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The 5 biggest threats and opportunities for 401(k) advisers
Declining fees and record keepers pose strong headwinds, while plan design and participant engagement could be boons for business.
401(k) DCIOs: Some are folding, holding and doubling down
It behooves plan advisers to pay attention to their asset-management partners, because advisers rely on them for marketing and practice management support and guidance.
The upside-down 401(k) world is about to change
Parts of the 401(k) plan that are currently customized will become mass-produced, and vice versa.
Shifting DCIO distribution offers opportunity for 401(k) advisers
Some asset managers traditionally focused on selling through advisers are bypassing them to go directly to 401(k) plan sponsors.
How did the DOL fiduciary rule change the world for 401(k) advisers?
The rule is a blip for elite plan advisers, but there are a number of ways inexperienced advisers are reacting.
Market forces could cause fundamental changes to small and midsize 401(k) markets
The Labor Department's fiduciary rule and pending MEP legislation may drastically reduce entrenched inefficiencies at the smaller end of the retirement market.
Stepping out of the defined contribution ‘echo chamber’
Relying on mainstream concepts is becoming dangerous for retirement plan advisers when working with clients.
Simple disclosure of conflicts touted by opponents of DOL fiduciary rule not effective
Retirement plan fee-disclosure rules from 2012 show that sponsors — and likely participants — rarely read such notifications and, if they do, don't understand them.
Advisers struggle to get 401(k) plan, participant data from record keepers
Advisers argue they need to see participant information to do holistic planning and be fiduciaries.
Private equity adds fuel to 401(k) record-keeper consolidation
Private-equity firms have snapped up a bunch of record keepers, perhaps motivated by access to millions of participants to whom they can sell a variety of financial product
Death of the ‘blind squirrel’ 401(k) adviser greatly exaggerated
More than 200,000 inexperienced retirement plan advisers aren't going to exit the market overnight.
What will be the next big thing for 401(k) plans?
401(k) plans have changed markedly over the past few decades, through the proliferation of mutual funds and the growth of target-date funds and automatic plan-design features. What's next?
Pooled employer plans set to dominate small 401(k) market
Market forces are in place for the so-called pooled employer plan (PEP for short)…
Metamorphosis of DC investment-only wholesalers
Why asset manager units focused on these plans, facing some harsh realities, are in a state of change.
Will the DOL fiduciary rule kill 401(k) plan referrals?
The regulation may not cause a flood of new referrals as non-specialists exit the 401(k) market. It might actually have the opposite effect.
How retirement plan advisers can create the ideal practice
Building a successful defined-contribution business is much different than growing one focused on individuals.
