Multnomah Group, Inc.

Today we are excited to welcome Stella Harkness to Multnomah Group! She is joining our investment operations team. Welcome to our team Stella!

We are a proud member of Partners in Diversity, a PDX-based non-profit that enhances economic prosperity by conducting research on employment demographics, providing insights and solutions for diverse workforce recruitment and retention, and offering education, networking, and career resources. We feel honored to be featured as their March partner spotlight. Read the article here -> https://hubs.ly/Q039RPVN0

🌟 Happy International Women's Day! 🌟 Today, we celebrate the incredible achievements of women around the world and recognize the ongoing fight for gender equality. Let's honor the strength, resilience, and contributions of women in every field and community. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable future for all.

A recent policy memo issued by the Trump Administration to the Department of Labor requests fiduciary guidance on investments in foreign adversaries, mainly focusing on Chinese equities. Erik Daley, CFA discusses the potential implications for retirement plans, including those managed by states and subject to ERISA. Learn how this could affect your investment strategies and what to watch for as the Department of Labor and state legislatures move forward with rulemaking.

Don’t forget Form 8955-SSA! This essential form reports participants who have separated from service and are due deferred vested benefits. The form is typically filed with the plan's Form 5500 and prepared by the firm that prepares the 5500. Our blog walks through key steps for completing the form. https://hubs.ly/Q039yxMs0

Automatic retirement plan enrollment has become popular in recent years due to its many benefits, including higher savings rates, reduced decision-making burden, and increased diversification. Likewise, there are drawbacks, such as higher costs, reduced engagement, and increased administrative burdens. Read our blog post below to learn more about the pros and cons of auto-enrollment. -> https://hubs.ly/Q039kcJ60

📢 Join us on March 13 for an educational Fiduciary Training webinar! Are you a committee member or fiduciary involved in retirement plan management? Don't miss our upcoming webinar focused on the essential duties required to keep participants and beneficiaries informed. Key Topics: ➡ Understanding Fiduciary Responsibilities: Learn the core areas of responsibilities, including foundational documents, service providers, and plan operations. ➡ Required Disclosures: Gain insights into mandatory disclosures such as Summary Plan Descriptions, Annual Reports, and Fee Disclosures. ➡ Optional Engagement Strategies: Explore ways to engage with participants through group meetings, targeted mailings, and financial wellness programs. ➡ Digital and Paper Notices: Understand regulations around electronic and paper delivery of participant notices. ➡ Selecting Service Providers: Learn the prudent process for selecting and monitoring service providers. Benefits of Attending: ➡ Enhance your knowledge of fiduciary governance and responsibilities. ➡ Discover best practices for engaging with plan participants. ➡ Understand the legal requirements for participant disclosures. ➡ Learn how to effectively communicate with participants through various channels. Register -> https://hubs.ly/Q0396CRY0

We have discussed previously work at the state level to restrict investments in China and how it may predict the direction of a new DOL. While there is a long path to implementation, the first step along that path has now been taken.

Recently, the U.S. District Court in Texas upheld the 2022 DOL rule allowing ERISA fiduciaries to consider ESG factors in investment decisions. This ruling emphasizes that while financial returns are paramount, non-financial factors can also play a role when they align with financial interests. Learn more about this decision in our latest blog post authored by Candace Finn. https://hubs.ly/Q038QB300

We recently hosted a webinar focused on the increasingly complicated and conflicted defined contribution retirement system and the risks it poses to plan participants and fiduciaries. This week, we saw two examples of that happen: - one of the largest DC consulting firms/brokerage firms in the country acquired an asset manager - an asset manager acquiring an organization that provides investment reporting and analytics to a number of micro-consulting firms across the country These trends underscore the importance of plan sponsors making sound, prudent decisions to protect their participants. Watch this week's Fiduciary Focus for more insight from Erik Daley, CFA ->