Fiduciary Compliance

How Do You Know When It's Time for a New Retirement Plan Advisor?

As a benefits professional, the relationship you have with your retirement advisor is a crucial one. Their role is to help you navigate some of the most complicated aspects of your job. A few phrases we often hear employers use to justify sticking it out with their current advisor are (even if the relationship isn’t working): "I think my advisor does everything they're supposed to do, performing an advisor search isn't worth the effort, and we've been doing business with them for years." Relationships are important in business, but it's not always equitable to getting the best service possible and doing what's right for your organization and, most importantly – your employees?

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IRS Updates 2021 Pension Plan Limits

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Blog Post

Effective January 1, 2021 the IRS announced the 2021 Pension Plan Limitations. These changes will take effect in the upcoming tax year for retirement plans. 

Check out our infographic that details all the changes you'll want to be aware of in the upcoming year when it comes to your role managing an employer-sponsored retirement plan. 

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6 Ways to Protect Yourself as a New Fiduciary

Okay, you have accepted the invitation to become a fiduciary for your company’s retirement plan. Now what? Here’s a simple rule to follow: As a plan fiduciary, you must always act in the best interest of the plan’s participants and their beneficiaries. No exceptions!

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed as you prepare for your first retirement plan committee meeting, so to help we have assembled a few best practices to help you get ready.

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Overcoming Unique Retirement Challenges in the Non-Profit Sector

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Blog Post

Anyone who works in Human Resources knows the positive effect offering high-quality employee benefit programs can have on a workforce. They attract the best potential candidates for new jobs and foster a sense of loyalty and support among current staff, to name a few. No matter the size or industry, administering employee benefits, particularly the retirement plan, can be a complicated process. While the same basic goal may apply to companies and organizations, non-profit organizations face unique challenges when ensuring their retirement plan benefit is the best fit for employees, as well as the organization. 

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Final Ruling: What Does the New Fiduciary Rule Mean for You?

You may have heard about announcement of new Department of Labor (DOL) fiduciary rules today. In reviewing the final regulation’s highlights – I think the DOL has worked very closely with many industry practitioners in an effort to construct a workable rule that best serves working Americans while also recognizing the importance of advisors and service providers in creating successful retirement plans.

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New ACA Reporting Requirements For Employers

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Blog Post

 This article was authored by Theodore P. Stein, Esq. of Offit | Kurman. 

The Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) reporting requirements for employers shifts into high gear this year.  In 2016, for the first time, employers who sponsor group health plans are required to file annual returns with the IRS describing their health plans and the health plan choices made by their employees.

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