Author Archives: admin

The Real Reason Plan Providers Lose Clients

When plan providers lose a client, the first assumption is usually pricing. The advisor must have found a cheaper recordkeeper. The TPA must have been undercut by a competitor. The bundled provider must have offered a lower asset-based fee. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

Why Good TPAs Are Harder to Find Than Good Quarterbacks

Anyone who works in the retirement plan industry has heard the complaint from advisors and plan sponsors alike: it’s getting harder to find a good TPA. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. Being a third-party administrator today requires a combination of legal … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

IRS Proposes Rules for “Trump Accounts”

Whenever Congress creates a new savings vehicle, the legislation is only the beginning. The real work begins when the IRS and Treasury try to translate the statute into operational rules. That’s exactly what we’re seeing now with the proposed regulations … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

What the DOL’s New Enforcement Priorities Mean for Plan Sponsors

If you want to understand where the Department of Labor is headed on retirement plan investigations, the agency recently provided a roadmap. The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) updated its national enforcement projects, which essentially signal where investigators will focus … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

The IRS Just Updated 402(f) Notices — And If Yours Are Outdated, That’s On You

In the world of retirement plans, it’s easy to overlook the fine print — until someone sues you over it. The IRS just reminded us why distribution notices matter with the release of Notice 2026-13, which updates the safe harbor … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

The IRS Just Updated 402(f) Notices — And If Yours Are Outdated, That’s On You

In the world of retirement plans, it’s easy to overlook the fine print — until someone sues you over it. The IRS just reminded us why distribution notices matter with the release of Notice 2026-13, which updates the safe harbor … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

If You Don’t Define Your Value, Someone Else Will Define Your Price

Fee compression isn’t coming. It’s here. Every provider I speak to says the same thing: “We’re losing deals on price.” But here’s the uncomfortable question — are you losing on price, or are you losing on clarity? If a prospect … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

ERISA Doesn’t Care That You’re Busy

Plan sponsors are busy people. Running a business involves managing employees, customers, vendors, and finances. In the middle of all that, a 401(k) plan can feel like just one more administrative burden competing for attention. The problem is that ERISA … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

Conference Booths Don’t Close Business

We’ve all seen it. The branded tablecloth. The stress balls. The bowl of candy. The hopeful smiles. And then… nothing. Conferences don’t generate revenue. Relationships do. Too many providers treat conferences like fishing expeditions. Set up the booth, wait for … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment

Your 401(k) Plan Isn’t “Fine.” It’s Just Quiet.

I can’t tell you how many times I hear this from plan sponsors: “The plan is fine. No one’s complaining.” Silence is not a fiduciary audit. Participants rarely complain about fees they don’t understand, investment lineups they didn’t choose, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Plans | Leave a comment