News Archive

"Key developments include: [1] Rapid growth in auto portability adoption. [2] Public support for auto portability from leading DC recordkeepers. [3] A reframing by industry thought leaders of the 'forgotten' 401(k) accounts issue through the lens of portability."  MORE >>

"The standard mileage rate for transportation or travel expenses for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile for all miles of business use (business standard mileage rate) ... The standard mileage rate is 14 cents per mile for use of an automobile in rendering gratuitous services to a charitable organization under Section 170.... The standard mileage rate for 2026 is 20.5 cents per mile for use of an automobile: [1] for medical care described in Section 213; or [2] as part of a move for which the expenses are deductible under Section 217(g)."  MORE >>

"The 2026 Roth catch-up rules require coordinated action across plan documents, payroll systems, and recordkeeping platforms. Employers should confirm that payroll can identify HPPs based on prior-year FICA wages, ensure timely Roth elections, and implement appropriate correction procedures. Early planning and clear participant communication will be essential to minimizing operational risk and maintaining compliance."  MORE >>

73 pages. Dec. 22, 2025. "What's New ... [1] Beginning in 2025, IRA references in these instructions follow a revised naming convention.... [2] Form 8915-F includes a new line 5a. This line directs taxpayers to add the amounts from column (a) of lines 2, 3, and 4, and enter on line 5a the portion of that sum not attributable to qualified disaster distributions."  MORE >>

"The [DOL] has asked for additional time to file an amicus brief in a forfeiture reallocation suit involving Honeywell International. It's a suit that the fiduciary defendants have already prevailed in their motion to dismiss -- twice -- most recently last July, and that time with prejudice.' [Barragan v. Honeywell Int"l, Inc., No. 24-4529 (D.N.J. Aug. 18, 2025; on appeal to 3d Cir. No. 25-2509)]  MORE >>

"A recordkeeper switch is not simply a checkbox for 'vendor change'. It is one of the highest-risk operational events in a plan lifecycle. Blackout periods must be communicated clearly, participant funds must be accurately transferred, and plan fiduciaries must vigilantly follow every step of the process. If you hand off everything to your provider, and then treat the transition like a lunch meeting that maybe one of your folks attended, you are creating systemic risk."  MORE >>

"[I]ndividuals and businesses in the State of Washington affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that began on Dec. 9, 2025 ... now have until May 1, 2026, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.... [I]ndividuals and households that reside or have a business in Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Samish, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, and Yakima counties qualify for tax relief."  MORE >>

"One of the most important pieces of information that your TPA will request is retirement plan year wages ... Providing correct contribution totals is also essential ... Personal and employment data ... are necessary for determining eligibility and plan participation dates.... Identifying who the highly compensated employees are for each plan year is essential for accurate ADP test results."  MORE >>

"Public pension funds are entrusted with safeguarding financial security for their members and beneficiaries. Yet even well-managed systems face risks when participant records are incomplete, deaths go unreported, or beneficiaries cannot be located.... Protecting the future requires pension funds to conduct timely audits that close data gaps, strengthen system integrity, and ensure accurate benefit delivery."  MORE >>

"This post will: [1] Explain the requirements plan sponsors must follow to utilize the safe harbor correction method for automatic enrollment and automatic escalation errors; [2] Offer practical steps plan sponsors can take now to use the safe harbor; and [3] Serve as a reminder to plan sponsors that the ability to self-correct errors depends on having compliance practices and procedures in place for the plan."  MORE >>

"New IRS contribution limits, combined with a major shift in the rules for catch-up contributions, create fresh opportunities for long-term savers while also introducing new planning challenges. For employees in their peak earning years, especially those in their early 60s, these changes could meaningfully shape how retirement savings look. Here's what's new, why it matters, and how to prepare."  MORE >>

"The industry that encouraged workers to save is staring at a wave of retirees ready to begin drawing on these accounts. As retirees shift their mindset from saving to withdrawing, this introduces significantly different questions and responsibilities for plan sponsors, providers and advisers who have spent years working toward the accumulation side of the retirement equation."  MORE >>

"As record keeper consolidation disrupts service and relationships with the larger brands, many of which are focusing on participants' services and offering almost zero-profit pricing, which puts them in competition with advisors, independent record keepers exist in a totally different universe. Their cost structure with much fewer field salespeople and lower corporate overhead does not require the same type of scale to survive or thrive, with owners and senior managers directly involved in the day-to-day."  MORE >>

"As your organization prepares to implement your new system, it is crucial to safeguard this major investment by taking steps now to avoid costly mistakes later.... [F]our proven strategies for a seamless benefits administration system implementation: ... [1] Gather all functional requirements ... [2] Clean your data before the system conversion ... [3] Create a detailed testing plan ... [4] Train, train, train! "  MORE >>

"[T]he most important thing for plan sponsors and recordkeepers to communicate is that digital scams exist across an 'evolving landscape.' Not only are there commonplace clickbait phishing emails, but also artificial intelligence-powered deepfake scams sophisticated enough to make even the most tech-savvy of participants fall prey."  MORE >>

47 pages; Nov. 6, 2025; pub. Dec. 18, 2025. "Reminders: [1] Distributions to victims of domestic abuse.... [2] Distributions for emergency personal expenses.... [3] Transfers and rollovers of assets and the substantially equal payment method.... [4] The direct payment requirement for certain distributions for payment of health or long-term care insurance repealed."  MORE >>

"Managing employee benefits can overwhelm lean HR teams, especially without a dedicated benefits function. This guide shares 19 practical strategies to reduce administrative burden, streamline support, and empower employees to self-serve. With the right partners, tools, and systems, even small HR teams can deliver a confident, effective benefits experience."  MORE >>

"Organizations invest heavily in benchmarking, employee surveys, and high-demand perks like flexible work arrangements and mental health resources. But offering competitive programs is only half the equation. What matters is how employees perceive the value and applicability of those programs."  MORE >>

"Of interest for 401(k) plans and health and welfare plans is a clarification regarding reporting of delinquent participant contributions on Schedule DCG, Schedule H, or Schedule I, as applicable.... References to the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program have been updated to reflect the most recent version (issued in early 2025). ... Other changes relate to defined benefit plans."  MORE >>

"With the release dates of December 11th and December 17th respectively, all changes made to the 2026 Forms W-4P must be incorporated in substitute forms by no later than January 10, 2026, and the changes made to the 2026 Form W-4R must be incorporated in substitute forms by no later than January 16, 2026."  MORE >>

"From Roth catch-up contributions to new paper statement requirements and distributions for long-term care premiums, the coming year promises to test your adaptability and attention to your clients' needs. [Here] are some factors to consider or questions to evaluate to ensure compliance and deliver value."  MORE >>

"An effective RFP will determine the quality of the respondents and will help reduce the time and effort expended in the overall RFP and selection process.... [T]he plan sponsor should provide audit firms with sufficient information about the nature of the plan and the engagement to allow them to make a meaningful and comprehensive proposal that addresses your specific needs and evaluation criteria."  MORE >>

"As we look ahead to 2026, plan sponsors face a shifting landscape of regulation, fiduciary risk and opportunity, evolving plan design, and rapidly changing participant expectations. In many respects, this moment represents a continuation of change -- but with unusual force and urgency.... [P]lan sponsors will need to be proactive."  MORE >>

"[S]everal new laws will have significant implications for qualified retirement plans, including amendments that must be made by the 2026 plan year.... The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) also contains provisions impacting health and welfare plans, many of which are effective beginning January 1, 2026.... [M]any cost-of-living adjustments that are mandated by law will impact retirement plans and health and welfare plans in 2026.... [This article provides] plan sponsors with summaries of the key action items they should be considering, now and in the future[.]"  MORE >>

"This guide provides a high-level reference resource, in a plan-by-plan format, on how to approach each benefit arrangement when an employee gets divorced, and offers up some practical tips on employee benefits issues that may arise as you manage your company's response to an employee's divorce."  MORE >>