Hot Topics in International Trade with Braumiller Law Group: Customs Broker Modernization Regulations 19 CFR 111
Investment Management Roundtable Discussion – Data Privacy and Security
SEC Activity with Fixed Income and Credit Funds
Bill on Bankruptcy: Easterbrook Turns the Tide on Student Loans
Confirmations: Plugging Into Electronic Confirmations
Bill on Bankruptcy: Rakoff Reverses Himself in Madoff Case
During the next several weeks, we will publish a series of articles that dive deeply into “health plan hygiene” relating to health and welfare benefit plan fiduciary issues and how employers can protect themselves in this...more
The most valuable feedback is something you can act on. A broker who takes a consultative approach doesn’t just give you options but uses their expertise to provide actionable insights. Let’s face it—not all Human Resources...more
In March, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s Division of Examinations announced its 2021 examination priorities. The SEC has committed to focusing its investigations on, among other issues, “attendant risks...more
The recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (“CAA”) requires new disclosures for brokers and other consultants providing services to certain group health plans. Under the CAA, “covered service providers”...more
Buried in the year-end Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) is a provision that requires group health plan brokers and consultants to make comprehensive fee disclosures similar to those that apply to retirement plans. As...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (the “DOL”) on June 29, 2020 issued a release (the “Release”) proposing an important new initiative for retirement accounts (“Plans”) that are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security...more
Owners and employees of smaller organizations often find themselves stretched in many directions. With all of the demands on one’s time associated with operating a business, it is not uncommon to see attention to the...more
The CFPB announced that it has entered a settlement with Mark Corbett to resolve the Bureau’s allegations that Mr. Corbett violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act in connection with his brokering of contracts providing...more
Edward Jones is going to pay $3.2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging they were using investments in the 401(k) plan to enrich themselves....more
The US Department of Labor’s (DOL) fiduciary standard rule has been befuddling the financial services industry for the past seven years. In its simplest form, it increases accountability for the brokers, planners and...more
The Financial Stability Board—that Swiss-based grand collection of central bankers and regulators from the world’s biggest economies—has upped the systemic importance ranking for three of America’s biggest banks, including...more
I’ve heard so many negative things about the impact that the fiduciary rule will have on the retirement plan business, you’d think Irwin Allen made a disaster movie of it. You’d think it was the 11th plague to free the...more
Merrill Lynch has already staked out the position in response to the DOL’s retirement account fiduciary duty rule that it would no longer offer commission-based IRAs to retirement savers. Yesterday, it effectively doubled...more
Experts saying how many brokers are going to leave the retirement plan business reminds me of the radio report that Henry Hill heard in the shower about the Lufthansa heist, in Goodfellas. Like the loot stolen in the heist,...more
Employers and their financial advisors should consider enacting a multi-step plan amid anticipation that the proposed ERISA Fiduciary Rules turn effective. Last month, several business groups filed a complaint in the...more
The Future Is Now For 401(k) Plan Sponsors. The future is here. When I was the head ERISA attorney at a New York based third party administrator (TPA), I left because I saw the future of the retirement plan...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (the “DOL”) on April 6, 2016 released the final version of its “investment advice” regulation and accompanying prohibited transaction exemptions, a highly-anticipated milestone that is the...more
The Struggles Of Being A Retirement Plan Provider And How To Manage It. What you have to deal with. Any good retirement plan financial advisor will tell you that relationships in the retirement plan business mean...more
One of the interesting points of the new fiduciary rule is the best interest exemption that is intended to stop conflicts of interests especially for brokers who need to meet a new fiduciary standard. As long as a broker...more
The New Fiduciary Rule: What It Means To Plan Sponsors - Bottom line: what does it mean? If you're a retirement plan sponsor and, unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about the Department...more
The U.S. Department of Labor released its long anticipated "fiduciary rule" on April 6, 2016. The rule requires brokers and financial advisers to put their clients' interests ahead of their own when recommending retirement...more
You read articles about the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) new fiduciary rule and experts will tell you that it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, the worst thing since Caddyshack II, or somewhere in between. I learned a...more
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule revamping the standards for determining when a party is a fiduciary with respect to an ERISA retirement plan or an individual retirement account (IRA) by...more
On April 6, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor released its long-awaited and controversial fiduciary rule expanding the definition of who is a fiduciary when providing investment advice on retirement accounts. The rule aims...more
The Department of Labor (DOL) issued their final new Fiduciary Rule on Wednesday, April 6th that will have far reaching changes to the retirement plan industry. Aside from some paperwork, disclosure, and effective date...more