"The RFI seeks input from various stakeholders to improve the Treasury's understanding of AI and consider potential legislative and regulatory enhancements.... Financial institutions should consider sharing examples of AI applications within their operations.... Financial institutions, especially smaller ones, should consider communicating any challenges or barriers to access they face in accessing AI technologies.... Financial institutions should consider commenting on the efficacy of applying scenario analyses to monitor for AI-related risks,"  MORE >>

"PLESAs present a number of administrative challenges, and SECURE 2.0 left unanswered questions that have caused many to hesitate to adopt.... The DOL's guidance focuses on clarifying and interpreting the various PLESA requirements outlined in SECURE 2.0, while the IRS's guidance focuses solely on the design elements that plan sponsors can utilize to prevent participants from abusing the PLESA feature as a way to get employer match and immediately withdraw deferrals."  MORE >>

"[This article reviews] developments in opposition to DOL's recently finalized amendment to the ERISA advice fiduciary regulation: the filing of a second lawsuit challenging the new regulation; the Chamber of Commerce's amicus brief in the first lawsuit ... and the introduction in the Senate of a Congressional Review Act resolution disapproving DOL's regulation."  MORE >>

"This template includes the questions you need to ask, as well as editable fields for the provider to write their answers, so all you need to do is send it to the provider and then wait for the responses to roll in."  MORE >>

"Roughly 100 clients of Fidelity Investments are rolling out expanded benefits to help employees struggling to pay down debts and save for retirement.  ... Employee demand for student-loan support has been growing and can give employers a leg up in recruitment,... But overall, about 64% of companies don't plan to roll out an expanded 401(k) match, citing costs as a major reason."  MORE >>

"The 401(k) is under attack on multiple fronts, with a range of scholars, economists, politicians and media lobbing criticisms at the private workplace retirement plan market.... [T]he attacks have put the 401(k) industry on the defensive, forcing many industry advocates and stakeholders ... to speak out to counter what are seen as flaws in the logic or misinterpretations of data of various criticisms and proposals targeting 401(k)s."  MORE >>

34 pages "The primary purpose of this paper is to demonstrate, through a basic stochastic projection model, how inflation might impact savings and investing for retirement.  ... [T]he objective is not to gauge what the most advantageous investment strategies are. Rather, it is to illustrate how inflation acts as a component in the results of these strategies."  MORE >>

"Vanguard's research found that hybrid annuity TDFs could deliver higher investment value for retirees across all three types of annuities, dependent on factors including design, timing, the amount, and the kind of annuity used.... [T]he overall improvement in value to investors ranged from 0.24% for an SPIA to 0.48% for a QLAC."  MORE >>

"[T]he need for employers to build and refine impactful financial well-being programs presents a dual challenge. On one side, there is significant marketplace innovation and offerings developed and marketed by the vendors specifically targeting employers and the financial well-being of their employees. On the other hand, it is increasingly difficult for employers to navigate this growing array of choices and find the right fit for their needs."  MORE >>

"Retirement plan advisers generally view AI as a way to increase their productivity and become better communicators and not as a threat to their future livelihood.... 'It can be used to synthesize huge amounts of data in an incredibly short amount of time,' [one adviser] said.... 'AI is a wonderful communicator,' said [another]. 'It is not a great calculator.' "  MORE >>

"Major ERISA reforms: [1] New vesting and accrual requirements ... [2] New fiduciary responsibilities ... [3] A national pension insurance program- ... ERISA was fine-tuned and amended during the succeeding years ... [1] Spousal protections- ... [2] The Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act ... [3] Fiduciary breach litigation explodes ... [A]reas where ERISA has fallen short: [1] Too many uncovered employees.... [2] The multiemployer plan challenge.... [3] The loss of defined benefit plans."  MORE >>

"While Connelly held that a stock redemption obligation is not a liability that offsets life insurance proceeds in an estate tax analysis, careful planning and the use of alternative buy-sell arrangements (e.g., cross-purchase agreements or life insurance LLCs) may significantly reduce estate tax exposure." [Connelly v. IRS, No. 23-146 (S. Ct. Jun. 6, 2024)]  MORE >>