Get Ready for New DOL IRA Rollover Guidelines This Summer

Advisors should brush up on rollover standards now to ensure they’re ready to comply come July.

The Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2020-02 grants relief to financial advisors and institutions that provide investment advice if the terms of the PTE are satisfied. Advisors who offer rollover advice should, by this point, know that the Department of Labor was extremely clear that rollover advice will almost always be considered fiduciary investment advice under the newly interpreted standard.

Starting in July 2022, the terms of the PTE will become fully effective — meaning that advisors will be required to provide written documentation of the specific reasons why the advisor believes the rollover is in the client’s best interests. While the Labor Department hasn’t provided any specific examples of the types of “specific reasons” that would pass muster, many believe that the department will fall in line with the SEC interpretation when it comes time to enforce the rule — so advisors should brush up now to ensure they’re ready to comply come July.

DOL Fiduciary Standard and Rollovers: Background

For the fiduciary investment advice standards to apply, a person who is not otherwise a fiduciary must:

To quote the Department of Labor’s FAQ, “when the investment advice provider has been giving advice to the individual about investing in, purchasing, or selling securities or other financial instruments through tax-advantaged retirement vehicles subject to ERISA or the Code, the advice to roll assets out of the employee benefit plan is part of an ongoing advice relationship that satisfies the regular basis prong.”

Generally, to qualify for relief under the new fiduciary PTE 2020-02, advisors must provide advice in accordance with impartial conduct standards, which generally include standards related to (1) acting in the client’s best interests, (2) reasonable compensation, (3) refraining from misleading statements, (4) disclosure, (5) conflict mitigation and (6) retroactive compliance review.

When it comes to rollovers, the advisor must provide written documentation stating the specific reasons why the rollover was in the client’s best interests.

SEC Standard for Rollover Recommendations

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) and Investment Advisors Act each provide details on the considerations that should be accounted for when determining whether rolling over retirement assets between employer-sponsored plans and IRAs.

The Reg BI standard is clear that advisors should consider factors such as the fees and expenses associated with each account, as well as investment options and services available for each account. The ability to take penalty-free withdrawals, applicable required distribution rules and creditor protection are also important. The advisor should make sure to account for any special features, including the plan’s employer stock holdings.

But while the SEC is clear that “available investment options” are important, the commission also notes that it’s not enough to conclude that one plan is better for the client simply because it offers more investment options. It’s important to consider the specific needs of the client, including how the client prefers to invest their funds and the client’s individual risk tolerance.

For example, for some clients, creditor protection may be a more important consideration. While 401(k)s are federally protected in bankruptcy, IRAs are subject to a cap — meaning that wealthy taxpayers could find their IRA assets at risk if something unexpected happens, regardless of the number of investment options available.

Conclusion

While the Department of Labor has not specifically indicated that the SEC standard will apply when it comes time to enforce the rollover provisions of PTE 2020-02, it has yet to provide guidance of its own. For now, it seems reasonable for advisors to look to the SEC’s interpretation when determining what “specific reasons” for recommending a rollover will pass Labor Department scrutiny at a future date.

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