Short answer – for our clients, wasting money. See below for more info. 3(16) services are administrative services performed by someone else on behalf of the Plan Administrator (usually the employer) – essentially, outsourcing administrative duties such as maintaining and interpreting the plan document, providing notices, etc. We do all of this for our clients, […]
Author: Ed Snyder
Latest (latest!) on the fiduciary rule
As discussed in an earlier blogpost (and here, and here), the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, covering Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, determined that the rule is impermissible (by a 2-1 vote on a 3 judge panel). Several organizations, including AARP, requested standing as defendants but those motions were denied, and the Department of Labor, which […]
Alternative investments in retirement plans
Are they a good idea? Generally, no, let’s dive in… A simple yet usable definition of “alternative investments” is: anything that doesn’t show up on a statement from a bank, brokerage firm or similar financial institution. Some example are: real estate, privately held mortgages, collectibles, and precious metals. Most plans will permit these assets, but […]
Latest on the fiduciary rule
The fiduciary rule, explained in an earlier blogpost, makes investment advisors fiduciaries when they provide services to a plan or to an IRA investor. Here is a super-quick summary of some key points: A fiduciary must act in the best interest of participants. It is a prohibited transaction for a fiduciary to receive income from […]