In the spirit of the political season, do you know the cost of a gallon of milk? How about the cost of a gallon of gas?
Now, do you know how much it costs to retire? No, no, I’m not asking how much you need to save. Asking that is like asking how oft en you should floss: probably more than you are. Rather, do you know how much you are paying for your firm’s 401(k) administrator? And what, if any, commission does your investment adviser earn on your IRA? Are you getting a good deal?
If you’re like most Americans, you’re as stumped as the politician guessing about milk prices. But account and investment fees can significantly affect your portfolio’s performance. Worse, the fees can create an inherent conflict of interest between you and your adviser, who may receive a higher commission on sales of inferior products. While the vast majority of investment advisers and brokers put their clients’ interests first, research indicates that conflicted advice may be responsible for billions in under-performance each year.
On April 6, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a new rule designed to address the costs of conflicted advice. The rule changes who qualifies as a “fiduciary” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The rule and its implementation is complex; the Depart Department of Labor’s text and commentary alone runs some 450 pages. But in general, the rule broadens the instances when a person who provides investment advice or recommendations with respect to an ERISA plan or an IRA will be considered a fiduciary. The goal is to ensure that firms and individuals providing investment advice – which may include broker-dealers, registered representatives, insurance agents and others – put their clients’ interest first. Those covered by the new rule must adhere to a fiduciary standard, including providing impartial advice that is in the client’s best interest. As part of that obligation, advisers may not accept any payments that create a conflict of interest, unless the transaction is specifically excluded from the rule. This would include common forms of compensation advisers receive when they sell various mutual funds or other investments.
The main exclusion receiving attention is known as the Best Interest Contract (BIC). That exclusion allows advisers to receive compensation affected by the recommendations (e.g., commissions); however, the adviser must first enter into a contract with the client acknowledging a fiduciary status and agreeing to adhere to standards of fiduciary conduct and fair dealing. The adviser must also make certain disclosures about the standard of care, compensation and conflicts of interest. Although the Department of Labor stopped short of prohibiting certain investments from retirement accounts, the department warned that it expects advisers and institutions “will exercise special care when assets are hard to value, illiquid, complex, or particularly risky.”
