Monthly Archives: May 2026

Let’s not overcomplicate it. A federal court wiped out the 2024 Retirement Security Rule, and the Department of Labor responded the only way it really could—by reverting to the old five-part fiduciary test. That’s not reform. That’s not progress. That’s … Continue reading →

This is one of those stories where the headline sounds important, but the conclusion is something anyone in this business already knows. Student loan anxiety impacts retirement savings. Of course it does. That’s not insight—that’s reality. But what continues to … Continue reading →

For plan sponsors subject to annual retirement plan audits, the audit process can feel intimidating. Many sponsors worry that an audit will uncover problems that reflect poorly on their organization or create regulatory trouble. In reality, audits often serve a … Continue reading →

Many plan sponsors believe that once they hire a recordkeeper, TPA, or investment advisor, their fiduciary responsibilities are largely taken care of. While service providers certainly help manage the plan, there is one fiduciary duty that plan sponsors can never … Continue reading →

Many plan sponsors assume that once a retirement plan is established and service providers are hired, the plan will simply run itself. Unfortunately, that assumption is one of the reasons operational mistakes in retirement plans are far more common than … Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →