those answers on that 5500, you may hear from the government

The purpose of an audit of Form 5500 is to make sure that plan sponsors voluntarily comply with the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA. Sometimes, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or Department of Labor (DOL) audit is done randomly and … Continue reading

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It doesn’t have to be this way

Thalidomide was supposed to be the wonder drug that helped women manage morning sickness until they discovered it caused birth defects. Asbestos was supposed to be the ultimate fire-resistant material that was later found out to cause mesothelioma when produced … Continue reading

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Look within

The best way to keep clients is to look at what you’re doing as a plan provider and what is out there in the marketplace. If you are a third-party administrator (TPA) and the competition is having much success offering … Continue reading

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