The Sooner You Know About SEC’s Newly Proposed Rule the Better
With the DOL’s Fiduciary Rule seemingly gone, what’s next on the block for fiduciary regulation? The Security and Exchange commission has been planning its own fiduciary rule and regulation rehaul as well. So now that the Federal Register has published the SEC’s proposed reform to investment advice policy, we have a better idea of what...Read More
How Much Do You Really Know About Avoiding Fiduciary Liability?
If you are a plan fiduciary, then under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), fiduciaries can be held personally liable for losses to a benefit plan incurred as a result of their alleged errors or omissions or breach of their fiduciary duties. It is a tough law aimed to make plan fiduciaries...Read More
3 Must Have Tools To Grow Your 401K Business
Growing your 401(k) business is about delivering value, plain and simple. If you demonstrate unique value in your proposal by optimizing costs and benefits of a retirement plan, then you can easily justify your fees. But what do you with that great analysis when CFO doesn’t respond? This is why we released Larkspur Executive, a...Read More
What you need to know about the Lower Fee Classes Report.
Like an MRI machine for a doctor, the Low Fee Alternative report allows an advisor to diagnose problems within a plan. For example, it can identify closet index funds in a plan that is paying for an expensive actively managed fund that is quantitively similar to index funds. One of the pillars of fiduciary rule...Read More
8 Mistakes Advisors Can Make When Approaching a Retirement Plan
1. Not enough research. Many advisors automatically assume that financial planning expertise will translate into plan success. You need to actually learn the space and study governance best practices plus lingo to have any chance. 2. Lack of sales experience makes it difficult for some advisors to approach a plan sponsor and represent their financial analysis...Read More
How to Distinguish Yourself from the Competition as a Plan Advisor
Most of the advisors may do very little to distinguish themselves from the competition. By making yourself stand out from the crowd, you stand a far better chance of winning the business. This can be done by bringing their attention to things other plan advisors are not, like lower cost investment alternatives, issues with fiduciary...Read More
A Must Have Checklist for Retirement Plan Advisors before an Important Meeting or Call
Not preparing before a meeting or phone call can be a major mistake for Retirement Plan Advisors. Research is a key. Go online to review the company website, LinkedIn profile, Facebook page and google for business articles. Review the current plan and all the Historical 5500 filings in Planisphere. 1. Plan Assets beginning of the...Read More
Reasons Why Retirement Plan Advisors and Providers Need to Work Together
An article from Investment News discussed the need for Retirement Plan Advisors to change their approach and the way they work with providers. The article goes on to list several reasons why this is necessary; including the fact that “more assets are moving into target-date funds and passive investments”. The need for marketing is underlined...Read More
What Retirement Plan Advisors Can Offer to Plan Sponsors
In recent article/vlog on 401ktv a plan sponsor discusses the importance of working with a Retirement Plan Advisor and the benefits that one can provide to plan sponsors. The article, notes that a strong plan advisor needs to have impeccable communication skills and stresses the importance of financial coaching. The vlog discusses how plan advisors can help...Read More
Robo-adviser that helps find other robo-advisers?
A recent Tearsheet article, mentions a new startup whose primary focus will be to help clients find digital investment products while incorporating a robo-advice model into its strategy. One of the interesting features of the company includes an artificial intelligence chat bot which will offer a personalized experience to all its users. The company promises...Read More