WealthManagement.com
From: Fred Barstein
401(k) Real Talk Episode 189: April 22, 2026 Open, honest and candid discussion about EBSA priorities, AI in wealth management, flaws in the DC system, alts in 401(k)s opportunities for advisors and more.
Suggested talking points
EBSA's 2026 enforcement priorities around alternative asset disclosures in DC plans—specifically how plan sponsors can document fiduciary diligence on illiquid holdings while maintaining participant communication standards that EBSA is scrutinizing more closely this year
The operational friction advisors face when integrating AI-driven participant engagement tools into 401(k) platforms without triggering fiduciary liability concerns; concrete compliance checkpoints for vetting third-party AI vendors against DOL guidance
How the liquidity mismatch between participant redemption windows and alternative asset lock-up periods creates plan design vulnerabilities—and what structural solutions are gaining traction among mid-market plan sponsors to address this gap
Position as someone who can translate EBSA's 2026 enforcement direction into specific operational changes plan sponsors and advisors should implement now, rather than discussing systemic DC plan limitations.
Get intelligence like this delivered daily
Subscribe to Blackwell Sterling — curated to your sectors.
Request Access