DC Insight
Come Together: Nonprofits Pool Plans
Pooled plans are now for nonprofit organizations. U.S. nonprofits account for 10% of the U.S. workforce, trailing only retail and manufacturing[i]. Not only that, but the sector has grown dramatically over the last 15 years[ii]. For nonprofits wanting to attract and retain employees (most often, employees who share a commitment to the nonprofit’s mission), offering…
Read MoreFiduciary Training: Put Fear to Rest
Fear is a powerful motivating force. Advertisers are keenly aware of this and market products to spur consumers to action. FOMO, “fear of missing out,” is part of our modern-day lexicon. More obscure is liticaphobia, the irrational fear of lawsuits or being sued by someone. This fear is based on an unfounded sense that you…
Read MoreMillennials Investing in a New(er) Millennia
Gone are the days of calling a stockbroker to hear the latest picks to then place a trade with a $50 commission for a mutual fund with a 2% expense ratio. Today, the average American 20-something with a phone and a brokerage account can place a zero-commission trade for any security on an exchange in…
Read MoreReframing Our Perspective
“What I am looking for is a blessing not in disguise.” Jerome K. Jerome In response to aphorisms like “adversity builds character,” and “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” is the honest plea from 19th century humorist Jerome K. Jerome, “What I am looking for is a blessing not in disguise.” While hard to…
Read MoreAgreement at the Eleventh Hour: SECURE Act 2.0 Signed into Law and What it Means for Your Plan
On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that included the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement (SECURE) Act 2.0. The act expands on provisions enacted with SECURE Act 1.0 in 2019. Three separate bills, one passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and two approved by the…
Read MoreFlipped Out over Fiduciary Liability Insurance?
In 2020, more than 200 class action lawsuits were filed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). It was the high water mark for actions targeting the alleged mismanagement of 401(k) and 403(b) defined contribution retirement plans. A total of 125 such actions were filed in 2021, and subject experts expect another 75 to…
Read MoreClients Ask:
What do rising inflation and interest rates mean for fixed income investments and the economy?Are we seeing mixed signals? Highland Responds Our Highland clients have wanted to know how rising inflation and interest rate hikes impact fixed income investments and the broader economic picture. Are we seeing mixed signals? Possibly. And there may have been…
Read MoreIt’s a Long Road. (But Look How Far You’ve Come.)
Don’t Let Emotional Biases Cloud Your Financial Outlook The S&P 500 has declined 12.8% so far in 2022 (through May 2022). That’s hard to stomach, but with a shift in perspective we can see that maybe it isn’t as bad as it feels. Humans are prone to a multitude of emotional biases and cognitive errors,…
Read More2022 Inflation and Investments
There’s no dodging inflation. But investors can hedge against it. If you drive a truck or SUV, no one needs to tell you that inflation has risen to uncomfortable heights—heights not seen in 40 years. A tank of regular gasoline that cost an SUV driver $114 last year, as we enter the summer vacation season,…
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