"Over the last 12 months, the [DOL] has quietly ratcheted up its examinations of firms that serve retirement plans, including brokerage firms, registered investment advisers and third-party administrators ... The Labor Department is examining how these companies get paid and whether their compensation poses a conflict of interest ... A Labor Department spokesman confirmed the examinations and said the effort is part of bigger push by the agency to examine all areas of employee benefits, including health and welfare plans."  MORE >>