"On March 10, 2022, the [DOL] issued Compliance Assistance Release No. 2022-01 regarding 401(k) plan investments in cryptocurrencies. This release memorializes the Department's decision to rescind the guidance in full. The 2022 release directed plan fiduciaries to exercise 'extreme care before they consider adding a cryptocurrency option to a 401(k) plan's investment menu for plan participants.' The standard of 'extreme care' is not found in [ERISA] and differs from ordinary fiduciary principles thereunder."  MORE >>

"The court explained that participants have a duty to inform themselves of plan provisions, and while fiduciaries must respond to inquiries 'promptly and adequately in a way that is not misleading,' they have no duty to determine whether confusion exists absent any inquiry. Because the plan document, SPDs, and beneficiary designation form all clearly described the spousal beneficiary policy and automatic revocation of pre-marriage beneficiary designations, the children could not 'hang their hat' on the one set of informal documents (the statements) that did not reiterate the rule." [LeBoeuf v. Entergy Corp., No. 24-30583 (5th Cir. May 1, 2025)  MORE >>

"Plan-level insights derived from participation and deferral rates or financial wellness utilization metrics are likely to be more relevant and actionable to you than broad industry statistics like the median U.S. retirement account balance.... [E]valuating participant-level qualitative data can reveal not just what is happening with plan performance, but why it's happening."  MORE >>

"CIAs are legal agreements that permit attorneys pursuing similar, but separate, legal actions to share confidential information with each other about their respective cases.... EBSA also enters into these agreements with parties to private ERISA lawsuits. According to the [DOL], EBSA has entered into six agreements 'with private plaintiff's firms' since 2022. This information sharing is the source of the controversy in the ERISA context."  MORE >>

"While participation in 401(k) plans held steady year-over-year at 86% ... [m]ore employees are reducing 401(k) contributions specifically because they are concerned about economic impacts related to inflation or recession (39%, +3 percentage points year-over-year). This is particularly pronounced among Gen Z workers at nearly half (48%). Overall, 67% of employees say they are reducing their contributions across all savings accounts, up 4 percentage points since 2024."  MORE >>

"As a record number of baby boomers leave the workforce each day, the convergence of economic headwinds, market instability, and geopolitical uncertainty is reshaping what retirement looks like in America. Retirement advisors are stepping into a new kind of frontline -- less about returns and more about resilience."  MORE >>

"The retirement apparatus, layered over decades of tech and regulation, is textbook complex. Livelihoods at stake invite ever more safeguards. Yet the system runs partly broken, with latent failures hidden. Each new rule piles on parts that can misfire. Complexity itself has become the retirement system’s greatest threat."  MORE >>

"Employers rely on 4.4 different communication methods on average; however, the majority of employers use only three. By far the most popular method of communication is email, used by 87% of respondents. Discussion during in-person meetings and text messages are also widely used marketing techniques."  MORE >>

"Chairman Atkins outlined a series of key questions that will be considered by the SEC in forming the agenda for the roundtable. These questions are designed to elicit feedback on how the executive compensation disclosure requirements might be streamlined to ensure that investors receive clear, decision-useful information, without creating an undue burden on registrants.... Chairman Atkins has asked members of the public to provide input on the questions both before and after the roundtable."  MORE >>