"Plan Sponsors [m]ust update plan documents, systems and processes to accommodate super catch-up limits and Roth mandates, particularly as it relates to identifying high earners under the Roth requirement. The Roth catch-up mandate introduces challenges in tracking FICA wages and ensuring compliance, with correction methods providing some relief but requiring diligent oversight."  MORE >>

"The Social Security Administration announced it will increase the default overpayment withholding rate for Social Security beneficiaries to 100 percent of a person's monthly benefit.... People who are overpaid after March 27 will automatically be placed in full recovery at a rate of 100 percent of the Social Security payment."  MORE >>

"The SECURE 2.0 Act will almost certainly motivate the remaining 7% of plan sponsors who do not yet offer a Roth deferral option to offer designated Roth accounts. Find out why by following this 'soup-to-nuts' listing of 55 things to know about Roth designated accounts in qualified plans[.]"  MORE >>

"Daniel Aronowitz, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead [EBSA], has written about ESG issues on his Fid Guru blog over the years. His public views on ESG are nuanced: ESG is generally a bad investment, though not necessarily imprudent, but the culture war over ESG is a silly distraction and damaging to plan fiduciaries."  MORE >>

"On March 7, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) was notified that all probationary employees at the [DOL] who received termination notices on February 21, including Employee Ownership Division chief Hilary Abell, would be reinstated. The reinstatement will be effective as of Monday, March 10[.]"  MORE >>

"The funded status of the 100 largest corporate defined benefit pension plans fell by $13 billion during February ... The funded ratio dropped from 106.0% at the end of January to 104.8% at the end of February.... The funded ratio at the end of February matches the ratio seen at the start of 2025."  MORE >>

"A portable retirement plan is tailor-made for a wide range of individuals, including contract workers and anyone who changes jobs or companies frequently.... Like any other savings or investment vehicle, it has advantages and disadvantages."  MORE >>

"Measuring and monitoring your Funded Status annually can help you make countless financial decisions. In this post, [the authors describe] how your Funded Status will be affected before making a significant financial decision."  MORE >>

"After 30 years of mismanagement, $6.5 trillion remains in America's public pensions. Another $6.5 trillion has been squandered and the damage is ongoing.... Over a dozen states are considering ... passing legislation to allow their pensions to recklessly gamble up to 10% on cryptocurrency.... DOPE would provide greater retirement security, transparency, and accountability at a massively lower cost to taxpayers."  MORE >>

"If properly applied, it will be nearly impossible for any fiduciary to justify any ESG investments under the tie-breaker test, because it will be difficult to prove that [1] ESG investments are equal in performance and fees; and [2] and that the fiduciary did not start upfront with an improper collateral goal.... There is a difference between an improper ESG investment intent with the goal to change the world, and a prudent investment analysis that considers relevant environmental, social or governance factors that affect the long-term pecuniary prospects of an investment." [Utah v. Micone, No. 23-0016 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 14, 2025]  MORE >>

"The district court found that AT&T did not act in bad faith or with intent to withhold documents and exercised reasonable care in their document production. Additionally, the court determined that Jones was not prejudiced by any alleged failures, as he had access to relevant grievance procedures and chose not to use them. The Fifth Circuit affirmed these conclusions, emphasizing that penalties are discretionary and not mandatory, even in cases of technical violations, especially absent bad faith or prejudice." [Jones v. AT&T, Inc., No. 24-30187 (5th Cir. Mar. 6, 2025; unpub.)]  MORE >>

"[E]mployers [often manage] health, retirement and other benefits in isolation. While it may seem efficient, this siloed approach often leads to missed opportunities, increased costs and greater employee confusion.... Breaking down these silos and fostering collaboration between benefit consulting silos isn't just a strategy -- it's a necessity. Employers that fail to do so risk losing talent, facing avoidable expenses and ultimately falling behind along an increasingly competitive landscape."  MORE >>