Category Archives: Retirement Plans

Signs of an Unhealthy Plan

When it comes to your health, there are signs—little warnings your body gives you—that something might be off. You don’t ignore chest pain, blurry vision, or persistent fatigue (at least, you shouldn’t). The same is true with your company’s 401(k) … Continue reading

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The whole problem with loans

When I draft a new 401(k) plan for a client, one of the first provisions I’ll recommend—including with some reluctance—is a loan feature. Not because I enjoy dealing with it. On the contrary, it’s an administrative pain. But because I … Continue reading

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United Health is latest 401(k) forfeiture lawsuit

UnitedHealth Group is the latest big-name employer to get hit with a class action lawsuit over how it handles 401(k) forfeitures. The case, Kotalik et al. v. UnitedHealth Group Inc., accuses the company and its plan fiduciaries of violating ERISA … Continue reading

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Empower to offer 401(k) private equity investments to participants

Empower recently made headlines by announcing a bold new initiative: giving defined contribution (DC) retirement plan participants access to private market investments. On the surface, it sounds like a win—more choice, broader diversification, and the chance to tap into investment … Continue reading

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New Book: The Circle Complete June 9th with Full Circle

When I titled my new book Full Circle, I didn’t just pick a catchy phrase—I picked a truth. In life and business, we often think progress means always moving forward. But the longer I’ve worked in the retirement plan industry, … Continue reading

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Northrop Grumman is target for another Schlicter case

If there’s a Mount Rushmore of ERISA class-action litigators, you better believe Jerry Schlichter’s face is carved into it—probably right next to a 408(b)(2) disclosure and a stack of mutual fund fee charts. And once again, the law firm of … Continue reading

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The death of the department store should clue you in about the 401(k) business

The department store has been a dying business for 50 years. That’s not hyperbole—it’s a fact. Ever since the rise of the shopping mall, the explosion of discount retailers like Walmart and Target, and now online shopping, the traditional department … Continue reading

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That 401(k) Conference: Sponsoring While Not Burning You Out

When I first started my law practice, I’d get invited to sponsor networking events or plan sponsor forums. They’d ask for a check, promise big exposure, and deliver… almost nothing. The room would be filled with the wrong audience or … Continue reading

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You need a change of culture to change

Businesses in the retirement plan industry don’t collapse overnight. It’s never sudden. Like Sears, the decline drags out over years—death by a thousand paper cuts. One day you’re a major player, the next you’re just a name people remember from … Continue reading

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The Retirement Plan Dentist

About 20 years ago, there was a medical report claiming that dental plaque could cause heart disease. Now, the cynic in me can’t help but wonder if that was cooked up by the dental lobby as a way to generate … Continue reading

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