"[Y]ou should start a conversation with your plan recordkeeper and your payroll team regarding this new requirement, which will take effect on January 1, 2026 ... This is particularly important if you have employees that split their time between multiple related entities, employees that transfer employment from one related employer to another during the year, if you use a common paymaster arrangement, or if your retirement plan utilizes a spillover design.... Plan sponsors should also begin considering how to communicate this change to participants, especially because this change directly impacts employees' tax planning for 2026 and beyond."  MORE >>

"[A]nnual recordkeeping requirements ... Plan costs and fees ... Plan design and features ... Regulatory compliance ... Participant communication and education ... [P]lan participation and enrollment ... Audits and financial oversight ... Technology and data integrity ... Investment performance ... Identify opportunities for plan improvements ... Implement outreach efforts."  MORE >>

"Technological integration is projected to be a defining aspect of Generation Beta's existence.... Advancements in healthcare and technology may significantly extend life expectancy for Generation Beta.... A fluid approach to retirement is anticipated, with 66% predicting that individuals will cycle in and out of retirement phases throughout their lives, influenced by longer life spans and changing work patterns."  MORE >>

"As retirement looms, 401k participants face a tightrope walk. They must balance risk against the need for enough cash to enjoy their golden years. Target date funds have long been the go-to for their set-it-and-forget-it charm, but for those 2-3 years shy of retirement, they might not cut it. How should plan sponsors and ERISA fiduciaries use tailored strategies to craft 401k plans that keep near-retirees steady? What point triggers swapping generic glide paths for personalized precision"  MORE >>

"The legislation, named No Penalties for Victims of Fraud Act [HR 2163], is aimed at easing the financial burden for those impacted by 401(k) or retirement plan account fraud.... The bill would waive withdrawal penalties from retirement accounts if the victims can document their fraud losses through law enforcement or court verification. Despite not facing penalties, victims would still need to repay the amount withdrawn."  MORE >>

"Stocks have recently recovered a bit of ground, providing preretirees and retirees with an opportune time to scale back equity exposure and plow the proceeds into safer assets like cash and high-quality bonds. Here's a look at the merits and logistics of derisking a portfolio as retirement approaches."  MORE >>

"The average multiemployer DB plan net investment return for 2021 was 14.5%, up from 2020 (11.4%) ... The median plan investment return assumption has remained at 7.00% since 2020.... In general, the number of active participants (those working) declined in 2021 (11.09 million) from 2019 (11.11 million), while the number of inactive participants (those not working and include deferred vested employees, retirees and beneficiaries) increased in 2021 (6.99 million) from 2019 (6.82 million)."  MORE >>

13 pages. "PBGC's efforts to prevent and reduce Improper Payments (IPs) and Unknown Payments (UPs) are adequate considering that its payment streams are not susceptible to significant improper payments and that it complied with applicable PIIA requirements."  MORE >>

"This guide provides a high-level reference resource, in a plan-by-plan format, on how to approach each type of compensation or benefit arrangement when an employee dies, and offers up some practical tips on employee benefits issues that may come up as you manage your company’s compensation and benefit administration for a deceased employee."  MORE >>

Rev. April 2025. "What's New: [1] E-filing returns.... [2] Information Reporting Intake System (IRIS)."  MORE >>

"The dispute hinges on a separate document: the Salary Continuation Agreement (SCA), which Thompson claims entitles him to retirement and deferred compensation benefits. He alleges the SCA is an ERISA plan and accuses Pioneer of breaching the agreement ... However, Pioneer contends that the SCA was never signed, and that a subsequent Long Term Retention Agreement (LTRA) governs Thompson's benefits instead." [Thompson v. Pioneer Bank & Trust, No. 24-5067 (D. S.Dak. Mar. 21, 2025)]  MORE >>

"Distributions from NQDC plans, as well as salary income, are now reported as part of income on Line 1a of Form 1040.... The IRS has still not finalized the Section 409A rules on W-2 reporting. Therefore, your company does not need to indicate deferred income from an NQDC plan on your Form W-2, though it may do so voluntarily in Box 14.... ... What to do if your company's NQDC plan violates Section 409A ... Mistakes to avoid with filing extensions."  MORE >>