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More Retirees Carrying Mortgage Debt (PDF)

"Perhaps the most dramatic finding of the 2013 study is that 67 percent of pre-retirees expect to carry mortgage debt into retirement ... Also noteworthy is that 33 percent expect to carry non-mortgage debt into retirement compared to 22 and 23 percent in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Among the boomers who expect to carry any kind of debt into retirement, more than half (56 percent) expect they'll owe $25,000 or more."

Conflicted Revenue Capture: How Revenue Sharing As a Profit Center Can Affect Plan Sponsors (PDF)

"Plan service providers who utilize Conflicted Revenue Capture create fiduciary traps for their clients, who are often lured by the promise of 'free' or very low perceived cost plan recordkeeping.... Conflicted Revenue Capture has been the subject of much litigation against both plan sponsors and service provides over the past decade, culminating in the recent case of Tussey v. ABB, Inc.... [P]ractical plan sponsor questions are presented along with a suggested fiduciary best practice."

Best Practices for Meeting Prudent Person Standard on 401(k)

Excerpt: Securian identified six best investment fiduciary practices for retirement plan sponsors. They include: Maintaining an investment policy statement with clear goals and objectives for the plan. Meeting ERISA section 404(c) requirements when constructing an investment array so employees can create diversified portfolios of varying degrees of risk that meet their investment needs. Prudently selecting and monitoring a default investment that qualifies as a Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA). A QDIA provides a plan with relief from the fiduciary liability of investment outcomes for participants using the plan's default investment option, according to Securian. Avoiding proprietary fund requirements. Some investment firms bundle their investment options, forcing plan sponsors to include options that may not fit the plan's investment policy, Securian officials said. Demanding fee transparency and revenue neutrality. Selecting an investment array that is appropriate for employees' knowledge and skill levels, thus preventing employee investment decisions that can be harmful to their ability to meet their retirement objectives.

Creating a Successful Due Diligence Process for Evaluating Investment Options (PDF)

"Building and monitoring an investment array for a qualified retirement plan is a complex task with numerous difficult decisions.... [T]his paper ... shows employers what to look for in a service provider's due diligence process."