Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

Stifel Faces Proposed ERISA Class Action Over 401(k) Fund Performance

Posted on March 19th, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Stifel Faces Proposed ERISA Class Action Over 401(k) Fund Performance

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

According to ThinkAdvisor, Stifel Financial now faces a proposed class action lawsuit that accuses the firm of mismanaging its profit sharing 401(k) retirement plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for Missouri's Eastern District, the plaintiffs allege that Stifel failed to remove two persistently underperforming investment options from the plan. ThinkAdvisor reports that the funds at issue include the American Century Large Cap Growth Fund and the Artisan Mid Cap Growth Pooled Account.

According to ThinkAdvisor, the lawsuit alleges that the American Century fund lagged its benchmark and peer funds over the past six years. Since its inception in 2001, the fund allegedly underperformed the Russell 1000 Growth Index by approximately 1.41 percent per year. The complaint also claims that the Artisan fund underperformed its benchmark and comparable funds after its addition to the plan in 2014 and has trailed the Russell Mid Cap Growth Index by roughly 1.5 percent annually over nearly 26 years.

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, erisa class action, 401(k) mismanagement, stifel financial, fiduciary breach, retirement plan litigation

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I learned two important things working with Eccleston Law. First, I made a friend and ally with Jim and Steph for life. Secondly, and this is a crucial life lesson - if you need counsel, then seek out the very best. Jim was referred to me by a most trusted source. I've never had to hire an attorney for anything. Now, I know the value of hiring an important partner. Meticulous, thorough and detailed in preparation is the best way to describe Jim. Brilliant too, I might add. Bottom line, I would highly highly recommend Jim and Stephany for your legal needs. One of the best life decisions I've ever made.

Howard S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1785772777 Law
August 3, 2026
FINRA Launches Review of High-Risk Structured Notes Sales and Supervision

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has launched a regulatory sweep examining the sale of high-risk structured products, with particular attention on non-principal protected "worst-of" structured notes, according to AdvisorHub.

1785531573 Law
July 31, 2026
Former Alabama Financial Advisor Barred After Selling His Practice

The U.S.

1785428190 Law
July 30, 2026
CFP Board Proposes New Rules for Handling Expunged Criminal Records

The CFP Board has announced that it is considering a proposal to change how it treats applicants with expunged criminal convictions, according to Wealth Management.