Author Archives: admin

When I read that Securian Financial is joining forces with Custodia Financial to bring their “Retirement Loan Protection” (RLP) program into more in-plan offerings, I immediately thought about how many times I’ve seen plan participants unintentionally derail their financial futures … Continue reading →

If after decades of advising retirement-plans I learned one thing, it’s this: The law doesn’t reward you for almost doing everything right — it rewards you for doing it right, and documenting you did it. So when I read the … Continue reading →

I’ve always said, “You’re only one rigorous process away from averting a major fiduciary failure.” It’s one thing to trust your advisors — but completely another to delegate without oversight. So when I saw the article in NAPA – National … Continue reading →

If you ever want to know how strong your fiduciary process really is, don’t look at the investment lineup—look at your meeting minutes. I’ve reviewed enough plan files to know that some committees treat minutes like an afterthought. You’d see … Continue reading →

Every year, I see plan sponsors spend thousands on shiny “financial wellness” programs—apps, webinars, and surveys promising to fix participant behavior. Yet, the same plans still have high loan rates, poor deferral averages, and zero engagement. Why? Because you can’t … Continue reading →

In the retirement plan world, there aren’t many do-overs. You don’t get to “try again” after a fiduciary breach, a failed compliance test, or a DOL investigation. You get one shot to get it right. I’ve seen too many plan … Continue reading →

In this business, every conference has that one person who wants everyone to know they’re the smartest person in the room. They quote obscure ERISA sections, correct speakers mid-panel, and use acronyms like they’re throwing fastballs. The problem? No one … Continue reading →

When I started in this business, plan sponsors worried about lost checks. Now, they should be worried about lost data. Back then, if a participant’s address was wrong, you mailed a letter and hoped for the best. Today, if a … Continue reading →

I’ve been in this business long enough to know that the only thing “simple” about a 401(k) plan is the way people pretend it is. Every provider brochure says “turnkey,” “easy to administer,” or my personal favorite, “set it and … Continue reading →

Somewhere in Washington, someone at the Department of Labor must have a “Fiduciary Rule” dartboard. Every few years, they take a throw, hit a new buzzword, and decide it’s time for another rewrite. We’ve had more drafts of this rule … Continue reading →