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.
Tag "target date fund"
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.
AI fiduciary traps refer to compliance risks arising from inaccurate, biased, or undocumented AI outputs in 401k plan administration. Do you think the tort bar is salivating over this, waiting for that inevitable misstep?
By proactively addressing these critical 401k plan sponsor questions, sponsors can enhance their plans, protect participants, and shield themselves from unnecessary fiduciary exposure.
For ERISA fiduciaries, the challenge is clear: move beyond the default, and design a 401k plan that truly serves the diverse needs of its participants. In doing so, you not only safeguard retirement incomes but also reinforce the trust placed in you by those relying on your expertise.
Here the intent is to make it possible for a plan/IRA to apply the QDIA safe harbor to involuntary rollovers. But how will this impact plan participants?
This has been the most challenging of best practices. It has evolved over the years from “you can’t do that” to “you need to do that.” What does it take to make it better? Has the technology environment changed in such a way as to address long-standing obstacles.
For all the good intentions, however, what will happen when the rubber finally meets the road? Will the new DOL Fiduciary Rule really level the playing field?
5 Underreported 401k Stories From The Summer Of 2025
Not all impactful changes come from courtrooms or market forecasts. Sometimes the quietest adjustments happen in the administrative framework of retirement plans. This summer, two such moves stood out as underreported 401k stories that carry both promise and peril for fiduciaries.