"Effective April 25, 2025, overpayment notices will provide a default Title II overpayment benefit withholding rate of 50 percent of the monthly benefit.... Any new Title II overpayment determinations will have the 50 percent benefit withholding automatically applied for overpayment notices sent beginning April 25, 2025[.]"  MORE >>

"[While FAB 2025-02] encourages using the updated models to ensure compliance, it also recognizes that the new guidance may have arrived too late for some plans to do so. If a plan's notice was already prepared or well in process when the FAB was issued, it may be used if the administrator determines that it reflects a reasonable, good-faith interpretation of section 101(f), as amended by SECURE 2.[0] To the extent the notice does not meet that standard, the administrator must take appropriate corrective action."  MORE >>

"The U.S. Supreme Court on April 28 declined to hear a petition from AT&T Services over federal guidelines covering prohibited transactions in defined contribution plans ... The appeals court said the District Court judge should have determined whether plan executives' revising of a self-directed brokerage account contract was a prohibited transaction." [Bugielski v. AT&T Servs., Inc., No. 21-56196 (9th Cir. Nov. 8, 2023; cert. denied Apr. 28, 2025)]  MORE >>

"[P]laintiffs will likely test the courts, leveraging the advantages this decision has given them and the inherent inconsistency in applying these 'tools.' Plan sponsors should assess their potential risks and consider mitigation efforts, including strategies they would employ in the event of a claim. For example, plan sponsors could consider paying plan expenses from corporate assets rather than plan assets, which would eliminate the possibility of a section 406(a)(1)(C) prohibited transaction." [Cunningham v. Cornell Univ., No. 23-1007 (S.Ct. Apr. 17, 2025)]   MORE >>

"Allowing distributions by wire could reduce the risk of mail fraud, although it has risks of its own.... [H]ave appropriate policies and procedures in place to track and monitor the status of paper checks that have been issued, including with respect to checks that remain uncashed.... [C]onsider sending large checks via certified mail, return receipt requested (or similar manner by private delivery) to evidence actual delivery."  MORE >>

"[A]dministrative missteps often serve as the catalyst for QDRO litigation, as affected parties seek court intervention to enforce their rights or recover financial losses. Understanding the common challenges that give rise to these disputes is key to avoiding them.... By proactively addressing potential issues and adhering to best practices, plan administrators and participants can work towards fair and efficient resolution of retirement benefit divisions.​"  MORE >>

"Through a mix of predictive and generative AI, we may be able to better understand the drivers, features and potential outcomes of different retirement plans. ... Yet even in the face of a looming retirement crisis, there's significant risk in trusting AI with too much too soon. All the systems and efforts that shape our health, wealth and careers demand human expertise across sectors and functions, increased data security to neutralize cyber risk and robust governance plans to better comply with evolving regulations."  MORE >>

"A well-crafted IPS outlines the guiding principles for choosing and managing plan investments, helping ensure a broad and diverse menu of options is available. It's also a fiduciary best practice -- although not required by law, the IPS is one of the primary documents the [IRS] and [DOL] request when they conduct plan audits."  MORE >>

"Evaluating your OCIO provider is critical to ensuring your investment portfolio is effectively managed and aligned to your strategic plan. If not, risks of the investment model targeting different financial goals, risk levels or parameters increase, creating an undue governance burden to monitor. [This article outlines] eight focus areas to help you evaluate your OCIO provider."  MORE >>

"[T]he Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act (HR 2988) seeks to repeal the Biden-era regulatory guidance issued in December 2022 that allowed plan fiduciaries to consider climate change and other ESG factors when they select retirement investments and exercise shareholder rights, such as proxy voting.... [T]he bill would codify the 'pecuniary-only' standard that was the basis for the rule issued in the final days of Trump's first term[.]"  MORE >>

"The proposal would raise federal and postal employees' contribution rates to 4.4%, which the release estimated would raise $30.7 billion for the deficit reduction.... For new federal retirees, the proposal would eliminate the extra retirement annuity payment currently provided to those who retire before age 62, ... saving $10.1 billion[.]"  MORE >>

55 presentation slides. Topics include: [1] Republican budget blueprint clears major hurdle; [2] Proposals to limit tax-favored treatment could emerge in hunt for new revenue; [3] Unfinished business tops retirement agenda; [4] Health policy: Executive Orders; [5] Heightened fiduciary risk continues for group health plan sponsors; [6] SECURE 2.0 update; [7] DOL"s voluntary fiduciary correction program.  MORE >>

"[WHD] is distributing an online survey that asks for information on wages paid for relevant construction projects from May 5, 2024, to Aug. 5, 2025. The areas covered include Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Milam, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Waller, Washington, and Wharton counties."  MORE >>

22 pages. "PEOs typically provide services like payroll processing, tax filings, workers' compensation insurance, human resources guidance and administration, and employee benefits plans and administration at scale making it a viable option for many small and middle-market employers.... This eBook will explain: [1] what a PEO is; [2] the overall PEO relationship, [3] the PEO business model including the contract and how PEOs make money; and [4] the services provided by PEOs."  MORE >>