"This final rule amends the [PBGC]'s regulation on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans to prescribe the spreads component of the interest assumption under the asset allocation regulation for plans with valuation dates of October 31, 2024-January 30, 2025. These interest assumptions are used for valuing benefits under terminating single-employer plans and for other purposes."  MORE >>

"This notice provides guidance on the corporate bond monthly yield curve, the corresponding spot segment rates ... and the 24-month average segment rates ... [as well as] the interest rate on 30-year Treasury securities ... as in effect for plan years beginning before 2008 and the 30-year Treasury weighted average rate[.]"  MORE >>

"Complete Form W-4P to have payers withhold the correct amount of federal income tax from your periodic pension, annuity (including commercial annuities), profit-sharing and stock bonus plan, or IRA payments."  MORE >>

"[R]ecommendations to transfer IRAs (that is, either individual retirement accounts or individual retirement annuities) are, in some cases, likely to be considered fiduciary recommendations by the DOL under its 'old', and continuing, fiduciary definition -- the 5-part test. Of the 5 parts of the test, the part that is the most often relied on to avoid fiduciary status is the 'regular basis' requirement."  MORE >>

"[F]inal predictions for the 2025 IRS limits ... using the year-to-date CPI methodology: [1] The maximum deferral for DC plans decreased from $24,000 to $23,500. [2] The catch-up contribution limit for DC plans decreased from $8,000 to $7,500. This in turn lowers the catch-up contributions for those aged 60 to 63 from $12,000 to $11,250."  MORE >>

12 pages. "[T]he study identifies key findings related to target date solutions, retirement income, investment trends, and financial wellness programs. New topics explored in the 2024 research include managed accounts, alternative investments, and views on the value of active versus passive management."  MORE >>

"This article will describe the contents of Interpretive Bulletin 95-1, explain the current controversy over pension risk transfers, discuss DOL's position, and describe recent litigation challenging de-risking transactions and offer a prediction as to where that litigation may be headed.... The biggest question asked by the current litigation is whether pension plan participants need to wait for a default before they can expect to receive any relief."  MORE >>

"Some third-party fintech firms use credential sharing to access, manage, and trade within their clients' employer-sponsored retirement accounts ... without plan sponsor oversight. Credential sharing presents security risks to our customers ... Fidelity ... will begin taking steps to prevent platforms reliant on credential sharing from accessing and taking action in customer accounts held at Fidelity. This change is with customers' best interests in mind to enhance security and reduce customer data exposure."  MORE >>

"Fidelity's statement painted the move as the latest step in an ongoing effort to safeguard customer data and privacy.... [It] remains to be seen how other big firms might react. What is clear is that the manifold tension between meeting clients' and advisors' expectations about account access while also maintaining account security and protecting established firms' market share from leakage won't be resolved overnight."  MORE >>

"For plan sponsors who use forfeitures to pay employer contributions, perhaps the most effective measure they can take is to codify this arrangement ... by amending their 401(k) plan document ... Plan sponsors might amend their plans to state that employer contributions are reduced by the amount of administrative expenses paid on participants' behalf via forfeiture funds."  MORE >>

"A decade or more after common pension reforms that created lower-cost, less generous benefit tiers for public employees, there is increasing pressure to reverse those changes. This article explores the unintended consequences of those reforms on employee behavior, morale, and the broader impact to help understand why this trend is occurring now."  MORE >>

"[T]he court ruled that Reliance's challenge was untimely ... The regulation had been the same for many years, Reliance had never challenged it before, and thus could not now.... Reliance argued that the Department's regulation dictated the standard of review ... But the court responded that 'the regulation merely sets a time limit for claim exhaustion; it does not mandate or direct the courts to apply a particular standard of review as Reliance suggests.' " [Cogdell v. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co., No. 23-1343 (E.D. Va. Sept. 11, 2024)]  MORE >>

"Now, federal courts must exercise independent judgment when determining the best interpretation of a statute and cannot simply defer to agency interpretations, even when they are reasonable. This will likely increase courts' scrutiny of federal agency regulations that are subject to legal challenges. These FAQs provide high-level information about the case and its potential impact on employee benefit plans and their sponsors."  MORE >>

"Life insurance, specifically a split dollar life insurance agreement, is often an overlooked executive benefit strategy that can help level the playing field for not-for-profit organizations. A well-designed split dollar life insurance agreement can help an NFP attract and retain talented employees even in a competitive marketplace."  MORE >>

"This article will provide an overview of restricted stock, stock-settled restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance stock units (PSUs). As an overview, this article will address only certain key aspects of restricted stock, RSUs, and PSUs.... The article focuses on privately-held companies[.]"  MORE >>