7 Essential 401k Fiduciary Hacks

401k, fiduciary hacks, 3ethos

Interesting and important.

We’ve always recommended that retirement professionals follow the letter of the law. But, in the case of new fiduciary standards that go into effect on June 30th, we’re going to recommend a different approach.

New fiduciary standards are going to be based on a de-minimis standard. The bad news is that now everyone will be a fiduciary. The good news is that there are hacks for it.

There’s nothing that precludes you from defining a higher standard and creating your own fiduciary brand.

“Why yes, I’m a fiduciary and much more. Let me show you how.”

If you want to differentiate yourself, we suggest the following seven hacks:

1. Process

New fiduciary standards do not define a process, even though ERISA requires that you demonstrate the details of your decision-making framework.

Suggested hack: Adopt a simple, universal decision-making process that also can be used by your clients to lead a team, department, division, board, or investment committee. This is the process we use:

2. Practices

ERISA specifically requires that your process be based on fiduciary best practices. However, new standards only reference about 25% of the fiduciary best practices that have evolved over the last 45 years.

Suggested hack: Ensure your process includes fiduciary best practices that have been omitted from new standards, such as

3. KISS

New fiduciary standards are complex and verbose, and it’s very likely that compliance will require that you deliver to clients an equally byzantine disclosure statement. We know from analyzing engaging leaders that they have a greater capacity to simplify complex concepts.

Suggested hack: When communicating with clients, ditch the industry and legal jargon. You’ll find that clients will forgive you if you don’t spend the first 25 minutes of every meeting talking about the difference between 3(38) and 3(21). (The difference, of course, is 17.)

4. Engagement

New fiduciary standards are based on moral obligations – do it, or else. In contrast, the fiduciary movement of the past 30 years has been based on moral aspiration – do it because you want to and because it’s right.

Suggested hack: Clearly communicate your sense of purpose; identify the core principles that support your purpose; and, never be afraid of showing passion for the work you do and for the people you serve.

5. Collaboration

New fiduciary standards merely require a reasonable basis to believe a recommended investment option or strategy is consistent with a client’s goals and objectives. Close enough, will be good enough.

Suggested hack: Neuroscience informs us that being Collaborative is a critical leadership behavior that improves the quality of decision-making outcomes. Devote time to not only help a client clearly articulate their goals but also to ensure that the client’s objectives are aligned with their sense of purpose and core values.

6. Discernment

New fiduciary standards presume you’re incapable of being wise and objective. Discernment is going to be replaced with regulatory micromanagement.

Suggested hack: Focus your energy on being a great leader and steward, and delegate the requisite compliance paperwork to staff.

7. Trust

New fiduciary standards also presume that you cannot be trusted. Complex disclosures will become the surrogate for trust.

Suggested hack: Be patient and commit to the long game with an understanding that a client will only begin to trust you after there is evidence of your capacity for compassion, character, and competence.

Soon everyone will be a fiduciary …and yet, they won’t. There are hacks for it. Create your own fiduciary brand that exceeds new de-minimis standards.

Don Trone is one of five Co-founders of 3ethos. The other Co-founders include Dr. Sean Hannah, Mary Lou Wattman, Rear Admiral Steve Branham, USCG (Retired), and Dr. John Sumanth. 3ethos is conducting original research in the field of Behavioral Governance—the study of the interrelationships between leadership, stewardship, and governance.

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