Why do 401(k) and other defined contribution sponsors switch providers?

The never-ending speculation about when the Department of Labor might finally issue a new fiduciary standard came into play once again this week at the 2014 SPARK Institute conference.

Doing a better job with communication adds costs in a thin-margin business (already) under increasing fee pressure. But it can also mean higher savings rates and more assets for providers to manage.

Theres very little thats defined about defined contribution plans, leaving employees to their own devices and too often with little or no money saved for retirement, one of the governments top regulators said Tuesday.

The next Congress could well pick up retirement reform, especially if Republicans take control of the Senate.

The DOL is likely to hold broker-dealers who chase IRA rollovers to the same fiduciary standards that retirement advisors must meet.

Regardless of which political party prevails in next months midterm elections, Democrats and Republicans alike understand that one way to fatten the governments wallet is by cutting retirement tax incentives.

Markets rise and fall. We know that. But do we need a better argument for closer regulation of self-directed brokerage accounts in 401(k)s than the decline in the Dow over the past month?