"The Society of Actuaries Research Institute's Retirement Plans Experience Committee (RPEC) has released an exposure draft of the Pub-2016 Public Retirement Plans Mortality Tables. The primary focus of this study was a comprehensive review of recent mortality experience of public retirement plans in the United States."  MORE >>

33 pages; rev. Jan. 2025. "What's New for 2024: [1] Credit for employer contributions.... [2] Matching contributions on account of qualified student loan payments.... [3] Military spouse retirement plan eligibility credit.... [4] Safe harbor deferral-only section 403(b) plans.... [5] Pension-Linked Emergency Savings Accounts.... What's New for 2025: [1] Retirement savings contributions credit.... [2] Limit on elective deferrals.... [3] Limit on annual additions."  MORE >>

"For mid-year hires, you do not need to annualize their income or prorate the $145,000 threshold  ... If a participant's prior year FICA wages from the employer sponsoring the plan exceed $145,000 (indexed to 2024), then all catch-up contributions must be made on a Roth basis. It's not split between contributions made before they hit $145,000 in FICA wages and after.... Employers may automatically switch participants to Roth catch-up as long as the participant is given the opportunity to opt out of this deemed election and stop their deferrals when the applicable IRS limit is reached."  MORE >>

"All plans will have to ensure they don't miss the unusually early deadline, but plans subject to uncapped PBGC variable-rate premiums (VRPs) may find meeting the deadline particularly challenging due to the way the premiums are calculated. Congress could repeal the provision this year, which would restore the October 15 due date, but that outcome is far from certain."  MORE >>

Detailed chart of limits for qualified plans, as well as IRA/Roth-IRA and ESA phase-out ranges and HSA Limitations.  Includes Rollover Chart.  MORE >>

"The judge's decision is perplexing to some attorneys because Judge O'Connor said American Airlines' 401(k) plans followed proper procedures -- ERISA's duty of prudence -- in managing the plan. He relied solely on the duty of loyalty provision.... The judge wants information on alleged damages to participants' investments, asking whether the plaintiff must prove damages or the defendants disprove damages. The judge also wants to know if he should issue an injunction relating to alleged losses -- or no losses -- and he asks what impact a 2021 BlackRock proxy vote against certain Exxon Mobil directors had on the American Airlines plans' investments." [Spence v. Am. Airlines, Inc., No. 23-0552 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 10, 2025)]  MORE >>

"[T]he key takeaway is that plan sponsors must hold investment managers accountable when they pursue non-pecuniary interests in their investments -- even when the plan sponsor does not choose the ESG investment options from the managers investment menu.... Plan sponsors should rethink including finance professionals on the fiduciary plan committee." [Spence v. Am. Airlines, Inc., No. 23-0552 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 10, 2025)]  MORE >>

24 pages. "Views on defined contribution (DC) plan accounts are favorable.... DC account owners appreciate the saving and investing features of dc plans.... Americans reject changing key features of DC plans.... Majorities have confidence that retirement plan accounts can help individuals meet retirement goals."  MORE >>

"[It] will often be a good idea to pull money from multiple account types during each year of retirement -- tax-deferred (traditional IRA and 401(k)), Roth, and taxable accounts. That underscores the argument for accumulating assets for retirement in those three account types, too. But an overarching principle to bear in mind when developing your withdrawal strategy should be preserving the tax-saving benefits of your tax-sheltered investments for as long as you possibly can."  MORE >>

"Though Congress acted on a bipartisan basis last year to pass legislation ending two controversial tax provisions that affected some federal workers and other public servants, it failed to give the Social Security Administration any money to implement it."  MORE >>

72 pages. "This study explores Americans' preferred approach to addressing Social Security's financing gap.... This survey's primary finding is that Americans overwhelmingly want to see Social Security's financing gap closed by bringing in more revenues -- and are willing to contribute more to strengthen the program's finances.... The trade-off analysis finds that, compared with the status quo, 82 percent of respondents prefer a package of changes that increases revenues, pays for targeted benefit improvements, and eliminates the financing gap."  MORE >>

"Social Security's Chief Actuary released estimates of a comprehensive proposal to restore long-term balance to the program.... It not only eliminates the 75-year deficit but also produces a growing trust fund beyond the 75-year budgeting window. Most importantly, unlike virtually all other proposals submitted to the Chief Actuary for costing, this one includes both revenue increases and benefit cuts, recognizing that any solution will involve some compromise. "  MORE >>

"[1] Data-driven benefits packages: Tailoring your offerings to employee needs.... [2] Personalized wellbeing: Employee engagement strategies that actually work.... [3] AI in HR: Balancing HR tech and the human touch.... [4] Workplace flexibility: Employee preferences can be a competitive advantage."  MORE >>