"Plan sponsors should take this ruling as an opportunity to review and strengthen their beneficiary designation procedures ... First, ensure that plan documents clearly articulate the methods by which participants may designate or change beneficiaries ... Second, train HR personnel to recognize informal beneficiary change requests ... Third, consider implementing confirmation systems that notify participants when beneficiary changes have been successfully processed ... Fourth, consider conducting a beneficiary designation review and audit." [Packaging Corp. of Am. Thrift Plan for Hourly Emps. v. Langdon, No. 25-1859 (7th Cir. Feb. 2, 2026)]  MORE >>