"With this rule, the DOL proposes a regulatory safe harbor from which the acts of plan fiduciaries of defined contribution plans will be given the presumption of prudence.... [N]early 45,000 comments were filed, with some comments providing substantive suggestions to improve the implementation of the rule and other comments objecting to the rule because of concern that it will encourage the inclusion of risky, complex, and higher cost investment options, and result in less protection for Americans' retirement savings. It remains to be seen how the DOL will respond[.]" MORE >>
"[The final rules] affect how a group health plan communicates with out-of-network providers, participates in payment negotiations, and resolves billing disputes. Because self-insured group health plans are ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with these new IDR requirements, plan sponsors should work with their third-party administrator (TPA) to confirm that existing processes meet the new standards. Where gaps exist, plan sponsors may want to revise the TPA services agreement to address the requirements summarized below and consider including indemnification provisions or performance guarantees to protect the plan in the event the TPA fails to comply." MORE >>
"This time of year typically brings key filings such as Form 5500 for calendar-year plans, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee payments, Summary Annual Report (SAR) distributions, and medical loss ratio (MLR) rebate considerations, among others. Staying ahead of these requirements is critical to avoiding potential penalties and maintaining compliance with applicable federal laws." [Includes both standard Federal deadlines, and select state and local deadlines.] MORE >>
Topics include: [1] Important terminology for reference on key topics; [2] Stock purchase plan options and amendments; [3] Asset purchase plan options and amendments; [4] CG/ASG transition period for coverage testing under IRC 410(b)(6)(C); [5] Comparing and unifying plan designs. MORE >>
"While many investors assume they can move IRA assets as often as they wish, the rules depend on the method used. For example, an IRA-to-IRA rollover may be done only once during a 12-month period, while transfers are not subject to that limitation. If you are planning to move your IRA, understanding the difference between a transfer and a rollover is key to avoiding costly mistakes." MORE >>
"[T]he employer is only responsible for determining the following with respect to each employee: [1] whether the employee is covered under an HDHP or a non-HDHP (e.g., a general-purpose health FSA or HRA) sponsored by that employer; and [2] the employee's age, for determining whether the employee is eligible for age 55 catch-up contributions (the employer may rely on employees' representations as to their dates of birth)." MORE >>
"Employees accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, beginning at the start of employment.... Employers may frontload the full 40 hours at the start of the year to satisfy the accrual requirement, in which case they are not required to allow carryover of unused leave into the following year.... For absences of three or more consecutive workdays, employers may require reasonable documentation that leave was used for a covered purpose." MORE >>
"In the current environment, the focus for many plan sponsors is on the considerations and implications related to guaranteed lifetime income because this is still new territory for them, and many also will want to consider at least one other non-guaranteed option for their plan lineups. At a high level, the [steps] explained in [this article] can help identify the plan's specific goals and needs and guide the design of an effective program[.]" MORE >>
"The June 10 draft proposes amending the Accounting Standards Codification to require that firms value the cost of benefits offered as market-based cash balance plans ... by setting the discount rate equal to the assumed interest crediting rate.... Almost 60% of all DB plans in the U.S. are now cash balance plans, ... In 2018, only about 10% of cash balance plans used a market-based crediting rate, but that figure now sits around 60%." MORE >>
"The updated rules, effective June 1, 2026, make a number of substantive additions and clarifications, including new guidance on joint employment, workplace posting, rate of pay for tipped employees, reasons for use, paid sick leave abuse, successor employer obligations, benefit year administration, universal PTO policies, and accrual for exempt & non-exempt employees." MORE >>
"The PCMA is alleging that the PDAA will cause substantial harm to the association's members ... The PDAA was crafted to rein in the influential middlemen, which sit at the epicenter of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain and control the flow of drugs between pharmaceutical companies, insurers, pharmacies and patients.... [The Illinois law was enacted last July,] part of a larger wave of state legislatures across the country passing PBM reform legislation to the annoyance of market giants in the industry." [Pharmaceutical Care Mgmt. Ass'n v. Gillespie, No. 25-3200 (C.D. Ill. complaint filed Jun. 16, 2026)] MORE >>
"Advisors with clients who receive federal benefits must become experts in pension rules, service credit calculations, and benefit elections to serve as a valuable resource during both the planning and retirement phases." MORE >>
"A new retirement saving option for teachers participating in the Bay State's teacher retirement system is closer to being available, courtesy of legislation that has passed both chambers of the Massachusetts legislature." MORE >>
"In enforcement actions and audit findings, regulators have consistently identified deficiencies in comparative analyses, particularly where plans cannot adequately document how NQTLs are designed and administered. The most common MHPAEA compliance challenges [include] ... [1] Data access and vendor dependency.... [2] Identifying all applicable NQTLs.... [3] Explaining factors and evidentiary standards ... [4] Demonstrating operational compliance.... [5] Ongoing maintenance obligations.... [6] Fiduciary responsibility.... If this process appears to be complex and overwhelming, that’s because, quite honestly, it is." MORE >>
Video with transcript. "TOAMS 6 is WTW's sixth edition of [this] mortality and policyholder behavior study, covering calendar years 2018-2022 with data from 1.1 million deaths and [is] the first edition to encompass the COVID-19 era. Using predictive analytics, [the study] uncovered key insights on COVID's impact, socioeconomic factors, risk class differentials and more that will help to shape smarter decisions across pricing and product development." MORE >>
"The new rule reveals the administration's priorities, even as consumers' costs rise. It ratchets up scrutiny of the enrollment process and imposes administrative barriers it projects will cause up to 2 million people to lose coverage. At the same time, it relaxes standards for health insurers, greenlighting unprecedented flexibilities for companies to expose enrollees to massive out-of-pocket costs." MORE >>
"Code section 530A Trump accounts and section 128 Trump account contribution programs generally will not constitute 'employee pension benefit plans' for purposes of the provisions of Title I of ERISA. Employer contributions to the Trump accounts will not generally result in Title I coverage for a Trump account or the contribution arrangement where, as discussed [in this Release], they occur only during the growth period. For periods beyond an account beneficiary's growth period, employer involvement with a Trump account and a contribution arrangement should be limited in accordance with the IRA payroll safe harbor conditions in in 29 CFR 2510.3-2(d)."MORE >>
"An annuity buyout for active participants that will remain employed is not the type of event that the statute or regulation were designed to capture. Though the annuitized individuals will cease to be participants in the Plan, the change in status does not result because of a workforce reduction event of the type contemplated by PBGC's regulations, such as 'a reorganization or restructuring, the discontinuance of an operation or business, a natural disaster, a mass layoff, or an early retirement incentive program.' " MORE >>
"This article summarizes the statutory provisions on qualified long-term care distributions and notes where Notice 2026-33 provides clarifying guidance for sponsors, plan administrators, and insurers." MORE >>
"Immediate actions (before final rule): [1] Inventory existing fertility benefits.... [2] Assess state requirements.... Planning (once final rule is published): [1] Decide whether to adopt excepted fertility benefits.... [2] Choose a delivery structure.... [3] Set benefit parameters.... [4] Prepare required participant notices.... [5] Review summary plan descriptions (SPDs) and plan documents ... [5] Coordinate with benefits counsel on tax treatment." MORE >>
"[N]ew emerging 'dynamic copay' plans ... translate negotiated price variation into provider- and service-specific dollar copays displayed pre-service, often through app-based tools ... [The authors] examine the operational pre-requisites for 'copay integrity,' likely effects on out-of-pocket (OOP) predictability and spending in light of peer-reviewed evidence on tiered designs, and the constraints imposed by health insurance literacy ... [P]airing dynamic copays with reference pricing, layered onto a tiered network, may better address these limitations by strengthening steerage, improving OOP predictability and aligning member shopping incentives with higher-value care." MORE >>
"For plan sponsors, the proposal is less about introducing entirely new requirements and more about reinforcing how decisions should be documented and communicated. In practice, that means: [1] Make sure the plan's investment process is documented -- not just the conclusion. [2] Ensure committee minutes reflect the evaluation and discussion. [3] Be clear on how advisors are being used in the decision-making process. [4] Continue to monitor investments after selection." MORE >>
"Consistent with existing ERISA principles and Supreme Court guidance, the proposed rule confirms that the same fiduciary standards apply to all investment options, regardless of whether they invest in public or private markets. As always, fiduciaries must maintain a prudent process that considers all relevant facts and circumstances when evaluating plan investments." MORE >>
"Despite rising costs, enterprise employers aren't pulling back on benefits in 2026. They're taking a closer look at where dollars are going, paying more attention to how programs perform, and finding ways to stay competitive without letting benefits spending grow unchecked.... [O]rganizations with 500 or more employees are preserving core benefits while introducing tighter controls around spending, utilization, and administration." MORE >>
"Start with the question. ... Validate the data. ... Integrate quantitative and qualitative data. ... Use a sequential process to analyze data. ... Look at the data through multiple lenses. ... Don’t overreact to outliers. ... Put the pieces together." MORE >>
