ERISA

Nearly 84% of U.S.-based plans have an ERISA violation, spotlighting a need for independent benchmarking audits.

The hearing last month explored the legal process for enforcing the fiduciary duty of retirement plans to avoid excessive recordkeeping fees.

There's a new method of counting defined contribution retirement plan participants that can make a big difference for clients.

Shoring up fiduciary obligations under ERISA would be a much-needed protection for investors.

“It will dramatically expand the number of advisors who will be fiduciaries under ERISA,” says one expert.

Advocates hope the Labor Department's first clarification on the Trump-era advice rule is the beginning of a series of steps to improve advice standards.

Some advisory firms have already started narrowing their lists of funds considered eligible for retirement plans based on Trump’s decision to overhaul ERISA.

The rule has faced a host of criticism from investors, environmentalists, asset managers and others.

More than 130 fund management and financial advisory firms have written letters opposing the plan. And the complaints keep coming.

To protect client nest eggs, advisors must know which savings vehicles are protected — and they’re not all created equal.