Monthly Archives: June 2026

Most plan sponsors worry about investment performance, participant complaints, cybersecurity, and government audits. What many don’t realize is that one of the most expensive mistakes a retirement plan sponsor can make often starts with a simple question that nobody bothers … Continue reading →

I recently read a survey showing that most Americans would prefer to solve Social Security’s financial problems by reducing benefits for affluent retirees rather than raising taxes on themselves or imposing across-the-board benefit cuts. My reaction was simple. I’m not … Continue reading →

I recently read that financial literacy in America has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. Americans answered less than half of basic financial literacy questions correctly, and younger generations performed even worse. The numbers are concerning, but they … Continue reading →

Most employers think their retirement plan fiduciaries are the committee members, advisors, and service providers involved with the plan. In reality, one of the most important players in the entire operation is usually sitting down the hall: the payroll department. … Continue reading →

Every employer wants to save money on retirement plan costs. That’s understandable. But in the 401(k) business, the cheapest option often becomes the most expensive one in the long run. Low fees sound great during the sales process. Sponsors hear … Continue reading →

Most retirement plan committees spend enormous amounts of time worrying about investment performance. They debate fund lineups, review quarterly returns, and anxiously compare performance benchmarks. Meanwhile, the risks most likely to create lawsuits, penalties, and participant anger are often sitting … Continue reading →

The retirement plan business is obsessed with automation. Automated enrollments. Automated payroll feeds. Automated notices. Automated investment rebalancing. If you listen to enough provider presentations, you would think retirement plans now run themselves. Until something goes wrong. That’s when everyone … Continue reading →

Retirement plan providers spend enormous amounts of money trying to win business. Sales presentations. RFP responses. Fee comparisons. Fancy participant education materials. But the truth is that most clients decide whether they trust you after the contract is signed. The … Continue reading →

In the retirement plan business, everyone loves to celebrate the conversion sale. New client signed. Prior provider terminated. Blackout notices sent. Confetti everywhere. What nobody celebrates is the operational mess that often follows a mid-year conversion. Mid-year conversions are where … Continue reading →

The recent Fidelity data showing average 401(k) balances dipping in the first quarter of 2026 has already created the predictable financial media panic. Markets decline a few percentage points, balances temporarily fall, and suddenly everyone starts acting like the retirement … Continue reading →