The Preferred Return Podcast | Spin-outs and New Fund Sponsors
AdvisorEsq Podcast Series - Episode 8 - Executive Insights: Succeeding as a COO at an RIA Firm
SEC’s New Cyber Rules for Publicly Traded Companies — The Consumer Finance Podcast
A 2024 Economic Outlook - Troutman Pepper Podcast
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion - New Federal Rule Aims to Hold Investment Advisors to a Higher Standard
PLI's inSecurities Podcast - The Dangers of Regulation by Enforcement
Cornerstone Research Experts in Focus: Jules van Binsbergen
Podcast Episode 189: Adding Context to Compliance and Color To Your Legal Practice
Top-Tier Data Centers in Underserved Markets - TAG Infrastructure Talks Podcast
ESG and SEC Enforcement in 2022
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME! PART II - Embracing the Magic of Private Placement Life Insurance and Private Placement Variable Annuities
Three Timely Benefits Items Everyone Should Know
Cutting Costs With Employee Benefit Plans (Part 4 of 5) – Retirement Plan Costs
Investment Management and Private Funds Roundtable: TALF 2020 and PPP Update
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – The annuity regulatory landscape
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – Advisers Act regulatory agenda
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – Fiduciary investment advice: The patchwork emerges
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – SEC enforcement
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – Regulators step up pressure to implement LIBOR transition plans
Podcast: Questions & Concerns About Documentation: A Conversation with Colin Adams, M-III Partners
The Department of Labor’s final regulation defining fiduciary status for investment advice to retirement investors will be effective this September 23. Where a fiduciary recommendation results in additional compensation for...more
The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a new regulation defining fiduciary “investment advice” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended, and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of...more
The Department of Labor ("DOL") recently issued a regulatory package that includes a final rule updating ERISA's definition of an investment advice fiduciary and amending certain related prohibited transaction exemptions...more
On April 23, 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) released its Final Rule 4.0 regarding ERISA fiduciary investment advice, including amended exemptions for conflicted investment advice. Our initial analysis of the Final...more
For the second time in a decade, the Department of Labor (DOL) attempted to expand the reach (and requirements) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). On April 23, 2024, DOL succeeded and announced...more
Executive Summary - Many investment advisers and other financial institutions rely on the Department of Labor’s QPAM Exemption when providing services to, and transacting with, employer-sponsored retirement plans, individual...more
On April 3, 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) released its final rule amending Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14). PTE 84-14 exempts from ERISA’s prohibited transaction rules certain transactions between...more
In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor released its package of proposed changes to the regulation defining fiduciary advice and to the exemptions for conflicts and compensation for investment recommendations to...more
This newsletter provides updates employers should be aware of heading into 2024, including an outline of the updated 2024 retirement and welfare plan limits, instructions related to the “gag order” attestation requirements...more
On October 31, 2023, following its announcement by President Biden, the US Department of Labor (DOL or Department) released its Proposal 4.0 regarding ERISA fiduciary investment advice, including amended exemptions for...more
The Department of Labor (DOL) recently advised that a program under which Citigroup Inc. (Citi) subsidizes investment management fees for its employee benefit plans’ diverse investment managers could be implemented without...more
In 2021, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued cybersecurity guidance (the DOL Guidance) that sets out the DOL’s views on what processes fiduciaries of benefit plans regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act...more
Fiduciaries responsible for the investment of almost $30 trillion in U.S. retirement funds are required by federal law (ERISA) to discharge their duties “solely in the interest of participants and beneficiaries” for the...more
Collective investment trusts (“CITs”) have become an increasingly popular choice for 401(k) plan investment menus over the past decade, consistent with a trend toward lower-cost investment options that has been driven, in...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has issued a final rule (the “Final Rule) addressing how ERISA fiduciaries may consider environmental, social and governmental (ESG) factors in making investment decisions for retirement...more
Unfiltered 401(k) Views On What Is Going On Now - For years, dating back to college and law school, I had an unfiltered view of things. I have strong opinions and the opinions are based on my experiences. The problem,...more
Advisors ask me all the time about the role of education in participant-directed 401(k) plans. Participant-directed 401(k) plans that are governed under ERISA §404(c) offer the plan sponsors liability protection based on a...more
I was a first-year law student participating in moot court, just because all second-year students participated even when I knew I had zero interest in ever being a litigator. In those days, my mother would buy me these cheap...more
If you’re a closely held business or not, changes do happen. Whether it’s leadership or who serves as your plan’s trustee, change will likely happen. The problem sometimes is when the plan document has been updated to reflect...more
I had a great time on Joshua Itzoe’s podcast and one point, he brought up was that I was a proponent and defender of third-party administration (TPA) firms. If you followed me on LinkedIn when I started my practice 11 years...more
On Columbus Day, I was running an errand in my Prius V, and a woman in the right lane crossed over and hit my car. The woman immediately followed me into a parking lot. I was mad because I had damage and the car would have to...more
If there is one situation that I see consistently with plan providers landing in trouble, a good chunk of the time is when they put their needs ahead of the needs of their clients. The needs of the client should always come...more
The thing I hated most of my time at that certain Long Island law firm was that the only thing they ever seem to care about what how many hours you billed per month. I still contend that monthly billable requirement leads to...more
Don’t Be Like These 401(k) Plan Providers - The beauty of being an ERISA attorney is that when you think you’ve seen it all, you’ve seen something new. While most plan providers are professional, ethical, and competent,...more
I sell some stuff on eBay. I’m selling collectibles I no longer want for collectibles I do want (vintage graded sports cards). I set a starting bid and a buy it now price and occasionally I’ll get the eBay member who’ll ask...more