While there are 17.5 million men and women who have the legal responsibility for managing $26.6 trillion in assets held in pension plans, foundations, endowments and personal trusts, many of these so-called "lay fiduciaries" often don’t understand what they are supposed to do.
That’s a key finding of a survey conducted by the Center for Board Certified Fiduciaries, a Stonington, Connecticut-based group that will be awarding a new designation, Board Certified Fiduciary, aimed at educating lay people who take on a fiduciary responsibility.
“The CBCF will be affiliating with a leading university to provide a graduate-level certificate in fiduciary leadership, stewardship and governance,” the group said in a release, adding that, over time, it will develop curricula for the first graduate-level programs with a concentration in fiduciary responsibility.
According to the report, close to 3 million lay fiduciaries manage about $20 trillion in assets in retirement plans, while almost 13 million managed about $6 trillion in foundations and endowments, and about 1.6 million oversee more than $172 billion in private trusts.
The recently enacted OBBBA makes lower tax rates "permanent," though other provisions could still make earlier Roth conversions appealing under the right conditions.
Americans with life insurance coverage are far more likely to feel assured of their loved ones' future, though myths and misconceptions still hold many back from getting coverage.
Mounting regulatory pressures and proposed taxes are putting a strain on higher education institutions, forcing renewed focus on liquidity management and the secondary market for private equity.
Poll of 1,500 retirement plan investors finds 45% interested in private equity and private debt, with more than three-quarters saying they'd ramp up contributions as a result.
Most firms place a limit on advisors’ sales of alternative investments to clients in the neighborhood of 10% a customer’s net worth.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
