Displaying 171 results
Should private equity be in 401(k) plans?
The DOL has clarified its earlier advice on this topic, stressing the responsibility of fiduciaries whose plans offer private equity investments.
DOL warns 401(k) plan fiduciaries against offering crypto investments
The agency 'has serious concerns about the prudence' of exposing plan participants' retirement savings to investments that carry 'significant risks of fraud, theft, and loss.'
Lawsuit against DOL fiduciary rule hopes history repeats in Texas
A group representing independent insurance agents says the regulation places an undue burden on them.
Smaller firms may not be ready for DOL fiduciary rule now in force
Under the Labor Department rule that took effect this week, advisers must declare their fiduciary status and material conflicts of interest in writing and follow impartial conduct standards.
EBSA nominee Gomez again advances to Senate floor
It's unclear how political battles on other issues will affect the timeline for votes on administration nominees.
ESG investing is about to get a lot easier
Both the Labor Department and the SEC are working on proposals whose thrust is to encourage the use of ESG factors, an abrupt reversal of Trump administration policy.
DOL tones down Trump-era statements on PE in 401(k)s
In a recent supplement to a 2020 letter, the agency made clear that it does not endorse the use of private equity in defined-contribution plans.
Gomez would bring industry experience to DOL’s retirement plan oversight
The nominee to head Employee Benefits Security Administration could receive full Senate confirmation later this month.
DOL delays fiduciary rule enforcement until February
The Labor Department is giving the financial industry the additional breathing room it had sought to prepare for the new regulation.
ESG would get massive boost from DOL proposed 401(k) rule
ESG factors can be financially material, the DOL noted. And when they are not, they can be used in a tie-breaker between similar investments.
DOL proposal throws cold water on group-of-plans model
A proposed regulatory change wouldn't allow a single group of plans to have a consolidated audit, meaning that every participating employer of a certain size would have to have an annual audit.
DOL should take cue from other nations to clear up 401(k) fees: GAO
Only about a third of U.S. savers are even aware that they pay fees on their retirement plans, a new report from the GAO found.
Cyber insurance for 401(k)s rises in cost, demand
Coverage is now harder to get, and it costs more, largely due to the higher volume of attacks that resulted in higher loss ratios for insurers.
The DOL is asking 401(k)s about uncashed checks
The letters sent to plan sponsors have not included deadlines for recouping the funds, although the DOL is requesting confirmation that the participants are reunited with their money, according to one law firm.
Spark announces best practices to protect against retirement fraud
The Spark Institute's standards build upon DOL cybersecurity guidance to provide more clear-cut practices designed to defeat retirement account fraud.
DOL seeks to define ‘fiduciary’; SEC works on ESG disclosures
As the two agencies release their regulatory agendas, the SEC is also proposing to revisit rules promulgated last year when the agency was headed by former chairman Jay Clayton.
DOL is pursuing fewer cases — but much bigger payouts
Last year, the Department of Labor closed less than a third of the number of cases it did in 2014, but total recoveries were six times higher.
Legislation would require ESG factors in investment decisions
The bills amend the Investment Advisers Act and federal retirement law to promote sustainable investing. The document must describe the factors advisers use in making investment decisions and they must 'align with an ESG framework'
FSI sues to stop withdrawal of DOL independent contractor rule
The overturned Trump regulation would have provided certainty to independent brokers and advisers, FSI said. But an advocacy group says DOL has the authority to go in a different direction.
Data security concerns force the DC industry to cooperate
The recent Government Accountability Office report and even more recent Department of Labor guidance on cybersecurity hammer home the reality that protecting plan and especially participant data has become a fiduciary responsibility.
