ERISA does not require fiduciaries to predict market tops. It does, however, require a prudent process for selecting and monitoring investments.
Tag "Jeff Coons"
That is the line committees cannot afford to miss. They cannot interfere, but they also cannot ignore. Those two verbs define the narrow lane that fiduciaries must stay in if they want delegation to work as intended.
Viewed through that lens, a 401k Christmas wish list isn’t just about outcomes, but about predictability. A stable rulebook can make it easier to design, monitor, and maintain plans that work in practice as well as on paper.
Seasoned advisors caution plan sponsors not to confuse delegation with disappearance. Every fiduciary duty can be shared. None can be erased.
By proactively addressing these critical 401k plan sponsor questions, sponsors can enhance their plans, protect participants, and shield themselves from unnecessary fiduciary exposure.
Here’s where the real disconnect kicks in: participants and pros don’t speak the same language on risk. Participants “feel” it. Meanwhile, advisers whip out rulers like standard deviation or some index, measuring volatility in neat little boxes.
The promise of automation glitters like a golden ticket, but it’s not without its shadows.
The tangled web of ERISA regulations grows worse each year. Is this too much for companies responsible for maintaining 401k plans?
It’s tempting to turn your attention to your company, some academic theory, or even—hush!—“best practices.” The truth is, as a fiduciary, you only have one job.
401k New Year Opportunities
The calendar flipped to 2026, and with it came a fresh crop of 401k new year opportunities. Will this be the year 403(b) plans finally shed legacy costs, SECURE 2.0 provisions hit their stride, and markets remind participants that risk never really sleeps?