Upcoming deadlines: [1] March 31 - restate DB plans; [2] April 1 - first RMDs.  MORE >>

"When automatic enrollment with a 6% default contribution is adopted by all DC plans, the retirement savings shortfall among those who have access to a DC plan in the future decreases by 7%. This increases to over 10% for those ages 35 -- 39. • When automatic escalation of 1 percentage point annually until reaching 12% is added to the automatic enrollment plans with a 6% default contribution rate, the reduction in the retirement savings shortfall increases to 9%. • When automatic portability alone is used by all plans, the reduction in the retirement savings shortfall reaches over 11% for those ages 35 -- 39."  MORE >>

"Average expense ratios for long-term mutual funds have declined substantially over the past 28 years.... In 2024, the average expense ratio for equity mutual funds fell 3 basis points to 0.40 percent.... The long-running decline in average mutual fund expense ratios primarily reflects a shift toward no-load funds.... In 2024, the average expense ratio for index equity ETFs declined 2 basis points to 0.14 percent."  MORE >>

65 presentation slides. Topics: [1] Background on required minimum distributions (RMDs) and IRA data; [2] Incidence of distributions during years with RMD rule changes; [3] Percentage of those taking distributions in 2019 who did or did not take them in 2020, Age and account balance; [4] Distribution amounts: Average distribution rates, Percentage with distributions more than the RMD; [5] Roth distributions.  MORE >>

"At least five lawsuits have recently been filed against employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) fiduciaries alleging a failure to prudently invest cash held in the ESOP trust. While scrutiny of investments in company stock has long been common, the focus on cash holdings represents a significant and novel shift. These cases signal a potential trend, and ESOP fiduciaries should take steps to mitigate risk[.]"  MORE >>

"[A proposal] before the New Jersey Assembly ... would permit the state of New Jersey, as well as counties and municipalities, to adopt an automatic enrollment arrangement when a deferred compensation plan provision permits the employer to defer and deduct a specified percentage from an employee’s salary. Employees would be able to opt of enrollment unless the employee affirmatively elects not to defer or to defer a different percentage."  MORE >>

"North Carolina is one of only three states that has a 'sole trustee' model for its pension plan, meaning one person is responsible for the plan's investment decisions.... For the retirement system's latest fiscal year, which ended June 30, NCRS ranked last in its five-year return rate and was among the bottom six for it's 10-year return rate, compared to other public pension plans ... [North Carolina's Treasurer Brad Briner] wants to create a five-person board, which would include the treasurer, 'with real criteria around expertise,' including a minimum of 10 years of professional money management experience."  MORE >>

"In its comment letter dated March 19, the AICPA recommended that the IRS issue final regulations that: [1] Clarify that the investment requirements for trustee-directed plans in Prop. Regs. Sec. 1.414A-1(c)(4) do not apply to plans that do not adopt participant direction of investment. [2] State that only employees of the plan sponsor are included in the count for purposes of determining status as a small business under Sec. 414A. [3] Define the predecessor employer by reference to Regs. Sec. 1.415(f)-1(c)(2) for purposes of Sec. 414A(c)(4)(A)."  MORE >>