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.
Tag "Richard Bavetz"
In many small employer 401k plans, those pressures combine with poor vendor selection, weak oversight, and minimal participant education to create environments where employees pay more and get less.
The broader plan-design conversation, including “Beyond Auto-Mania,” shows a shift from simple auto-features to guided, retirement-readiness approaches. That trajectory supports treating embedded income as part of a holistic, user-friendly design rather than a fringe option.
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For fiduciaries, the comparison process must go deeper than surface-level performance. Yield is important, but transparency, diversification, and liquidity provisions matter just as much.
How can fiduciaries bridge the generational divide in 401k communication without inviting ERISA scrutiny? The strategies that follow may prove transformational.
With Supreme Court scrutiny looming, comparator standards could either narrow or widen 401k fee litigation. Plan for both outcomes now.
Such hesitation shifts the spotlight back to fiduciary fundamentals. New rules may widen the menu, but ERISA doesn’t relax the obligation to fully understand and monitor what’s offered.
Plan sponsors are more likely to stay with—and recommend—a provider that demonstrates a clear commitment to safeguarding accounts against evolving threats.
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?