The example the researchers chose was a British company. The fact the study was not conducted within the framework of the ERISA environment may call into question its relevance to plans in America.
Education
The twist is this: The bad news is only a fraction of the people will be able to save $4.3 million for retirement because the average salary is too low. The good news is most people won’t need to save $4.3 million because, thanks to living on a low average salary, they are accustomed to spending far less.
The challenge is plan sponsors often can’t determine if an account is forgotten until some triggering event. And by that time, it’s too late.
The antiseptic compliance regime spelled out by the DOL and ERISA has to date defined fiduciary services. Perhaps, if we’re going to consider what is “beyond” that sterile definition, we might want to go back to the future. In a sense, rediscovering where “fiduciary” initially came from might suggest where it is headed.
Back then, at least, we knew who wore the white hats and who whore the black hats. Today, thanks to muddled and often conflicting regulations for multiple agencies, everyone is wearing fifty shades of gray.
The key intent of this strategy is to allow freedom to and reward long-term employees who have accumulated the skills the company needs to compete.
Still, it seems most financial professionals feel anything that brings people closer to the road towards financial independence should be encouraged.
Overall, nearly 1 in 5 companies still have not adopted auto-enrollment. There are common reasons why companies would not include auto-enrollment in their plans.
The root of these broader fiduciary concerns lies within the domain of compliance. Everything derives from what the regulators require, what any DOL audit might look at, and what might pique the interest of class-action attorneys.
Oddly the first question, the one asked from the plan sponsor’s perspective, came back with a slightly different answer (identifying appropriate investment options and then providing employee education regarding those options). This second question, from the professional fiduciary’s outlook, adds a bit of emphasis on fees. Are the different responses significant? Is the similarity in responses a problem?
