Recordkeepers in DC pension plans are often paid indirectly in the form of revenue sharing from third-party funds on the menu. We show that these arrangements affect the investment menu of 401(k) plans. Revenue-sharing funds are more likely to be added to the menu and are less likely to be...

This paper investigates whether mutual fund families acting as service providers in 401(k) plans display favoritism toward their own affiliated funds. Using a hand-collected dataset on the menu of investment options offered to plan participants, we show that fund deletions and additions are less...

This paper investigates whether mutual fund families acting as service providers in 401(k) plans display favoritism toward their own affiliated funds. Using a hand-collected dataset on the menu of investment options offered to plan participants, we show that fund deletions and additions are less...

This study relates to the overall concern that mutual fund payments of sub-accounting fees to broker/dealers for sub-transfer agency, administration, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services may improperly include distribution related services. The topics begin with a review of the basic...

The objective of this article is to take some of the mystery out of mutual fund revenue sharing, but without being able to say investors have transparent disclosure. It appears that most in the world of regulation and practice of revenue sharing lacks clarity, consistency, proper redress, and...

Revenue sharing payments are mutual fund distribution costs that conflict with continuing shareholder interests by directly reducing fund assets and shareholder returns. The “stated” purpose of revenue sharing payments is to defray broker costs of servicing customer accounts and for...

The objective of this study is to take some of the mystery out of mutual fund revenue sharing, but without being able to say investors have transparent disclosure. Topics begin with the transition from directed brokerage to revenue sharing. The discussions that follow include directed brokerage...

Revenue sharing payments are mutual fund distribution costs that conflict with continuing shareholder interests by directly reducing fund assets and shareholder returns. The “stated” purpose of revenue sharing payments is to defray broker costs of servicing customer accounts and for...

Two issues may have a tremendous impact on the adequacy of retirement income for today's workers: The growth of 401(k) pension plans and the possible privatization of Social Security. Workers are becoming increasingly responsible for the adequacy of their retirement income by determining how...

We investigate whether business ties with portfolio firms influence mutual funds' proxy voting using a comprehensive data set spanning 2003 to 2011. In contrast to prior literature, we find that business ties significantly influence pro-management voting at the level of individual pairs of fund...