Author Archives: Brian Menickella

About Brian Menickella

Brian Menickella has over thirty years in the financial services industry. His core competence is in Corporate Retirement Planning and Wealth Management; however, he also holds licenses in Property and Casualty Insurance as well as Life and Health Insurance. Brian is also a registered financial advisor with the NFL Players Association and Major League Baseball and works closely with professional athletes helping them with money management. Brian is widely accepted as a leader in the retirement plan marketplace and has been named “Expert Advisor” in the Northeastern region by the Center for Due Diligence. Brian is also the 2010 “Advisor of the Year” for TFS Securities.

5 Reasons to Shop Your 401(k) NOW

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Brian Menickella

1. Fee disclosure is here.    The plan fees that are in place on July 1, 2012 will be disclosed to your employees. Seven in ten participants are completely unaware that they pay any fees at all to maintain their … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Retirement, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Five Biggest Changes to the 401(k) Fee Disclosure Law

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Brian Menickella

After months of delay, the Department of Labor (DOL) released final regulations that have modified the July 16, 2010 rule requiring plan service providers to disclose their services and fees to plan sponsors. Among other changes, the final regulation delays … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Retirement, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Beacon’s 2012 Market Outlook

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Brian Menickella

Although 2011 may still linger in our thoughts as an uninspiring year filled with market volatility and skepticism coupled with political crisis, the market ended the year on a high note which has many believing that the positive momentum will … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Finance & Retirement, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

DOL Changes the Role of Retirement Plan Advisors

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Brian Menickella

Effective December 27, 2011, the Department of Labor (DOL) will impose new regulations to improve quality and access of investment advice for 401k and IRA participants. This new regulation clarifies which type of retirement plan advisors will be permitted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Retirement | 3 Comments

Vanguard Announces New 401(K) Platform

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Brian Menickella

Vanguard’s new 401(k) platform, for companies with less than 20 million dollars, stands as a potential game changer in the small 401(K) market. Their low-cost index funds and ETF’s have played a large role in lowering fund fees among large … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Retirement, Personal Finance & Retirement | Leave a comment

Markets In Turmoil

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Brian Menickella

This month’s precipitous drop has many investors and advisors alike concerned. Is this a correction or the beginning of a continued downward trend?  With the broad markets down nearly 10% in August, investors are recalling the destruction of the crash … Continue reading →

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Customers Want The Best Advice – Not Only Suitable Advice

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Brian Menickella

Although most investors falsely assume registered representatives are required to provide advice and recommendations in their best interest, momentum is gaining to turn this myth into fact. Currently advisers are only required to adhere to a suitability standard of care which means … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Finance & Retirement, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Extension to Comply with 401(k) Fee Disclosure Rule

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Brian Menickella

401k plan vendors will have until April 1, 2012 (three months longer) to disclose fees to plan sponsors, while plan sponsors have until May 31, 2012 (five additional months) to disclose fees to employees on their quarterly statements. In a … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Finance & Retirement | 2 Comments

College or Pro Baseball? Not an Easy Decision

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Brian Menickella

On June 6th,   four or five High School seniors will become instant millionaires after being drafted by the Major League Baseball Association. Professional teams scout players they believe have the potential to beat the tough odds of one day becoming … Continue reading →

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3 Ways to Protect Against a 401(k) Lawsuit

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Brian Menickella

Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974, fiduciaries are personally liable for losses incurred as a result of their alleged breach of duties. Don’t become a lightning rod of liability.  Here are three simple ways to reduce … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Retirement | Leave a comment