Nevin's Data "Points"

 I’ve been writing a weekly column (and then some) for more than two decades now. Some are easier to write (and read)—and some hold up better (and longer) than others. These are some of  my  (and perhaps your) favorites from 2021. Let me know what you think in the comments below… particularly if I have missed one of your favorites…  What’s So Special About College Debt? Student loan debt—or more precisely, the forgiveness of some part of it—has dominated the headlines of late—but it’s been on the minds of retirement plan sponsors for a while now. The question is—why?  https://www.napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/whats-so-special-about-college-debt Bundled Versus Unbundled: 5 Myths While there are some amazing bundled solutions, ERISA’s admonition to act solely in the interests of plan participants (and beneficiaries), alongside the requirement that those be reasonable in terms of cost and value, call for a careful and considered evaluation. In t...

As human beings, we’re often motivated to seek simpler solutions to life’s challenges. But sometimes “simpler”… isn’t.  While there are some amazing bundled solutions, ERISA’s admonition to act solely in the interests of plan participants (and beneficiaries), alongside the requirement that those be reasonable in terms of cost and value, call for a careful and considered evaluation.  In that vein, there are some “myths” that seem to be prevalent regarding those choices, perceptions that persist even today. Here are some points to consider: An unbundled approach is more expensive. The reality is, it can be—depending on the point of comparison. If all other things are “equal,” then certainly engaging another level of service and compliance oversight can bring with it additional costs. Then again, engaging the services of a third-party administrator [i]  (TPA)—at least the right TPA—is hardly an “all other things equal” comparison. Their involvement and ...