"As record keeper consolidation disrupts service and relationships with the larger brands, many of which are focusing on participants' services and offering almost zero-profit pricing, which puts them in competition with advisors, independent record keepers exist in a totally different universe. Their cost structure with much fewer field salespeople and lower corporate overhead does not require the same type of scale to survive or thrive, with owners and senior managers directly involved in the day-to-day." MORE >>
"Retroactive adoption of cash balance plans is a powerful tax planning tool for business owners aiming to reduce taxable income while accelerating retirement savings. CPAs play a crucial role in identifying potential candidates for this type of plan and coordinating with plan administrators." MORE >>
"As larger providers get scale, cost savings diminish with each acquisition. The holy grail is offering participants wealth services ... Depending on the business models and market focus, the list of viable record keepers may be limited. ... Advisors need to narrow their partnerships to record keepers, first, not likely to exit the market, but also are willing to collaborate with reasonable rules of engagement, allowing for both parties to make money, which requires advisors to have scale, savvy and determination as providers go through the same process themselves." MORE >>
"DataDasher Inc. CEO Alexander Kearns claims financial advisers can save as many as 10 to 15 hours per week when AI is implemented in daily workflows with responsibilities such as pre-meeting briefs, follow-up communication and on-demand portfolio context." MORE >>
"The Life Insurance and Annuities Committee, an arm of the [NAIC], plans to consider adoption of an Annuity Best Interest Regulatory Guidance and Considerations document [on December 9] ... Some state regulators want the guidance to help states ensure that annuity sellers treat clients well. Groups for annuity issuers and sellers want the guidance to reduce the odds that annuity sellers will have to cope with state and federal regulation at the same time." MORE >>
"Finding issues is second nature for TPAs. Whether it's failed ADP tests, nondiscrimination risks, or plan design flaws, you catch these issues in an instant because spotting them is second nature to you. But if clients hear 'it's wrong,' without a clear understanding of why it's wrong, then they can walk away feeling overwhelmed. Stacking problems on problems makes the plan feel like a burden instead of a benefit.... [I]nstead of stopping at the problem, pair it with a clear, actionable solution." MORE >>
"[R]espondents are looking for deeper conversations with their advisors, and especially on topics including how to file Medicare benefits in the future. Fifty-six percent of respondents who work with a financial professional say they haven't received advice on how and when to file for Medicare, and 72% of all respondents, despite whether they do or do not receive guidance, plan to ask about or work with a professional who can offer Medicare advice." MORE >>
"In a recent survey of retirement plan participants aged 40 -- 60, a top concern emerged: the fear of outliving retirement savings. This anxiety received an average rating of 4.29 out of 5 ... Despite this overwhelming interest, only 3% of participants had heard of in-plan annuities -- a product specifically designed to meet this need. This gap between consumer desire and product awareness signals a significant market opportunity." MORE >>
"By recognizing the behavioral barriers that truly drive hesitation, annuity advisors and other related professionals can reframe conversations, build confidence, and guide clients toward decisions that ultimately support their long-term financial goals and security." MORE >>
"Law firms that have long advised private equity giants on mergers and acquisitions -- and often bill more than $1,000 an hour for their services -- are joining the industry's latest treasure hunt: prying open America's 401(k)s.... All told, nearly $13 trillion is sitting in 401(k) accounts and other defined-contribution retirement plans. Tapping into that trove could help plug gaps left by deep-pocketed pensions and endowments." MORE >>
"Annuities are a potential solution for this challenge, but when the word 'annuity' comes up, many clients still recall old-school products with high commissions, confusing terms and limited flexibility." MORE >>
"[S]ome may contend that [complexity has] been taken to an art form, but there are tools to address it ... Automation, partnership, and standardization are not the only tools that one can use ... [Questions to ask] about existing plans and procedures in order to reduce complexity for the plan and participants [include] What do you do well? What you can engage a partner on? Who does it serve? What do I have control over? What do I not have control over?" MORE >>
"Multitasking, especially in meetings with plan sponsor clients or internal teams alike, quietly erodes trust, clarity, and ultimately, could impact the retirement outcomes of your plan sponsors' participants. However, the solution isn't to police devices or ban technology altogether. Instead, it's about designing meetings that are purposeful, structured, and worthy of attention. In other words: the antidote to distraction is not restriction, but relevance." MORE >>
"Enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening compliance and risk functions, and staying competitive with peers are leading reasons in-house counsel cited as primary motivations to implement Al." MORE >>
"Private equity's influence on service sectors ... has revealed a troubling pattern: quality can suffer when profit extraction takes precedence.... [P]rivate equity (PE)-backed roll-ups and shifting policy stances are changing how retirement plans are advised and constructed. Fiduciaries must scrutinize ownership structures, compensation models, and product incentives or risk exposing participants to degraded outcomes." MORE >>
"The third-party administrator (TPA) necessarily wears many hats for retirement plans. Who better than TPAs themselves to talk about some of the hats they're wearing and how they fit? A recent panel did just that." MORE >>
"Back-to-the-office requirements arrived as the Pandemic waned, but in many cases, on a modified, or hybrid, scale that still incorporates remote work on some days. It appears that for now, at least, the genie is out of the bottle and will not be going back in any time soon. That spells challenges for any employer -- including those that serve retirement plans and offer them. They have to find remote control. Or build it." MORE >>
"Three former Morgan Stanley financial advisers ... [allege] the agency acted unlawfully when it issued an advisory opinion siding with Morgan Stanley about whether certain deferred compensation plans are protected under [ERISA]. The lawsuit ... claims the DOL's [Advisory Opinion 2025-03A] violated the Administrative Procedure Act and unfairly interfered with ongoing arbitration proceedings." [Sheresky v. Chaves-DeRemer, No. 25-8935 (S.D.N.Y. complaint filed Oct. 28, 2025)] MORE >>
"While only 19% of respondents' recent retirement decisions were influenced by a professional, 83% of those working with an adviser said they felt confident in managing investments.... Advisers are now using wealth management technology to gain visibility into all client's accounts -- not just those held at their own firm. This shift allows for more personalized, effective advice and a stronger financial strategy overall." MORE >>
"Adapting to today's environment does not mean taking on massive, high-risk transformations. In fact, some of the most effective strategies are incremental and pragmatic. Modernize platforms gradually.... Elevate operational excellence. ... Adopt adaptive workforce models. ... Strengthen data foundations." MORE >>
"Competition is expected to intensify in the mid-market defined contribution (DC) plan market in the coming years as asset managers seek to gain a foothold in an 'attractive market' ... To maintain and grow their presence in this segment, asset managers will need to remain focused on the advisors and consultants working with these plans, namely independent DC specialist practices and the retirement aggregators that are acquiring specialist practices, the report suggests." MORE >>
"TPAs will have to decide whether to buy, build, or outsource their AI technology.... [T]he speed at which AI enhancements are coming to market may sway the calculus for many TPAs.... Traditional TPAs that underinvested in technology because there wasn't an overriding demand now realize they must embrace automation tools, platforms and systems or be left behind." MORE >>
"A SOC 2 review evaluates the design and effectiveness of a firm’s controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. By undergoing this assessment, service firms can demonstrate transparency in their internal practices, reassuring clients and stakeholders that their sensitive data is being handled with the highest standards of care." MORE >>
"Granted, RPAs must know the basics and help clients set up and run their retirement plan, minimizing work (time), liability and costs while integrating wealth and benefits services.... But before we pick a lane or personal brand, we must know ourselves, which can be a lifelong journey, maybe longer. " MORE >>
"[1] Has your client acknowledged the policy change without treating it as a green light? ... [2] Can their recordkeeper actually handle daily pricing? ... [3] How often is the sleeve actually valued? ... [4] What happens when everyone wants out? ... [5] Can you defend the all-in fees to your client (and can they defend them to a judge)? ... [6] Where's the performance edge? ... [7] Are they telling participants the truth? ... [8] How will performance be measured?" MORE >>
