"If a plan sponsor sees a need among its employees, it should consider two more things. First, the complexity of [the rules outlined in IRS Notice 2026-33] is daunting. Second, this is another way for plan benefits to be depleted before the participant retires, leaving him or her short on resources for living after working days are over ... Having said that, long-term care insurance is expensive, and this may be the only way a participant has to afford that coverage. Therefore, QLCDs address what may be an actual need for some people." MORE >>
"When the same provider runs payroll and administration, everything flows through a single system and a single interpretation of the plan document. That sounds efficient, until the setup is wrong. If eligibility is coded incorrectly or compensation definitions don't align with payroll fields, the error repeats every pay period. There's no independent TPA catching the issue ... What looks like integration is often just duplication of risk." MORE >>
"The defendants argued that an unintentional error in counseling cannot support a fiduciary breach claim unless the plan language on the same topic is also ambiguous. The court rejected that argument, reasoning that ERISA imposes an affirmative duty on fiduciaries to convey complete and accurate information material to a beneficiary's circumstances, even when the beneficiary has not asked." [Williams v. Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC Benefits and Investment Committee, No. 24-7593 (N.D. Cal. June 29, 2026)] MORE >>
"Some of the clearest uses for AI are language-heavy tasks that already consume staff time. Plan staff answer routine questions, rewrite technical language, sort incoming messages, and hunt for the right policy or procedure. Large language models fit that work. They can summarize documents, classify inquiries, draft plain-language responses, and help staff retrieve plan rules quickly." MORE >>
"Segal analyzed the administrative expenses reported by DC annuity funds in Form 5500 filings for 2023 and 2024. When segmenting the data by plan type, geography, plan size and participant size, the data not only showed clear patterns in administrative cost, but provided guidelines to help plan sponsors understand the fees they should expect or negotiate for their plans. [This article presents those] findings and outline[s] seven steps trustees of plans with outdated fee structures can take to lower administrative costs." MORE >>
"The use of artificial intelligence does not lower the fiduciary standard. It does not allow fiduciaries to outsource judgment. It does not excuse weak oversight. And it does not allow a plan sponsor to say, 'The system made the decision,' as if that ends the discussion.... Fiduciary review cannot stop at cost, convenience or a polished sales presentation. Plan fiduciaries should understand what the tool does, what data it uses, how outputs are reviewed and whether a human remains involved." MORE >>
"[TPAs], brokers, and benefits technology vendors are increasingly offering [AI] tools that can generate [SPDs], plan summaries, FAQs, and participant communications almost instantaneously. While these tools promise efficiency and reduced administrative burden, plan sponsors should proceed cautiously. Under ERISA, the plan administrator is responsible for maintaining compliant plan documentation and properly distributing required disclosures, including the obligation to furnish paper copies of plan documents upon a participant’s request." MORE >>
"[R]egulatory expectations -- particularly from the [DOL] -- have continued to evolve, with a growing focus on documentation, process integrity, and proactive oversight. The updated template reflects these developments in three important ways: [1] Greater emphasis on fiduciary process and decision-making [2] Expanded preventative controls to reduce missing participants [3] Improved documentation to support audit and enforcement readiness. Rather than replacing the original six-step framework, the update operationalizes it in more detail, translating high-level guidance into actionable procedures." MORE >>
"GAI holds promise to improve efficiency and professional services in tax practice. However, ethical obligations of competence, diligence, and confidentiality remain unchanged. By implementing robust use-management strategies and maintaining human supervision, tax professionals can harness AI's benefits while safeguarding reliability and public trust. As tax practitioners integrate GAI into their workflows, it is crucial to recognize that technology serves as a powerful tool, not a substitute for professional judgment. AI can streamline routine tasks, enhance research, and provide valuable insights, but final decisions must always rest with qualified professionals who understand the complexities of tax law and ethical standards. Practitioners must remain vigilant in reviewing what is produced by AI, validating its factual assertions and citations, and handling sensitive client data safely and securely in accordance with both federal and state regulations." MORE >>
"The [DOL's] new proposed regulations significantly change how retirement plans may rely on the rule that allows only one paper participant statement per year. While the original rule seemed simple, the proposed regulation adds layers of conditions and documentation." [Article provides a side-by-side comparison of old and new requirements.] MORE >>
28 pages. "What's New: [1] Address fields ... [2] New boxes 7a-7d of Form 1099-R ... [3] Renumbered box 8 of Form 1099-R ... [4] Reporting the actuarial value of the contract in box 8a is optional for 2026 Form 1099-R ... [5] Qualified long-term care distribution reported on Form 1099-R ... [6] New code HP for box 14b of Form 5498." [Also available: 2026 IRS Form 5498 and 2026 IRS Form 1099-R] MORE >>
"Employer enthusiasm for artificial intelligence is outpacing employee willingness to use the technology as a tool as part of their benefits programs.... 83% of employers surveyed were interested in using AI to help workers better understand their benefits. Only 58% of employees surveyed said they would use AI for that purpose, and just 24% said they were currently doing so." MORE >>
"One of the trickiest parts when you've discovered an error may have been made is how to communicate with your client about it.... [If] the client is wrong, there's no reason to apologize. More importantly, most E&O policies provide that coverage can be denied if the insured admits fault without the consent of the insurer.... Every TPA owner should instruct all client-facing employees that, if the client claims an error was made, they should ... ask for an opportunity to investigate and report back. Do not admit fault." MORE >>
"The traditional definition of a missing participant centers on failed outreach, including returned mail, inactive accounts, outdated contact details, or uncashed checks. But that definition assumes the individual is still living. In reality, that is not always the case." MORE >>
Rev. Jun. 12, 2026. "The information on Form 5498 is submitted to the IRS by the trustee or issuer of your individual retirement arrangement (IRA) to report contributions, including any catch-up contributions, rollovers, repayments, required minimum distributions (RMDs), and the fair market value (FMV) of the account." MORE >>
"More than half of plans automatically rollover small balances -- either through the Portability Services Network or through an automatic rollover solution provider.... [N]early ten percent are considering it (8.9%). Most comments think it's a good idea though there are some concerns about not all recordkeepers being a part of the Portability Services Network and the challenges that creates." MORE >>
"In a combo design the employer's defined benefit and profit sharing contributions are aggregated and tested on a benefits basis ... The idea is for the owner/key employees to receive more of their retirement value in a DB plan, while rank-and-file employees receive more through a DC plan ... For 2023, Form 5500-SF included a new compliance question: [14a] Does the plan satisfy the coverage and nondiscrimination tests of Code sections 410(b) and 401(a)(4) by combining this plan with any other plans under the permissive aggregation rules? So how prevalent is a design that warrants this question?" MORE >>
"[OPM] is providing notice of adjusted present value factors applicable to certain retirees under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS): [1] Retirees who elect to provide survivor annuity benefits to a spouse based on post-retirement marriage; [2] retiring employees who elect the alternative form of annuity; or [3] retirees who elect to credit certain service with nonappropriated fund instrumentalities. This notice is necessary to conform the present value factors to changes in the economic and demographic assumptions adopted by the Board of Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement System." MORE >>
"[OPM] is providing notice of adjusted present value factors applicable to certain retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS): [1] Retirees who elect to provide survivor annuity benefits to a spouse based on a post-retirement marriage; [2] retiring employees who elect the alternative form of annuity, owe certain redeposits based on refunds of contributions for service ending before March 1, 1991, or elect to credit certain service with nonappropriated fund instrumentalities; or [3] for retirees with certain types of retirement coverage errors who can elect to receive credit for service by taking an actuarial reduction ... This notice is necessary to conform the present value factors to changes in the economic and demographic assumptions adopted by the Board of Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement System." MORE >>
"[OPM] is revising the table of reduction factors for early commencing dates of survivor annuities for spouses of separated employees who die before the date on which they would be eligible for unreduced deferred annuities. The annuity factor for spouses of deceased employees who die in service when those spouses elect to receive the basic employee death benefit in 36 installments under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Act of 1986 remains unchanged." MORE >>
"The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is providing notice of revised normal cost percentages for employees covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Act of 1986." 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 >>
"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 >>
"Rising postage costs, delivery slowdowns at the postal service and an increasingly digital workforce have accelerated the use of electronic communications. But even as email, mobile apps and text alerts become the industry norm, employers and regulators are grappling with a difficult balancing act: how to modernize disclosures without increasing cybersecurity risks, excluding participants who still rely on paper, or running afoul of SECURE 2.0’s requirements." MORE >>
