"Beginning April 14, 2025, SSA will allow individuals to complete all claim types via telephone, supported by new anti-fraud capabilities designed to protect beneficiaries and streamline the customer experience. The enhanced technology enables SSA to identify suspicious activity in telephone claims by analyzing patterns and anomalies within a person's account."  MORE >>

"While the memorandum's scope extends beyond ERISA plans, one stated goal is restoring the 'highest fiduciary standards' under ERISA 'to ensure that foreign adversary companies are ineligible for pension plan contributions.' ... To further this goal, the memorandum instructs DOL to publish updated ERISA fiduciary standards for investments in these companies. The memorandum doesn't set a deadline for this guidance, so when DOL may act on this directive remains uncertain."  MORE >>

"The class action lawsuit filed by IBM retirees who alleged they were shorted on pension payments has been revived by a federal appeals court.... The panel suggested that it would have been more appropriate to convert IBM's request for dismissal into a motion for summary judgement. This would have allowed both sides to conduct discovery and submit additional evidence." [Knight v. International Business Machines Corp., No. 24-1281 (2d Cir. Apr. 3, 2025; unpub., on appeal from S.D.N.Y. No. 22-4592 Apr. 4, 2024)]  MORE >>

"Effective April 1, 2025, the maximum aggregate bankruptcy exemption amount for IRAs increased from $1,512,350 to $1,711,975."  MORE >>

"After the passage of SECURE 2.0, which froze the VRP rate at 5.2% of unfunded vested benefits (UVBs), determining when it is economically more efficient to borrow-and-fund vs. funding the plan over time (at ERISA minimums) and paying the 5.2% VRP 'tax' is, in some respects, relatively straightforward. [The authors] review this calculation [and] conclude with some observations about future interest rate risk and how it might affect borrow-and-fund decision-making."  MORE >>

"About 80% of insurance companies surveyed said conducting periodic plan administration fee benchmarking reviews conducted by a plan's investment committee makes a significant impact on the pricing of fiduciary liability insurance. For defined contribution plans, 70% said an investment menu that included mutual funds using retail share classes would be a significant driver of premiums, and 40% said plans using mutual funds generating revenue sharing were a significant driver of insurance premiums."  MORE >>

"Although annuity purchase interest rates saw a slight uptick since last month, pension funding took a downturn due to poor stock market returns. The initial tariff announcement triggered a sharp decline in rates at the start of the month, but the subsequent 90-day extension has driven a notable rebound. This shift presents a critical window of opportunity for plan sponsors to strategically carve out some or all their retirees."  MORE >>

"Robert Kiyosaki is the author of 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad.' He also has a very controversial opinion on 401(k) plans. While most financial experts recommend these workplace retirement plans and think investing in them is the key to a secure retirement, Kiyosaki believes they are a trap."  MORE >>

"The [IRS] announced today tax relief for individuals and businesses in the entire state of Tennessee affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began on April 2, 2025. These taxpayers now have until Nov. 3, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments."  MORE >>

"As employees' physical, mental and financial health remains a top priority, the strategic use of advanced technology and employee data paves the way to creating more personalised and effective benefit strategies, with a particular focus on the use of AI to support data management, employee support and operational efficiency.  ... [M]ore than half (52%) of multinational HQs consider the use of data-driven insights a high or top priority for enhancing the employee benefits experience."  MORE >>