Compliance

Recent guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on social media use in adviser advertising is helpful, says one compliance services provider, but the update leaves questions...

The common law of attorney-client privilege is intended to enable clients to speak with their attorneys in trusted confidence about work-related issues.

The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) filed a complaint in federal court against a Tennessee profit-sharing plan over allegedly imprudent margin investing that triggered plan...

In 2010, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launched a large compliance project, the 401(k) Questionnaire.

When a participant terminates employment is not the only time defined contribution (DC) retirement plan account balances may be forfeited, and there are several ways to deal with...

While it has been reported many retirement plan service providers are concerned about pending fiduciary rule changes, one pair of compliance experts is more optimistic about a potential...

A recent survey report from the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) finds a wide disparity in how broker/dealers and other financial services providers disclose fee charges.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) approved an amendment to its supervision rule that would require registered firms to conduct background checks on all registration applicants.

The Bipartisan Policy Center has launched a personal savings initiative meant to produce pragmatic policy recommendations for improving the retirement readiness of American workers.

The push for establishing mandatory access to workplace retirement savings provides important insights into the path advocacy groups must take to influence national retirement policy.

For the second time, a U.S. district court has found State Street Bank and Trust did not violate its duties to General Motors (GM) retirement plan participants in...

Value, not just cost, is what plan sponsors and participants should see when reviewing fee disclosures, some contend.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) launched an initiative to assess the cybersecurity of registered broker/dealers and investment advisers.

When performing annual retirement plan financial audits, plan sponsors and their auditors should look for potential “red flags” for regulators.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that it will discontinue its letter-forwarding program, through which it attempts to help third-parties communicate serious financial or familial matters to “missing”...

What is the trustee of a retirement plan that offers employer stock as an investment option supposed to do with inside information that the stock price may be...

Sponsors of both defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) retirement plans will need to review plan documents to ensure the definition of “spouse” conforms to current federal...

Without admitting any wrongdoing, ING Life Insurance and Annuity Co. has agreed to settle a lawsuit claiming it violated prohibited transaction rules of the Employee Retirement Income Security...

A coalition of advocacy groups representing U.S. retirement plan service providers filed a detailed comment letter with the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) leveling technical challenges...

Investment adviser Donald Gene DeWaay Jr., based in Johnston, Iowa, has paid $341,487 to 68 pension plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).