PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Raising Capital 101: A Securities Podcast - What are the Different Ways Securities Can Be Offered and Sold? (Part 2)
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The Preferred Return Podcast | Spin-outs and New Fund Sponsors
AdvisorEsq Podcast Series - Episode 8 - Executive Insights: Succeeding as a COO at an RIA Firm
SEC’s New Cyber Rules for Publicly Traded Companies — The Consumer Finance Podcast
A 2024 Economic Outlook - Troutman Pepper Podcast
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion - New Federal Rule Aims to Hold Investment Advisors to a Higher Standard
PLI's inSecurities Podcast - The Dangers of Regulation by Enforcement
Cornerstone Research Experts in Focus: Jules van Binsbergen
Podcast Episode 189: Adding Context to Compliance and Color To Your Legal Practice
Top-Tier Data Centers in Underserved Markets - TAG Infrastructure Talks Podcast
ESG and SEC Enforcement in 2022
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME! PART II - Embracing the Magic of Private Placement Life Insurance and Private Placement Variable Annuities
Three Timely Benefits Items Everyone Should Know
Cutting Costs With Employee Benefit Plans (Part 4 of 5) – Retirement Plan Costs
Investment Management and Private Funds Roundtable: TALF 2020 and PPP Update
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – The annuity regulatory landscape
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – Advisers Act regulatory agenda
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – Fiduciary investment advice: The patchwork emerges
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – SEC enforcement
In its April 17 decision in Cunningham v. Cornell University, the U.S. Supreme Court established a plaintiff-friendly standard for ERISA prohibited transaction claims, resolving a circuit court split. As a result, plan...more
On whether to recommend Bitcoin and other digital assets for clients, financial advisers are wary about their fiduciary duty to clients, according to a CoinShares survey....more
401(k) financial advisors are often handicapped by the fact that the nature of their position requires them to have an ERISA background when they don’t. It’s hard to fake an ERISA background when you don’t and it’s pretty...more
The DOL’s EBSA has a number of programs that can restore benefits to plans and participants. Those include: - Civil investigations. - Criminal investigations. - Informal compliant resolutions. - Correction programs. ...more
Last week, Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, issued the first-of-its-kind ruling on the merits pertaining to environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) investing...more
In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor issued its long-awaited retirement security rule, also known as the fiduciary rule, broadening the definition of who is an “investment advice fiduciary” under the Employee...more
ESG stands for “environmental, social, and governance.” Though often overlooked, two recent cases — Spence v. American Airlines and Exxon v. Arjuna Capital, LLC — focus on G’s place in the ESG initialism. Here, we break...more
A recent Ninth Circuit decision has generated considerable controversy amongst employee benefits practitioners by holding that plan fiduciaries engaged in prohibited transactions when they amended the plan’s existing...more
This week, a federal district court in the Middle District of Florida invalidated the Department of Labor’s ("DOL") policy as to when advice provided by a financial institution or financial professional on a rollover from an...more
On February 13, 2023, a federal district court in the Middle District of Florida invalidated the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) policy as to when advice provided by a financial institution or financial professional (“adviser”)...more
Employers offering 401(k) and similar retirement plans should familiarize themselves with a new rule published by the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, Prudence and Loyalty in...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has issued a final rule (the “Final Rule) addressing how ERISA fiduciaries may consider environmental, social and governmental (ESG) factors in making investment decisions for retirement...more
Unfiltered 401(k) Views On What Is Going On Now - For years, dating back to college and law school, I had an unfiltered view of things. I have strong opinions and the opinions are based on my experiences. The problem,...more
Cryptocurrencies and digital assets—such as bitcoin, ether and non-fungible tokens (NFTs)—have become some of the hottest investment products in recent years. The growing interest has inevitably led to retirement plan...more
Benjamin Franklin once said “don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” While that is always prudent advice, the Department of Labor (DOL) believes it’s best to grant an extension to investment advisors and...more
You Have To Deal With Some Unpleasant Facts About Your 401(k) Plan. The greatest benefit you can provide as an employer is a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) plan. The problem is that most employers treat a...more
As Retirement Plan Provider, Think Differently - It’s odd, but I do get some great ideas from professional wrestling in my business approach as an ERISA attorney/retirement plan provider. Like in pro wrestling, becoming a...more
I’m still amazed when I find participant-directed 401(k) plans without a financial advisor. While I understand how solo 401(k) plans don’t have an advisor because individuals think they can do it on their own, it makes no...more
Having a great 401(k) plan doesn’t mean that a former participant won’t sue you or the government won’t audit you. The reason is that you have no control over what other people may do....more
The Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption and Its Impact on Recommendations to Plans, Participants and IRAs (Part 6) - On February 16, 2021, the DOL’s prohibited transaction exemption (PTE) 2020-02 became...more
The Problems and Perils In Changing Your 401(k) TPA - I hate moving and I’ve only had to do it a handful of times in my life. I’ve always said that moving can be a traumatic experience. Packing away items over time isn’t...more
Big Concepts That 401(k) Plan Providers Forget About. Whether it was working for others or working for charitable organizations, it seems that there is a culture out there that seems to forget why these businesses and...more
I always joke that I get rid of old grudges to make way for new ones. Recently, an advisor asked about a well-known third-party administrator (TPA) for a plan that I serve as a fiduciary. This TPA has a very good reputation...more
The US Department of Labor (DOL) issued an information letter in June 2020 indicating that, in limited circumstances, it will allow defined contribution retirement plans (such as 401(k) plans) to indirectly invest in private...more
I used to joke that no matter what I did, I could never make my parents happy. The same can be said with any attempt to change the fiduciary rule....more