Monthly Archives: August 2021

Talk to your client

I have been an ERISA attorney for almost 23 years now and it’s gone by pretty quickly. I have worked for a few ERISA attorneys and have seen quite a few out there giving speeches around here and there. Probably … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

When trust is gone, turn out the lights

I’ve gone back into collecting sports cards because I need hobbies these days since I’m no longer involved in my synagogue and one of the interesting things I’ve discovered is something called card breaks. A sports card dealer buys a … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

Don’t nickel and dime your employees

As I’ve stated before, I wouldn’t hire employees because I was an employee once too. That pretty much means that I never met an employee whoever thought they were overpaid. For that matter, I never met an employer who thought … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

Tell them like it is

One of the big parts of my practice is assisting third-party administrators (TPAs) who can’t or don’t want to afford an ERISA attorney on staff. I recently had to answer correspondence regarding the payout of a participant who was deceased … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

Credentials and Awards may mean nothing

A Long Island business newspaper once named my old law firm’s administrator as its Chief Financial Officer of the year and the first thing I asked at the time was: “How big was the ad?” That’s because my old law … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

Make Sure It’s Not Just A Gimmick

A few years back, a good friend of mine who is an ERISA §3(38) fiduciary won a case from a disgruntled broker who claimed that all 3(38) services were just marketing. A 3(38) fiduciary that does a competent job and … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

Don’t Nickel and Dime Plan Providers

I sell some stuff on eBay. I’m selling collectibles I no longer want for collectibles I do want (vintage graded sports cards). I set a starting bid and a buy it now price and occasionally I’ll get the eBay member … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

The problem with mini-fiefdoms

The Brady Bunch was probably everyone’s vision of what a perfect family was. There two sets of a parent with three children of their own and together they blended the families and everything ended up happily after a 22-minute episode. … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

Some guidance on retroactive plans

One of the most annoying parts of being an ERISA attorney was the requirement that new retirement plans be adopted by the last day of the Plan Year, making December 31st a very busy time of year. The Setting Every Community … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

FPS rebrands as IPX

Retirement plan services provider FPS Group has changed its name to IPX Retirement. FPS Group has been a strong supporter of That 401(k) Conference, appearing at most of our events, and will be part of That 401(k) National Virtual Conference … Continue reading

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment