[Corrected] PBGC has determined the premium rates applicable for plan years beginning in 2025. For Single-Employer Plans: per participant rate for flat-rate premium: $106; variable-rate premium rate per $1000 UVBs: $52, per-participant cap: $717. For Multiemployer Plans: per-participant rate for flat-rate premium: $39.  MORE >>

"Employers considering whether to adopt this new provision should consult with their payroll provider and third-party administrator to ensure that those vendors are ready to handle these types of contributions. An amendment to the plan will eventually be required ... written procedures adopted, and vendor systems updated. Special explanatory employee communications regarding the QSLP match are encouraged, in addition to updates to summary plan descriptions."  MORE >>

"IRS has extended a host of tax filing and payment deadlines for retirement plan sponsors and participants affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. IRS's relief automatically triggers the same extension for certain filings to the [PBGC]. [SECURE 2.0] also lets sponsors to offer affected participants access to their retirement savings and other relief."  MORE >>

"Argent Trust argued in its petition that two circuits -- the Ninth Circuit and Seventh Circuit -- have concluded that there is 'nothing in ERISA that would preclude individual arbitration of ERISA claims.' However, the Third, Sixth, Tenth and Second Circuits have previously reached the opposite conclusion in invalidating ERISA plan arbitration provisions." [Argent Trust Co. v. Cedeno, No. 21-2891 (2d Cir. May 1, 2024; cert. pet. filed Oct. 7, 2024)]  MORE >>

"Forty percent of respondents stated they are very confident in their plan's handling of missing participants and uncashed checks ... 60 percent of respondents are concerned about their ability to track down missing participants.... Currently, a quarter of all respondents allow participants to remain in the plan regardless of the balance -- though small plans are more likely to do so."  MORE >>

"Strong gains from public equities and other return-seeking assets improved funded ratios for LDI-focused corporate defined benefit plans for the three months ended September 30. Returns from equities were offset by increases in liabilities driven by declining Treasury yields and modestly tighter credit spreads for total return focused plans."  MORE >>

"With a fifth consecutive month of positive investment returns, September 2024 saw the estimated funded status of the 100 largest U.S. public pension plans increase from 82.0% as of August 31, 2024, to 82.8% as of September 30, 2024 ... We estimate a year-to-date investment return of 9.4% through the end of September."  MORE >>

"The Netherlands’ retirement income system has retained the top spot on the list, with Iceland and Denmark remaining in second and third places, respectively.... Retirement systems around the world are increasingly moving away from defined benefit (DB) plans and shifting to defined contribution (DC) arrangements. The report explores the opportunities and challenges associated with DC plans for both pension plans and individuals."  MORE >>

44 pages. "This year, ICI worked to fundamentally reshape policy debates, informing lawmakers of the importance of major pieces of legislation designed to protect the interests of retail investors, including millions of retirees. The operations team helped our industry successfully transition to a T+1 settlement window ... ICI's legal and economic analysis pushed back on the costly consequences of several major regulatory proposals while the strategic communications team raised public awareness of the dangers facing investors, ultimately resulting in the reconsideration and even abandonment of those proposals."  MORE >>

"Many people think that Social Security's funding problem is about 10 years into the future when trust fund assets are expected to be fully depleted. This is very short-term thinking.... Just because Social Security has a trust fund that can be used to pay full benefits for the next 10 years does not mean its funding problem is 10 years away and can be ignored."  MORE >>

"[A] foreign-based corporation (or group of individuals) may have wholly owned subsidiaries in other countries that in turn have wholly owned subsidiaries in the U.S., which are in fact part of a controlled group. Most often, these U.S. controlled groups do not have centralized operations and are not even aware that there are other related entities in the U.S. ... Less familiar to many service-type companies are the rules treating affiliated service organizations as a single employer for retirement and cafeteria plan purposes. The ownership thresholds triggering application of these rules are much lower for this type of group than for controlled groups."  MORE >>

"To identify which international benefits work for your people, there are three key areas to consider per country: [1] employee benefits that are required by law, [2] benefits that might be expected by your people and [3] benefits that can help you stand out as an employer of choice."  MORE >>

"States such as Utah and Pennsylvania are already showing how portable benefits can allow individuals to maintain their nontraditional work arrangements while accessing work-related benefits. These kinds of benefits are the best sustainable solution if the nature of work in the United States continues to change and flexible forms of work become the new norm." [Also available: State Policy Guide]  MORE >>