"[T]he proposed amendments would, for plan years beginning after December 31, 2025... [1] Require defined contribution plans to furnish at least one paper pension benefit statement to participants each calendar year ... [2] Require defined benefit plans to furnish at least one paper pension benefit statement to participants every three calendar years ... [3] Require paper pension benefit statements to explain how participants may affirmatively elect electronic delivery of future statements." MORE >>
"Retirement plan administrators who rely on DOL's 2002 e-disclosure safe harbor would need to take the following actions for employees who first become eligible to participate after December 31, 2025 ... [1] Deliver a new one-time paper notice to new participants before delivering the required benefit statement electronically instead of on paper. [2] Give new participants the ability to opt out of e-delivery of all required ERISA disclosures." MORE >>
"Attach to Form 1040 or Form 1040NR.... You cannot take the PTC if your filing status is married filing separately unless you qualify for an exception." MORE >>
"In late January, [EBSA] released a proposed rule ... which focused on methods of improving transparency around the fees and compensation that Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) receive. One week later ... the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (CAA 26) into law. This law puts the proverbial target on the backs of PBMs by requiring not only more transparency, but also new reporting on PBM rebates, price spreading, and compliance. The combination of these new regulatory developments has the potential to alter the role and work of PBMs and how they interact with employer-sponsored group health plans." MORE >>
"If finalized as proposed, most participants and beneficiaries will continue to receive their retirement plan disclosures electronically, but plans will need to [1] Ensure at least one paper statement is sent on the required schedule unless the participant or beneficiary meets an electronic delivery exception, [2] Build or update processes for the new one-time paper notice for newly eligible individuals when using the 2002 safe harbor, and [3] Confirm that no participant-level fees are being charged for paper pension benefit statements under the 2020 safe harbor." MORE >>
"The case arose from a multiemployer pension plan’s investments in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). The plan alleged that mortgage servicers and related entities mismanaged the underlying loans, engaged in self-dealing, and caused losses to the plan. Whether those claims could proceed depended on a threshold question—whether the underlying mortgage loans themselves, rather than just the RMBS instruments, constituted plan assets under ERISA." [Powell as Tr. of United Food & Com. Workers Union & Emps. Midwest Pension Fund v. Ocwen Fin. Corp., No. 23-999 (2d Cir. Mar. 26, 2026)] MORE >>
34 pages; Mar. 19, 2026. "What's New ... [1] New box 10, 'Family leave benefits,' was added to Form 1099-G to facilitate the reporting of family leave benefits paid by state paid family and medical leave programs.... [2] Form 1099-R ... was revised to include new check boxes 7b for IRA, SEP, and SIMPLE plans, check box 7c for Trump Account reporting, and new box 7d for reporting earnings on excess contributions.... [3] Form 5498-TA, Trump Account Contribution Information, and Form 1099-LPS, Long-Term Care Premiums Paid Statement, are currently under development and projected to be released in mid-2026 for tax year 2026/filing season 2027." MORE >>
"A spouse's enrollment in a general purpose health FSA provides 'coverage' (i.e., the ability to have out-of-pocket medical expenses reimbursed) for both the spouse and the employee. Because the general purpose health FSA is disqualifying coverage for HSA eligibility purposes, the spouse's FSA enrollment blocks both the spouse and the employee from making or receiving HSA contributions." MORE >>
"[T]hese cases show that courts (and particularly the Sixth Circuit) are willing to scrutinize dated actuarial assumptions used by defined benefit pension plans.... [T]he tables in these cases ... are by no means outliers. Mortality tables of this vintage are used by the majority of plans nationwide. While this has been an accepted industry practice for decades, this Sixth Circuit ruling demonstrates that it is not without risk." [Reichert v. Kellogg, No. 24-1442, consol. Watt v. FedEx, No. 24-5945 (6th Cir. Mar. 16, 2026)] MORE >>
"The case ... centers on allegations that Southwest failed for years to remove the Harbor Capital Appreciation Fund ... from the Southwest Airlines Co. Retirement Savings Plan ... despite persistent underperformance against its benchmark and peer funds, which plaintiffs argue cost employees millions in retirement savings. The ruling addresses whether allegations tied to even a single imprudent investment option are sufficient to proceed past the pleading stage." [Anderson v. Southwest Airlines Co., No. 25-0214 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 25, 2026)] MORE >>
"Because an EBHRA is classified as an "excepted benefit," it is not subject to many of the requirements applicable to traditional group health plans or traditional group health plan HRAs, including the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) market reform requirements, HIPAA's portability provisions or mental health parity requirements. These features make EBHRAs an attractive supplemental benefit option for employers of all sizes." MORE >>
"Because payroll determines how contributions are coded and reported, it remains the foundation of compliance.... Clear communication can prevent confusion. Sponsors should explain who is affected, how the income threshold works, and what the change means for both current taxes and long-term retirement planning.... Don't overlook the enhanced catch-up limit." MORE >>
"[M]ost scenarios also show reductions in total plan costs and advisor compensation. The data also underscores a persistent reality: smaller plans continue to pay significantly more than their larger counterparts, and cost variation across providers remains substantial." MORE >>
"Dependent eligibility audits have become one of the more practical tools available to plan sponsors to ensure that the plan operates in accordance with its own terms, as well as to help in controlling plan expenses.... [1] Understand the terms of plan documents first ... [2] Design the process -- and stick to it ... [3] Know the ACA's anti-rescission rule ... [4] Understand when COBRA does -- and doesn't -- apply ... [5] Address Section 125 implications in advance ... [6] Protect personal information ... [7] Communicate clearly -- and early ... [8] Build better processes for the future." MORE >>
18 pages. "Retail and digital-first health merchants increased their share of HSA spend year over year. Amazon remains one of the top merchants by transaction volume.... Mental health platforms including Headway, BetterHelp, and therapy- focused apps like Ivy represent growing engagement. Vision and optical retailers such as Warby Parker and 1-800 Contacts rank among top recurring spend merchants. H.... Hospitals and health systems continue to drive the largest dollar totals, but represent a smaller share of total transaction count. Rx continues to be the most frequent usage (total debit card swipes)" MORE >>
"Agreeing to indemnify others in a transaction would impose additional liabilities and financial risks on the ESOP without providing any participant benefit. That kind of risk assumption would be inconsistent with the trustee's fiduciary duties and would almost certainly constitute a breach under ERISA." MORE >>
"Under the bill, if an employee subject to a non-compete is fired without cause, the agreement is unenforceable unless the employer provides severance pay or another form of monetary compensation. However, if the employee is fired 'for cause', the non-compete agreement is enforceable. The proposed law also requires employers to disclose any severance benefits or payments at the time the non-compete agreement is executed." MORE >>
"The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for an employer after finding that a former employee's severance release was knowing and voluntary under all five factors the court applies, rejecting her claims of racial discrimination, gender discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment. The decision is a practical checklist for any employer that uses severance releases." [West v. Dow Chemical Co., No. 25-1681 (6th Cir. Mar. 10, 2026; unpub.) MORE >>
"Apollo wants you to believe Athene is the safest part of the machine. The reality is the opposite. Apollo's Private Credit and Private Mortgages, many worth 70 cents on the dollar, can hide their losses on the Athene balance sheet. If those loans are mispriced -- or deteriorate -- Athene absorbs the damage." MORE >>
"An important and separate 'tool,' if you will, in the professional's portfolio for use in assessing and understanding the manner in which any lifetime income program will fit into any particular DC plan is simply recognizing that annuities [1] are a necessary element of providing lifetime guarantees under DC plans; [2] are normal; [3] have been used in DC plans for, literally, generations; and [4] that their use is supported by a substantial legal and regulatory infrastructure." MORE >>
"[T]he RET is a vehicle to reduce Social Security benefits somewhat if an individual is earning wages at a job while receiving benefits from the system. It's graduated somewhat, based on how much that person is earning and whether he or she is doing so before attaining full retirement age (FRA) or after. But does the RET touch more than the individuals on whom it is applied? The short answer is yes[.]" MORE >>
"Establishing your objectives for using AI in benefits administration may help provide clarity in choosing a benefits administration provider that can support your goals. Successful benefits administration providers will be able to cleanly connect multiple data sources to provide purposeful integration of data-driven technology and AI." MORE >>
"The growth of health care spending in the United States seems to have permanently slowed thanks in part to technological advances making medical treatments cheaper and more effective ... The United States spent more than $5 trillion on medical care in 2024, or 18% of its gross domestic product (GDP). That's up a bit from 17.2% of GDP in 2010, but far below the 21.2% share of GDP -- nearly $1 trillion less -- forecast by government actuaries in 2010." MORE >>
