Home of the Registered Investment Advisor
Source: Financial Advisor (FA News)
Market and economic uncertainty may have prompted many Generation X and Y investors to hesitate over whether they should invest in a retirement account this tax year, according to a new survey. Only 45 percent of Generation X and Y investors plan to contribute to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) this tax year, according to a survey by T. Rowe Price.
By Mark Miller
Source: Registered Rep
The spoils of the 401(k) market have always gone to the large players – big retirement plan providers providing the best, most efficient plans to big plan sponsors. But small is starting to look beautiful. Some of the industry’s leading retirement plan providers have launched new offerings aimed at small workplace plans – a market segment that traditionally has born the highest all-in costs.
By Michael S. Fischer
Source: AdvisorOne
Although Americans of all backgrounds encounter similar barriers to saving and planning, cultural differences account for disparate experiences among groups, according to a study released Thursday by ING Retirement Research Institute. The study reported that all populations found retirement planning to be a daunting task. However, Hispanics felt the least prepared, with 54% saying they felt “not very” or “not at all” prepared.
By Melanie Waddell
Source: AdvisorOne
The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration last week released its long-awaited final rule on 401(k) fee disclosures, rule 408(b)(2), and in doing so extended the compliance deadline three months to July 1.
By Christopher Carosa
Source: Fiduciary News
It’s evident all 401k plan sponsors ought to periodically benchmark their plans. Benchmarking provides a clear vista from which to survey the 401k plan. This helps identify weaknesses that can be corrected and addresses important fiduciary liability issues. (This is the third in a three-part series on benchmarking 401(k) plans.)
By Darla Mercado
Source: Investment News
Rollovers into individual retirement accounts will take a bigger share of the retirement market in coming years, with large record keepers such as Fidelity Investments, TIAA-CREF and The Vanguard Group Inc. reaping the benefits. Assets in the U.S. retirement market are projected to grow to $22 trillion by 2016, a sharp increase from the estimated $16 trillion in the accounts in 2011, according to data from Cerulli Associates Inc.
By Danielle Andrus
Source: AdvisorOne
Average expenses for small retirement plans are 1.3%, according to the 401k Averages Book, which published the 12th edition of its annual benchmark report on 401(k) fees last week. Expenses for large plans are slightly lower at 1.08%. The bulk of these expenses come from investment-related fees.
By Danielle Andrus
Source: AdvisorOne
Lincoln Trust Co. recently released a report on six “megatrends” that would affect the retirement plan industry in 2012. These trends focus largely on upcoming regulatory changes, but also include wider industry changes. “This is a pivotal year,” a Lincoln Trust executive notes.
By Mary Beth Franklin
Source: Investment News
Even for the typically affluent clients of financial advisers, informed decisions about how and when to claim Social Security benefits can mean thousands of extra dollars a year, and tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Are you prepared to advise clients on this crucial decision?
By Rebecca Moore
Source: PLANADVISER.com
Partnering with a professional retirement plan adviser offers benefits for plan sponsors, according to a study for the Retirement Advisor Council. However, only 25% of 401(k) and 403(b) plan sponsors, with 100 or more employees and plan assets between $5 million and $500 million, partner with a professional retirement plan adviser.
