"The IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 5310 is used to request an IRS determination letter about the plan's qualification status qualified or nonqualified under Code section 401(a). Any plan sponsor or administrator of any pension, profit-sharing, or other deferred compensation plan (other than a multi-employer plan covered under [PBGC] insurance) may use this form. Form 6088 is used to show the amounts of distributable benefits to participants in the plan."  MORE >>

"Missing participants remain a focus area on audit for the DOL and the IRS. While using the database is voluntary, it may provide plan sponsors with additional evidence that they have met their fiduciary duty to make a reasonable effort to locate retirement plan participants who may be eligible for a benefit."  MORE >>

"The most obvious benefit is tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement, which can be especially powerful over long time horizons.... Employees in higher tax brackets today may be better served by deferring taxes through traditional contributions, especially if they expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement. Roth contributions also reduce take-home pay since taxes are paid immediately, which may discourage participation."  MORE >>

"[1] PEPs work much like traditional 401(k) plans ... [2] PEPs are available for 403(b) plans, too ... [3] PEPs are simpler for employers than traditional 401(k) plans ... [4] PEPs reduce the employer's liability ... [5] Employers may get a tax break for enrolling in a PEP."  MORE >>

"Though the state laws may establish minimums, insurers may establish greater reserves in order to obtain higher ratings. The end result of this condition ... calls for an effort (aside from the assessment of the design of any DC lifetime income program) to understand whether the cost of any high rating of an insurer is worth the impact on the 'return' on the policy purchased by the plan.... [Is] there a value difference in utilizing a company with higher rating, and where -- and how -- do you draw the line?"  MORE >>

"If you've maintained a diversified portfolio and have been rebalancing consistently, you may be faring better than someone who went all-in on U.S. stocks after the last two years of growth. Rebalancing ensures you're not taking on more risk than you intended -- and that you're potentially taking advantage of lower prices in areas that have dropped."  MORE >>

"The funded percentage of the plans four analysts track fell [in March] by between 0.5 percentage points and 2 percentage points.... Experts from two of the firms attributed the drop in funded status they reported in March to drops in asset value and in the equity market."  MORE >>

"Average cost of workplace retirement plans is declining, but variation persists among small employers ... Despite low costs and high-quality investments, money continues to exit the system."  MORE >>

"Following the 60-day review period ordered in Executive Order 14219 to identify unlawful and potentially unlawful regulations, agencies shall immediately take steps to effectuate the repeal of any regulation, or the portion of any regulation, that clearly exceeds the agency's statutory authority or is otherwise unlawful. Agencies should give priority to the regulations in conflict with the United States Supreme Court decisions listed earlier in this memorandum. The repeal of each unlawful regulation shall be accompanied by a brief statement of the reasons that the 'good cause' exception applies."  MORE >>

"Because certain Pension Plan participants will be eligible to receive retirement benefits prior to their separation from employment once they attain age 59½, separation from employment would not be a condition to receiving retirement benefits under the Pension Plan for those participants. Accordingly, the participants covered by the proposed plan amendment who are at least 59½ and still actively employed would not be excluded from being considered eligible to receive retirement benefits under the third sentence of Section 1.401-14(b)(1)."  MORE >>

"Participants in employee benefit plans -- usually employees but sometimes their beneficiaries -- may be eligible for relief through retirement plan distributions, waivers of medical and/or prescription drug requirements, and extensions on tax filing and payment deadlines.... [P]lan sponsors are eligible for relief from some filing and payment deadlines if the plan is impacted by the LA wildfires.  MORE >>