"The Code does not define when exactly a partial termination occurs. Treas. Reg. Section 1.411(d)-3 states only that partial terminations are judged based on the facts and circumstances. When a partial termination occurs, the terminated participants are to be 100% vested, as if the plan were terminated in relation to them.... Partial terminations are not rare and, according to the IRS website, they are commonly misidentified or treated incorrectly by plan sponsors."  MORE >>

4-page chart compares plan design and compliance considerations. Includes both ERISA and non-ERISA 403(b) plans.  MORE >>

"[T]he regulation clarifies that electronic medium rules that apply to participant elections also apply to obtaining spousal consent. [1] The spouse must have effective access to the electronic medium. [2] The medium must be designed to allow only the spouse to make an election. [3] The spouse must have an opportunity to review, confirm, modify, or rescind the consent before it becomes effective. [4] The spouse must receive confirmation of the effects of the consent within a reasonable time."  MORE >>

"Courts will not always require that the plan's investments be the highest performing year after year or that their fees will always be at the bottom of the scale, but they will require sponsors to prove that investments are selected according to criteria consistent with the plan documents and in the best interests of plan participants."  MORE >>

"This post takes a 'deep dive' into defined benefit (DB) pension plans as a foundational source of income for many 403(b) plan participants. It describes vesting requirements, benefit calculation methods, taxation, and what happens when pension recipients (or their spouse) pass away. It also includes a study about teachers' retirement planning knowledge, as well as three 'need to know' facts and six take-away action steps."  MORE >>

"The Lifetime Income for Employees (LIFE) Act (HR 3942) ... would allow retirement plan sponsors to use lifetime income solutions that have delayed liquidity features and thus can provide better returns as qualified default investment alternatives (QDIA) for a portion of contributions made by participants who have not made investment selections."  MORE >>

"[T]he Protecting Americans' Retirement Savings Act (PARSA) ... would block private pension plans under [ERISA] from making new investments in companies controlled by or based in our foreign adversaries. It would also require the disclosure of existing investments in other foreign adversary and sanctioned entities."  MORE >>

"[1] RMDs ... [2] Contribution limits ... [3] Loans ... [4] QDIAs ... [5] Non-fiduciary status of investment sales ... [Bonus] Equitable relief."  MORE >>

37 pages. "A flexible work schedule is a particularly significant factor both in considering a move to another employer (49%) and in remaining with the current employer (38%). When considering benefits, young adults planning to change jobs in the next year cite paid time off (65%) and a flexible work schedule (58%) among the top four benefits influencing their choice of an employer. Young adults also seek flexibility in accessing benefits. Nearly three in four young adults (73%) indicate that they'd prefer to receive benefits that stay with them from job to job."  MORE >>