Browse: Home /
Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of Interest
All fiduciaries – whether they deal solely with retirement plans, individual trusts or act in a professional category – have a duty to avoid self-dealing. This applies to your vendors, too. Learn how to sniff out hidden conflicts-of-interest, what circumstances might increase their likelihood and how to avoid them.
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | January 31, 2012
The adage you can’t serve two masters is as old as the Bible. So why are 401k plan sponsors making this mistake and why is the DOL allowing them to do so?
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged 12b-1, best interests, directed broker, fee, Fiduciary Standard, liability, prohibited transaction, revenue sharing, Ron Rhoades, sole interests
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | November 29, 2011
Worse, “all-in” might not be all it’s meant to be, possibly invalidating other results from the same survey. Here’s why.
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged All-In, fee, Fee Disclosure Rule, ICI, ICI 2011 Fee Study, investment option, Pension Protection Act of 2006
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | September 7, 2011
Is this the last gasps of a dying business model whose ruins new life seems destined to find rebirth?
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged conflict of interest, DOL, ERISA, fee, fiduciary, Fiduciary Rule, Fiduciary Standard, IRA
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | June 21, 2011
The result of a new J.D. Power & Associates survey poses a double jeopardy for 401k plan sponsors. In the end, though, there’s only one correct answer to the question.
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged 3(21), 3(38), 401k, ERISA, Fiduciary Standard, Investor Satisfaction Survey, J.D. Power
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | April 14, 2011
On the one hand SEC Chairman Shapiro wants to “put the client first.” On the other hand, she delays addressing a conflict of interest research has shown to hurt investors. Is there a method to this madness?
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged 12b-1, DOL, Fiduciary Standard, SEC
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | January 19, 2011
This one paper almost accidentally seals the deal for the fiduciary standard, exposes the conflict-of-interest created by 12b-1 fees and, dare we say, touches the forbidden third rail of all investment research…
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged 12b-1, active, fee, fiduciary, Fiduciary Standard, mutual fund, passive
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | November 9, 2010
Was a major financial professional organization covering up some important data in their comment letter to the SEC? Or is the industry’s 401k defense of 12b-1 fees much ado about nothing?
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged 12b-1, Aikin, Alfred, Ferrigno, fiduciary, ICI, liability, Power, Wohlner
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | October 18, 2010
Right now, disclosure is often a boiler-plate after thought, printed in fine-print legalese, not the sort of alarm-bell regulators assume it to be. If a fiduciary knowingly relies on this false siren, what are the risks?
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged behavioral economics, disclosure, Yale
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | August 18, 2010
Fiduciary News interviews an industry spokesman, who, on the condition of anonymity, shares a shocking point in the SEC 12b-1 proposal that has, to date, failed to receive the media coverage one might expect.
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged 12b-1, 401k, ERISA, fiduciary, liability, SEC
By Christopher Carosa, CTFA | August 12, 2010
As industry players take predictable sides, will 401k plan sponsors benefit from seeing how the sausage is made?
Read the full story...
Posted in Conflicts of Interest | Tagged 12b-1, fiduciary, recordkeeping
