Several early reports suggested the DOL appeared ready to compromise their fiduciary principles by harmonizing with other agencies. The transcript reveals a surprising reality.
Basic Members
For all the public comments offered at the DOL’s Public Hearing on the definition of the Definition of Fiduciary, perhaps the most important statement was the one offered by Assistant Secretary to open the hearings.
In a week where the new Form ADV became official, we discovered it can increase fiduciary liability for 401k plan sponsors for the same reason it is supposed to help them. In the meantime, the fiduciary finger now points squarely at brokers alone, plus more news on pensions and Target Date Funds.
The SEC’s new Form ADV Part 2 makes it harder for 401k Plan Sponsors to feign ignorance when it comes to conflicts of interest.
A day in the life of a fiduciary, from a foreboding dawn, to the doom of high noon, to the sun setting on an old friend, to the restless night. What a week it’s been.
What has the average 401k participant’s account accomplished that neither public employee pensions nor several major college endowments have?
Just as the problems with Target Date Funds go mainstream, the GAO asks the DOL to look into disclosure rules that could torpedo annuities in 401k plans. Oh, and the House calls the SEC’s bluff.
You’d trust someone who had your interests at heart. Would you give your trust to someone who didn’t? How can you tell if someone places your interests first?
This week sees more on the part of the BD industry trying to pit the DOL against the SEC, the revelation of an interesting “opt-out” feature in the new DOL financial definition that may invalidate the entire effort and a surprise response from the SEC.
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Fiduciary News Trending Topics for ERISA Plan Sponsors: Week Ending 4/8/11
For all the talk of the new definition of fiduciary and the fiduciary standard, an old favorite topic returned to trending this past week. Can you guess what it is? Here’s a hint: It impacts nearly every 401k and IRA investor.