Showing all posts by Robert Richter

Participant directed investments: good, bad, indifferent

Posted by & filed under Risk & Reg Reform, Wealth Management.

Imagine a 401(k) plan that does not allow participants to direct the investment of their accounts, a plan where trustees make investment decisions on behalf of the plan as a whole. Some might consider that blasphemy. Participants want – no, they have a right – to direct the investment of their retirement accounts.

As radical as it sounds, it was not that long ago when participant investment direction was rare. Technology has been the single biggest factor in enabling plans to permit participant directed investments. Throw in a threat of fiduciary liability, some marketing, and we have a train that cannot be stopped. I am not suggesting that this train needs to be stopped. I do, however, think it is time to step back and take a look at where this train is headed.

Lifetime income – What’s on the horizon?

Posted by & filed under Transparency, Wealth Management.

As we know, resources within defined contribution. have been consumed with health care reform. As the dust settles, there will be a renewed focus on retirement plan issues, only one of which I address here – lifetime income options.

For many providers, just the thought of lifetime income options strikes a nerve. This is due to experience with pension plans where benefits must be offered as a joint and survivor annuity. Lengthy explanations are given to participants, who ultimately elect a lump-sum payment.