Category Archives: ERISA

More Warnings About Stable Value Funds

Posted on March 11, 2016 by investsense

Another excellent article highlighting the issues regarding stable value funds and fundamental fairness issues re windfall profits often taken by SVF issuers. http://www.morningstar.com/advisor/t/67716370/stable-value-funds-a-disclosure-dilemma.htm

Posted in ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Those “Great” Stable Value Funds Exposed

Posted on March 6, 2016 by investsense

So many 401(k) plans and plan participants have fallen in love with these products without truly understanding how they work, especially how they can benefit the companies offering them at the plan participant’s expense. This Morningstar article by Scott Simon … Continue reading →

Posted in Common Sense, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Things Every 401(k) Participant and Plan Sponsor Should Know – 2017

Posted on January 18, 2016 by investsense

As a wealth preservation attorney, one of the primary issues I address is the quality of a client’s investment portfolio. Far too often I see excellent estate planning strategies sabotaged by horribly unsuitable investment portfolios. Since many estate planning strategies … Continue reading →

Posted in ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement Planning, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stable Value Funds and Disclosure Issue Regarding Fees

Posted on January 16, 2016 by investsense

While I like to post original content for my blog, sometimes I run across articles that just say it as well, sometimes better, than I could. This article from Morningstar presents evidence on Stable value funds that every investor should … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God Bless Charles Ellis

Posted on October 24, 2015 by investsense

I am often asked what I feel is the best investment book for investors and what one piece of advice I would give investors. Fortunately, the answer to both is the same – read “Winning the Loser’s Game” by Charles … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does Your 401k Owe You Money?

Posted on November 20, 2014 by investsense

In addition to this blog, I also write for the Paladin Registry. I just posted a new article on excessive fees within 401k plans. The article is available at  http://iwd.paladinregistry.com/products/401k-plan-owe-money/

Posted in Asset Protection, ERISA, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Fraud, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Portfolio Planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwing 404(c) Participants (And Sponsors) Under the Bus: ERISA Section 404(c) False Promise of “Sufficient Information”

Posted on June 3, 2014 by investsense

The Supreme Court’s decision in LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates(1) in 2008 started a trend recognizing the need for greater protection of participants in defined contribution pension plans. The LaRue decision signaled the long overdue recognition by the judicial … Continue reading →

Posted in ERISA, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wealth Preservation and Those Pesky 401(k)/403(b)/IRA Beneficiary Forms

Posted on March 9, 2014 by investsense

Everybody hates paperwork. So when employees and investors are asked to fill out all the paperwork associated with 401(k) plans and individual retirement plans (IRAs), most people just enter something without giving it  much thought. When I was a compliance … Continue reading →

Posted in Asset Protection, Common Sense, ERISA, Investment Advice, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, IRA, Life Advice, pension plans, Retirement, Retirement Distribution Planning, Retirement Plan Participants, Retirement Planning, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1 + 1 = 34: The True Impact of Mutual Fund Fees

Posted on February 3, 2014 by investsense

One of the most common mistakes I see investors make is failing to understand the true cost of investment fees. Many investors dismiss an annual management fee of 1 percent as “just” 1 percent. Just as investment returns compound over … Continue reading →

Posted in ERISA, Fiduciary, Investment Advice, Investment Advisors, Investment Portfolios, Investor Protection, pension plans, Portfolio Construction, portfolio planning, Retirement, Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Management, Wealth Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Hidden” Assets – Potential Liability Implication of the LaRue Decision for Attorneys, Fiduciaries and Their Clients

Posted on November 26, 2013 by investsense

During a recent deposition of an executor, I asked the executor, a bank trust officer, whether the bank had evaluated the defined contribution plan in which the deceased had participated. The trust officer replied that the funds in deceased’s account … Continue reading →

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