Author Archives: admin

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of the Treasury issued Notice 2026-13 on January 15, 2026 — a key update for retirement plan sponsors and administrators responsible for communicating rollover distribution options to participants. This guidance revises the safe … Continue reading →

Big headlines in retirement plan litigation don’t just hit household names; they’re a reminder that fiduciary duty doesn’t come with automatic immunity for size or reputation. Last week, a $70 million ERISA class action lawsuit was filed against the Bloomberg … Continue reading →

Every plan provider says the same thing: “We work with everyone.” That sounds inclusive, but it’s terrible marketing and even worse strategy. The most successful TPAs and advisors I know don’t chase everyone—they own niches. Doctors, law firms, unions, family … Continue reading →

For decades the advisor sales pitch sounded like a broken record: better funds, better performance, better returns. The problem is that every advisor says the same thing, and in a world of index funds and target-date glidepaths, “better investments” isn’t … Continue reading →

Running a 401(k) plan isn’t just about picking a fund lineup and hoping employees save enough for retirement. It’s about process, documentation, and proving that you acted like a prudent fiduciary even when markets misbehave. I always tell plan sponsors … Continue reading →

Too many employers talk about their 401(k) plan the way they talk about free coffee in the break room—as a perk, a nice extra, something to mention in the benefits brochure and forget about until renewal season. That mindset misses … Continue reading →

I’ve walked into more companies than I can count where the 401(k) plan gets the same level of attention as the office copier—nobody thinks about it until it breaks. The copier jams, people complain, someone calls the vendor, and life … Continue reading →

Every few years, someone in Washington rediscovers the 401(k) and decides it should be used for something other than retirement. This time, it’s housing. The latest proposal floating around would allow people to tap their 401(k) accounts—penalty-free—to fund a home … Continue reading →

When companies talk about mergers and acquisitions, the conversation usually revolves around tax treatment, valuation, and deal structure. What often gets overlooked—until it’s too late—is the 401(k) plan. From a retirement plan perspective, the difference between an asset sale and … Continue reading →

Most 401(k) problems don’t start in the plan. They start in payroll. Plan sponsors tend to think of payroll as an administrative function and the 401(k) as a separate benefits issue. That separation is convenient—but it’s also wrong. Payroll is … Continue reading →