John Iekel

Fidelity has changed the way it manages its 401(k) plan. That took some convincing — it had been sued by 29 current and former employees on behalf of 50,000 of their peers over conflicts of interest in its plan. But the settlement they reached had something for both parties; and for employees, that... READ MORE

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) have named members to the commissions they have established to make retirement savings secure. ASPPA members are among those they have named to the groups. Christie on Aug. 8 appointed nine members to a non-partisan commission... READ MORE

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition — or, rather, an IRS or Department of Labor (DOL) audit. And yet, it can’t hurt to be ready for one. Of course, the best way to be ready is to comply with the law and regulations and follow best practices. But there are practical steps one can take to be ready... READ MORE

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has identified companies that offer advances in exchange for receiving all or part of their pension funds and questionable practices that may put plan participants at risk. “Pension Advance Transactions: Questionable Business Practices Identified,” a... READ MORE

Offering participants too many options can discourage enrollment. But what’s the “sweet spot” in terms of the optimal number of enrollment options? A test by Fidelity found that 78% of participants preferred a three-part enrollment option — and that those who chose that option contributed more. In... READ MORE

Is the Form 5500 worth filling out and filing in the first place? Not everyone is convinced, reports Benefitspro. But file they must, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has come to the rescue, offering suggestions in its recent report, “Private Pensions: Targeted Revisions Could Improve... READ MORE

It’s easy for inertia to take over when financial decisions have to be made, especially when it comes to investment choices in a 401(k) plan. In “Using Re-enrollment to Improve Participant Investing and Provide Fiduciary Protections,” a white paper prepared for JP Morgan Chase & Co., Fred Reish... READ MORE

Is Washington obsessed with rollovers? ASPPA Executive Director and CEO Brian Graff thinks so. “There’s no one who doesn’t care about this issue. There is an obsession with the rollover issue in D.C.,” said Graff in the July 22 webinar, “Washington Update: Rollovers, Rollovers, Rollovers — it’s All... READ MORE

Target date funds (TDFs) are growing and likely to comprise a larger percentage of 401(k) assets, says Paladin Registry, an independent educational resource for investors. Paladin cites statistics from Target Date Solutions that project that TDFs will grow by 30% per year for the next six years and... READ MORE