Advisor Sales Strategies

Attention Walmart shoppers: We plan to dominate health care! Plus, other top employee benefit and retirement stories this week

In volatile markets, demand should soar for professional financial advice, but few employees are taking advantage of recent rule changes that encourage plan sponsors to offer just that.

A new report by the Investment Company Institute found that of the workers who have a desire to save for retirement, three-quarters had access to a pension plan through their own or their spouses employer, and 93 percent of those with access participated.

A reduction in tax incentives for 401(k) plans would have a negative effect on retirement security because it would discourage savings and reduce the number of employers offering plans, according to a new report by The Principal.

Plan sponsors are increasingly looking for investment advisors who can shoulder some of the fiduciary burden related to offering employee retirement plans. More frequently they are turning to companies that offer fiduciary coverage under section 3(21)(A) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management is simplifying its 401(k) plan menu. The company announced it is replacing its traditional menu of investment choices it offers to defined contribution plans and replacing it with a simplified menu of three investment portfolios: one consisting of diversified stock strategies, one with diversified bond strategies...