The initiative will focus on advisors who have been registered with the SEC for three or more years. The office previously announced that examining these advisors is a priority in 2014.

Nearly half of Americans say the most challenging topic to discuss is personal finances, followed by death, politics, religion, taxes and personal health.

The Principal encourages plan participants to save at least 10 percent of their salary for retirement every year and also offers a Retirement Wellness Report, which shows them if they are saving enough to reach a successful retirement.

A study shows the small plan average investment expense went from 1.37 percent to 1.35 percent, while the large plan average investment expense bumped up from 1 percent to 1.01 percent.

Women are much more likely than men not to have planned how they will use these assets, according to a study by LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute.

It is estimated that one in 10 loans is not repaid, in large part because individuals leave current employers and dont bother repaying what they owe.

Younger workers, those who earn less and those with small account balances, are cashing out at the highest rates, a trend that has remained consistent over the past five years.

Institutional investors should revisit their approach to constructing equity portfolios to take advantage of innovations in the industry, according to a report by Towers Watson.