The New York Times has this op-ed by Peter Fisher regarding pension funding: “Will Congress Let Accounting Fiction Obscure Pension Reality?“
“U.S. execs oppose more pension disclosure“: Reuters reports via Forbes.com.
Susan Kelly at Treasury & Risk Management reports on the importance of 401(k) participant education: “Seek Directions: A rough ride from the markets is prompting 401(k) participants to demand advice.” The article reports Ann Longmore, fiduciary liability practice leader at insurance broker Willis Group Holdings, as saying that companies that are currently being sued in relation to company stock holdings in 401(k) plans would have been in a better position had they provided participant advice because the employees that are suing would have far less sympathy “if they were told by a professional that it’s not in the best interest of their portfolio to have such a concentration.” (Comment: I am all for participant education, but diversification does not seem to be the focus of the class action lawsuits–rather the focus is on the ERISA fiduciaries and their failure to disclose to participants certain crucial information about the company’s financial well-being.)