"Navigating the complexities of ERISA compliance can be challenging. The new Opinion Letter Program offers several benefits: [1] Clarity, consistency, and transparency ... [2] Compliance assistance ... [3] Risk Mitigation."  MORE >>

"This isn't just a procedural shift. It opens the door to a strategic weapon you can use for your benefit. [1] Free legal interpretation on complex federal labor issues. [2] Clarity on fuzzy compliance areas ... [3] Risk reduction, in that you'll have a documented rationale that may shield you in litigation or audits. [4] Specific guidance on exact factual circumstances in your workplaces, not just broad hypotheticals."  MORE >>

"The Ninth Circuit's decision ... demonstrates that providing detailed disclosures about plan investments to plan participants can help to protect against fiduciary liability. Further, [it] reinforces that claims about investment option performance should require identification of 'meaningful benchmarks' of funds with similar risk and investment aims against which the investment option's performance should be measured." [Anderson v. Intel Corp. Inv. Policy Comm., No. 22-16268 (9th Cir. May 22, 2025)]  MORE >>

"While high-income earners may have access to personal financial advisors and private annuities, employees across all income levels can benefit from the convenience and institutional pricing of solutions offered within their workplace plan. For lower- and middle-income workers, these products can be especially valuable, providing access to guaranteed income options that might otherwise be out of reach."  MORE >>

"The inherited account must be moved to a beneficiary account unless the beneficiary was the original owner's spouse -- and if the wrong method is used for moving the account balance, all of those tax minimization opportunities can be lost.... [T]he funds cannot be paid directly to the beneficiary even if the beneficiary intends to deposit the funds into a beneficiary account.... [T]he transfer should be accomplished via a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer."  MORE >>

"This report analyzes key demographic assumptions of the Social Security-covered population and their relationship to the financing of Social Security. ... [T]he report provides background on the three demographic factors that determine a population -- fertility, mortality, and immigration -- as well as trends over time in these factors in the United States. This report then analyzes the sensitivity of the program's financial status to different fertility, mortality, and immigration scenarios[.]" [R48557 Jun. 5, 2025]  MORE >>

"[1] What is old is new: get your health plan governance in order ... [2] Stay calm and carry on: mental health parity non-enforcement policy pauses only certain requirements ... [3] To report or not to report, that is the question: Florida data request to self-insured plans under pharmacy benefits management law ... [4] If you didn't document it, it didn't happen: takeaways from Cunningham v. Cornell university ... [5] How well is your wellness plan?"   MORE >>

"Aronowitz outlined a robust agenda that he said would improve EBSA's enforcement of fiduciary law, provide regulatory clarity, and champion the cause of encouraging plan sponsors to expand retirement and health care benefits to America's workers."  MORE >>

" 'EBSA needs a major turnaround, and I am an experienced turnaround manager with unique fiduciary expertise and experience,' Aronowitz said in a June 5 confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee. 'If I am confirmed by the Senate, I will work hard to unleash and unlock the creativity and full potential of America's employee benefits system,' he added. 'But none of this will happen until we improve EBSA's enforcement and provide regulatory clarity on key fiduciary issues.' "  MORE >>