Texas Judge Vacates DOL Fiduciary Rule
A Texas federal judge vacated the Biden‑era fiduciary rule after the Department of Labor stopped defending it, ending the legal battle that began with 2024 injunctions. The decision clears the way for the Trump administration to issue a deregulation‑focused replacement. At the same time, advisers are increasingly worried about market volatility, with surveys showing pre‑retirees most likely to trade reactively. Experts advise using target‑date funds, managed accounts, and early communication to keep participants on long‑term plans.
How Advisers, Pre-Retirees Can Resist Volatility-Inspired Trades
Financial advisers are increasingly worried about U.S. fiscal policy and geopolitics, prompting a stronger emphasis on long‑term vehicles such as target‑date funds (TDFs), which grew 20.3% in 2025 to $4.8 trillion and now represent roughly 40‑50% of defined‑contribution allocations. Research shows...
Target-Date CITs Continue to Surpass Mutual Funds
Target‑date collective investment trusts (CITs) now command 54% of the market, overtaking mutual funds for the second consecutive year. The overall target‑date universe expanded 20.3% in 2025, reaching $4.8 trillion, driven by 21 new CIT series that are largely conversions of...
Product & Service Launches – 3/12/2026
Morningstar, WealthBox, and FutureVault each unveiled AI‑powered tools designed to embed intelligent assistants directly into adviser workflows. Morningstar’s AI assistant integrates with its Direct Advisory Suite, enabling natural‑language navigation from client setup to portfolio analysis. WealthBox added autonomous Agents, one‑click...
CRM Software Top of Mind Among Advisers’ Tech Options
Advisory firms now use CRM software at a record 91.08% penetration, up from 86.33% in 2025, with Orion Redtail capturing 42.53% market share. While CRM tools rank highest in perceived value, adoption of cybersecurity platforms (21.69%) and data‑warehouse solutions (3.27%) remains...
Advisory M&A News – 3/11/2026
Wealth Enhancement added a $1.2 billion adviser team in Kansas, lifting its total assets to over $143.8 billion. Summitry’s purchase of Vantage Wealth brings $721 million AUM, pushing its portfolio past $3 billion. NewEdge Advisors’ Pillar Channel surpassed $14 billion after affiliating with Stonegate, while...
DOL Won’t Fight Final Motion for Final Judgement in Second Fiduciary Rule Case
The U.S. Department of Labor will not contest a motion to vacate the 2024 Retirement Security fiduciary rule, effectively ending the regulation that required advisers to act in clients' best interests. The rule, stalled since July 2024, has no replacement...
Marsh Unveils Health Benefit Price Transparency Tool
Marsh McLennan Agency launched Network Navigator, a health‑benefit pricing tool that translates Transparency in Coverage data into actuarially‑certified, provider‑level insights for employers. The platform lets users benchmark network costs by provider, location, service type or specialty amid federal proposals to expand price‑transparency...
Carta Partners With Vestwell, Morgan Stanley on Retirement Planning Service
Carta Inc. announced Carta 401(k), a retirement solution that blends Morgan Stanley’s institutional consulting with Vestwell’s AI‑driven platform, targeting high‑growth private‑capital firms. The service integrates with over 200 payroll systems, offers transparent, scalable fees and leverages SECURE 2.0 tax credits to offset...