"This final rule amends the [PBGC's] regulation on Disclosure and Amendment of Records Pertaining to Individuals under the Privacy Act to exempt from disclosure information contained in a system of records for PBGC's Office of Negotiations and Restructuring/Office of General Counsel Case Management System. The exemption is needed because records in this system include investigatory material compiled for administrative, civil, and criminal law enforcement purposes."  MORE >>

"As 2024 comes to a close, it is a good time to review how some of the recent changes under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 and the original SECURE Act impact qualified retirement plans.... [S]ome of the noteworthy changes that recently took effect or will soon become effective: [1] Participation of long-term part-time employees in 401 (k) plans ... [2] Required minimum distributions for Roth 401 (k) contributions ... [3] Surviving spouse can be treated as employee for RMD purposes ... [4] Increased cashout limit ... [5] Higher catch-up contribution limit ... [6] Catch-up contributions required to be Roth contributions ... [7] Notices to unenrolled participants."  MORE >>

"The DOL and Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar filed an amicus brief ... saying the key issue is whether plaintiffs must show that defendants engaged in prohibited transactions or whether defendant fiduciaries must show they are covered by ERISA exemptions." [Cunningham v. Cornell Univ., No. 21-0088 (2d Cir. Nov. 14, 2023; cert. pet. granted Oct. 3, 2024)]   MORE >>

"[This checklist is] broken into three sections: [1] Deadline Tasks: Summarizes the tasks that must be completed by a specific date; [2] Periodic Tasks: Summarizes the tasks that may need completed throughout the year; [3] Plan Records: Summarizes the records to maintain for documentation purposes."  MORE >>

"[O]verlaying this year's 'To Do' list is the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Loper Bright ... Although the specific impact remains unclear, the reversal of Chevron fundamentally alters the landscape of administrative law and, therefore, may have an effect on all qualified plans.... [The authors] have broken this 'To Do' List into four categories. [1] All Qualified Plans ... [2] Defined Contribution Plans (Including Section 401(k) Plans) ... [3] Defined Benefit Plans ... [4] Section 403(b) Plans."  MORE >>

"2024 was a year of adaptation for retirement plan fiduciaries who navigated through regulatory changes, legal landscapes, and participant needs with a renewed focus on governance, liability management, and the holistic management of retirement plans. The emphasis on acting in the best interest of participants was not just regulatory but became ingrained in the operational ethos of fiduciary practices, setting a new standard for the stewardship of retirement assets."  MORE >>

"This In Focus profiles the types of DC plans, the number of plans, the number of participants, and the dollar amount of assets in these plans. Data in this In Focus illuminate the concentration and scale of participation and assets across DC plans.... While this In Focus is limited to private sector pension plans, public sector employers also provide retirement benefits, including both DB and DC plans, to their employees." [IF12839 Dec. 4, 2024]  MORE >>

"56% of Gen X investors are currently providing financial support to their family members.... One in five (20%) respondents report being unable to save for retirement, while 23% have reduced or stopped saving for retirement because they are supporting their children and/or parents.... 16% say they have tapped into their retirement accounts or investments to manage financial pressures."  MORE >>

"When analysts and policymakers compare yearly returns among public pension funds, the different fiscal years are often overlooked. The disparity in end months can significantly influence a pension fund's reported investment performance, skewing single-year comparisons in volatile market conditions and obscuring the true disparities in financial outcomes of public pension systems. Before comparing the investment returns of pension funds, it is essential to understand the impact of fiscal year-end months."  MORE >>

"The aggregate funded ratio for U.S. corporate pension plans increased by an estimated 1.4 percentage points in November, ending the month at 103.5% ... Although the aggregate funded ratio is estimated to have decreased by 1.6% over the trailing twelve months, it is estimated to have increased by 7.7% year-to-date."  MORE >>

"[No] one disagrees that CITs cost less than mutual funds for the exact same bundle of securities.... CITs are also cheaper than mutual funds because -- being sold only to retirement plans and other sophisticated investors -- they are not required to register under the federal securities laws and thereby avoid many of the regulatory costs associated with products offered to the general public."  MORE >>

"With the White House and Congress under common control, buckle up for the proverbial bumpy ride. President-elect Trump and his House and Senate majorities have promised tax cuts as well as major change and disruptions. With intended tax reductions, Congress will be ravenous for revenue and retirement benefits will be on the table."  MORE >>

"[E]mployees participating in a 403(b) plan with an account balance rose to 80.4% in the decade from 2014 through 2023, going from an average of $62,513 to $93,957 over the 10-year period. It's quite a jump. Yet, the nonprofit sector still significantly lags its for-profit counterparts, as the percentage of 401(k) enrolled workers with an account balance hit 87.6%."  MORE >>