This week is all about those wayward 401k features that are well beyond their expiration date. Careful, though. In the process, you’ll see what’s garbage to one is a work of art to another.
Tag "fiduciary"
![Five Favorite 401k Features We Can’t Live Without](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/five-favorite-pexels-spike-cuizon-5378678-660x395-1-scaled-505x306_c.jpg)
This week we’ll be focusing on those favorite features as judged by the retirement plan professionals we interviewed. Don’t be surprised if over the next few weeks you discover that one provider’s treasure is another provider’s trash.
![What Professional Fiduciary’s Really Think Are 401k Plan Sponsors’ Biggest Challenge](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/man-vs-machine-pexels-pavel-danilyuk-8438918-660x395-1-scaled-505x306_c.jpg)
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.
![A 401k Plan Sponsor Fiduciary Puzzle: Are Low Fees High Risk?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/dangerous-1040641-660X395-scaled-505x306_c.jpg)
You cannot understate the fiduciary aspect of lower fees. Most 401k plan sponsors, and especially those in smaller plans, don’t have the time or expertise to administer their company’s retirement plan. If they skimp on fees, are they also skimping on the fiduciary protection those professionals are supposed to provide?
![Exclusive Interview: Expert Witness Scott Simon Testifies On Common Trust Law And The ERISA Fiduciary](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/W.-Scott-Simon-Photo-660x395-1-505x306_c.jpg)
“The ERISA plaintiffs’ bar has overlooked the potential value of the Restatement’s prudent investor rule and its application to litigation involving 401k plans.”
![The Diminishing Returns Of Group Fiduciaries Forewarns Of The Dangers Of Government Retirement Solutions](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bowling-7-10-split-chicago-cameraslinger-Qao5KTNI9LY-unsplash-660x395-1-505x306_c.jpg)
This dilemma isn’t new. Trust officers have had to face it for generations. It’s called a “split-interest” trust. Multiply this split interest problem by the number of beneficiaries in a typical retirement plan and you can see how this conflict grows more complex.
![How Stock Pickers Incorporate (Or Don’t) ESG And Stay Within Their Fiduciary Duty To Clients](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Apple-Mac-jonny-caspari-d21CGQKtJh8-unsplash-660x395-1-505x306_c.jpg)
While this might ruffle the feathers of ESG activists, those responsible for the day-to-day work of picking stocks have the real-world experience to fully understand where Buffett is coming from.
![Is ESG Investing A Problem For Fiduciary Duty?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Earth-First-photo-boards-D0xQQsZovws-unsplash-660x395-1-scaled-505x306_c.jpg)
The Biden Rule, like the Trump Rule, does not encourage or discourage the use of ESG criteria when selecting investments. This allows fiduciaries to either adopt ESG principles or ignore them.
![401k Experts Believe These Are The Most Critical Fiduciary Priorities](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ch_pski-bylXfUFJylU-unsplash-660x395-1-scaled-505x306_c.jpg)
Not only do you need to watch the place that holds all the money, you need to watch the pipeline that feeds the money there.
![Can Cost Trump Your Fiduciary Duty?](https://fiduciarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/wim-van-t-einde-4y3efE_x-NU-unsplash-660x395-1-scaled-505x306_c.jpg)
If a fiduciary feels carrying out legal duties entails a high cost, there is an acceptable strategy for dealing with this, but the fiduciary must execute it before the client signs the contract.