Twelve Points Insights

A Mismanaged 401(k) Could Lead to Litigation
In the last year we have seen a number of cases of mismanaged 401(k) plans going to litigation. This article published by the National Association of Plan Advisors last Monday regarding Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc highlights the latest domino to fall.

What is and is Not Working in Today’s 401(k) Plans?
On May 16 we hosted The Plan Sponsor University (TPSU) at Bentley University. 18 people representing 15 companies came to learn the ins and outs and best practices for running their companies’ 401(k) plans. Plans of all sizes were present for the program; ranging from 23 to over 65,000 employees.

The Benefits of Auto Enrollment and Auto Escalation
No, this blog post has nothing to do with cars. It’s about features that retirement plan sponsors can implement to help their employees prepare for retirement at limited, or no, cost to the company. Our most successful retirement plans have both auto enrollment and auto escalation. How do we measure success?

What is one thing I should consider before deciding whether to offer 401(k) plans to my employees?
For many companies — especially startups — deciding whether to offer a retirement plan for employees is often the LAST thing on their to-do list. While many employers want to offer this important benefit as an incentive to recruit and retain great people at their company, they are daunted by the uncertainty of choosing a plan.

Is Your 401(k) Plan Fishy?
Having grown up near the ocean in Massachusetts, I’ve always had respect for hard-working fishermen and women. But I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who loved the smell of fish. Let’s be honest, it’s not the most pleasant aroma, which is why saying something “smells fishy” has a negative connotation. When something smells fishy, it’s an indication that something is wrong and needs your immediate attention.

University Lawsuits: Will You Be Sued Next?
There has been a recent flurry of university lawsuits because of issues with educational institutions’ retirement plans. Yale, MIT, NYU, Duke, Columbia, Emory, Vanderbilt, John Hopkins and Penn are just some of the universities being sued for allegedly not acting in the best interest of their employees.