Hacking People? Social Engineering!

Social engineering tactics in use by cybercriminals rely on us to be human, and thus vulnerable to emotions like excitement, fear or urgency. As a result, cybercriminals do not have to be wizards on the keyboard to by-pass technical approaches...

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Data Protection: Who Has Access?

Given the rapid pace of evolving technology—and today’s litigious environment—benefit industry experts remind plan sponsors that protecting participant data against cybersecurity breaches is an increasingly pressing duty. Since it’s not a matter of “if” a breach will be experienced, but...

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Unorganized? Get a Grip!

Some of us may be unorganized in our approach to the management of personal finances—and that is no one’s business but our own. However, when it comes to serving as a retirement plan sponsor, a higher duty of care is...

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Security Breaches Defined

  Since the Department of Labor issued Guidance in 2021 directing retirement plan sponsors to monitor the cybersecurity protocols in use by service providers, there has been a great deal of confusion about what exactly this responsibility entails. Experts offer...

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Great Expectations: Clients!

Great Expectations: Clients! Necessity resulted in businesses of all kinds making rapid changes to the customer experience during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, there’s no going back: expectations for ease, speed and 24/7 access are high, and...

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401k: Theft?

  It’s happening. Recently, for example, a man in Maryland was indicted for money laundering, after implementing a computer fraud scheme to illegally access $246,390 from a  401k account. No wonder the Department of Labor—and plan sponsors across the country—have...

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Blame: How About The Plan Sponsor?

  A rising market is no longer a sure bet—and that, of course, makes retirement plan participants uneasy. It’s human nature to look for someone to blame for losses. When retirement is not secure, who’s responsible? Why not go after...

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Market Volatility and Retirement Plans

Market Volatility and Retirement Plans Market volatility makes everyone nervous. Retirement industry executives suggest that now is a great time for plan sponsors to double down on efforts to communicate and share educational information with plan participants. It’s also a...

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Choices, Fees and Allegations

  When used together, these words spell bad news for retirement plan fiduciaries. Indeed, building on the precedents set over the past years, another “excessive fee” lawsuit has been filed, this time by lawyers from relatively small firms, targeting a...

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Data Breach Notification Laws?

  There are state, federal, and even international laws governing the notification processes that must be followed following a cyber incident that compromises data. Businesses of all sizes are obligated to adhere to the laws. Having a solid cyber incident...

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