"[Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2025-01] is notable in that it provides some insight into how DOL views the fiduciary decision to voluntarily escheat benefits, but the relief provided by the non-enforcement policy is very limited. Notably, the FAB states that the non-enforcement policy is temporary because DOL 'intends to consider more formal guidance' related to escheatment in the future."  MORE >>

"Besides making routine revisions for dates, cross-references and citations to other revenue procedures, Rev. Proc. 2025-4 makes several changes to the procedures for requesting preapproved plan opinion letters ... Rev. Proc. 2025-4 makes no increases to 2024 user fees. However, a reduced fee of $10,000 applies to a letter ruling request for a funding method or actuarial assumption change for a defined benefit pension plan (the fee for most other letter rulings is $12,500)."  MORE >>

"[A] 401(k) or 403(b) plan will satisfy the mandatory automatic enrollment requirement only if the plan provides an EACA that covers all employees in the plan who are eligible to elect to have contributions made on their behalf. This includes long-term, part-time employees.... The regulatory amendments are designed to align with the mandatory automatic enrollment requirements described in Section 101 of SECURE 2.0. They also support SECURE 2.0 provisions that allow employers to forego sending annual EACA notices to unenrolled participants and to combine two or more mandatory notices."  MORE >>

"The regulations also include two self-correction programs ... A plan could provide for either correction method but must use the same correction method for all participants with deferrals over the same applicable limit in a plan year. To use these correction methods, a plan must have practices and procedures in place that are designed to result in compliance with the mandatory Roth catch-up provision.... Plans would not be permitted to avoid mistakes by categorically requiring that all catch-up contributions be made as designated Roth contributions."  MORE >>

"These changes, if applicable, would introduce more complexity to both payroll and plan administration, and would require additional coordination between the two systems ... If plan administrators would like to take advantage of the two new correction methods for errors involving Mandatory Roth Catch-Up contributions, they must implement procedures that are designed to result in compliance with the Mandatory Roth Catch-Up rules at the time of the deferral, including to provide for deemed Roth Catch-Up elections."  MORE >>

"[B]ills that would allow 403(b) plans to include collective investment trusts in their investment lineups were introduced in the House and Senate on [February 5]. The Retirement Fairness for Charities and Education Institutions Act of 2025 seeks to amend federal securities laws to enhance 403(b) plans. The House bill (HR 1013) and the Senate bill (S 424) are identical."  MORE >>

"84% of US pension plan managers expect the coming year to bring an elevated risk profile.... In 2024, the bulk of those surveyed already saw risks rising. Half (50%) of those surveyed said their risk profile increased slightly last year and 6% reported their risk increased considerably. Around two fifths (42%) reported their risk profile remained the same and only 2% said their risk decreased."  MORE >>

10 pages. "Large-cap domestic equity was the asset class with the largest amount of assets, constituting over 26 percent of the sample on a dollar-weighted basis. This was followed by off-the-shelf target-date funds (17.2 percent) and stable value/fixed accounts (16.2 percent).... Among the 27 asset classes ... 12 classes had 0.5 percent or less of the total asset value each[.]"  MORE >>

"Adding annuities and Social Security to your portfolio withdrawals will lead to higher spending while increasing the efficiency of guardrail strategies. Delaying Social Security gives you a bonus on the amount the Social Security Administration owes to you.... A bridge strategy builds an income cushion so you can postpone taking your full Social Security. If you're able to, it's better to postpone retirement as a bridge strategy to delay Social Security."  MORE >>

"[P]eople who rated their RTO experience as 'extremely positive' pointed to clear policies and expectations from their employers. Flexibility also played a vital part, with 87% of employees saying flexible work schedules were important to help them excel at their current role.... 83% of employees who had an extremely positive RTO experience reported improved work quality."  MORE >>

"In assembling compensation data for potential covered employees, companies should take a broad view of their employee population to correctly identify the next five highest compensated employees under the Proposed Regulations (i.e., companies should consider individuals that are employed through foreign entities, PEOs or other third parties). Companies should also be prepared to conduct the analysis on an annual basis to redetermine the group of five additional employees."  MORE >>