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Retirement Plans Newsletter

June 11, 2025

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💼  3 New Job Opportunities

 

[Guidance Overview]

SCP Does Not Mean DIY

"In recent years, the IRS has been making moves toward allowing more safe harbor self-corrections for qualified retirement plans. More corrections can be completed under the IRS self-correction program (SCP) without filing for approval under the voluntary correction program (VCP).... [T]he result is an opportunity for plan administrators. But it is not as simple as it sounds. Plan administrators will still need the help of experienced professionals, such as ERISA counsel, to carry out self-corrections."  MORE >>

KLB Benefits Law Group

[Sponsor]

Turning Plan Document Review into Actionable Insights

PlanPort revolutionizes how Recordkeepers, TPAs, and Advisors use retirement plan documents for sales, implementation, client relationships, and participant interaction –- delivering efficiency, accuracy, summarization, and automation like never before.

Sponsored by PlanDataAI LLC

Should Fiduciaries Even Care About Crypto Guidance?

"A survey conducted by PSCA of 144 sponsors showed that 3% of respondents have crypto investments available through a brokerage window and only 20% would consider adding crypto to their plan in the future. Many respondents answered that crypto is uniquely volatile or risky, or has no underlying value and is purely speculative."  MORE >>

Plan Sponsor Council of America [PSCA]

Focus on Solo 401(k)s

"What is a Solo 401(k)? ... What kinds of contributions can owners put in?  ... What about testing and reporting? ... What happens if the business sponsoring a Solo 401(k) hires an employee? ... Is there a problem with just using a financial institution's stock Solo 401(k) document?"  MORE >>

Spectrum Consultants

Solo 401(k) vs. SEP IRA: Which is the Best Option for the Self-Employed?

"[M]ore professionals who work with solo entrepreneurs recommend a solo 401(k) over a SEP IRA (45%). However, both have their pros and cons depending on your unique situation. [This article describes] how each one works, their unique tax benefits, and how you can use them to maximize your retirement savings."  MORE >>

Guideline

Empowering Employee Ownership: Federal and California Legislative Initiatives on ESOPs

"Recent legislative developments at both the federal and state levels underscore a growing commitment to promoting employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) ... In May 2025, significant strides were made with the introduction of two federal bills aimed at enhancing ESOP structures, alongside California's proposed SB-713, which seeks to integrate ESOP considerations into state contracting processes."  MORE >>

Schechter Benefits Law Group LLP

How the $1,000 'Trump Accounts' for American Babies Compare to 529s and Custodial Roth IRAs

"Withdrawals from 529 plans are tax-free as long as they're used for qualified educational expenses. Withdrawals from Trump accounts would have fewer restrictions on their uses, but are taxed at long-term capital gains rates.... Trump accounts would be funded at birth and allow for additional contributions each year, while custodial Roth IRAs require a child to have earned income during the year in order to contribute."  MORE >>

Bankrate

[Opinion]

The Truth About Auto-Portability

"Articles or marketing pieces supporting auto-portability appear to rely on two faulty strategies. Remove those misconceptions and you realize that auto-portability is not significantly better than existing automatic rollover IRA programs.... For the 55% who cash out completely, auto-portability does not help because the balances have not moved from the 'transfer out' plan to an automatic rollover IRA first."  MORE >>

PenChecks

[Opinion]

Why Public Pensions Need an AI Academy

"The latest technology revolution will eventually eliminate some of the public funds' internal staff. To avoid being AI roadkill, pension systems and key employees need to take the initiative collectively."  MORE >>

Governing

[Opinion]

401(k) Fiduciaries, Follow the Money

"The industry is slowly but steadily drifting away from what matters most: the people in the plan. As independent advisors, we've always believed that retirement plan fiduciaries should act with a singular focus: doing what's best for participants. But today, that focus is diluted by the structure and incentives of many advisory firms."  MORE >>

American Retirement Association [ARA]

Benefits in General

[Official Guidance]

IRS Disaster Relief Announcement TX-2025-03, for Taxpayers Impacted by Severe Storms and Flooding in Texas

"[I]ndividuals and businesses in parts of Texas affected by severe storms and flooding that began on March 26, 2025 ... now have until Nov. 3, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.... [I]ndividuals and households that reside or have a business in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties qualify for tax relief."  MORE >>

Internal Revenue Service [IRS]

Ninth Circuit Rules That Claim Releases Must Be Specially Scrutinized to Prevent Fiduciary Abuse

"The court reasoned that '[r]equiring courts to consider evidence of a breach of fiduciary duty related to a release of claims under ERISA aligns with the statute's purpose, structure, and underlying trust-law principles.' ... Because the district court 'found a genuine issue of fact material to the issue of a breach of fiduciary duty in obtaining the release of claims,' the Ninth Circuit noted that 'the final factor warrants serious consideration and may weigh particularly heavily against finding that the release was 'knowing' or 'voluntary' or both.' " [Schuman v. Microchip Technology Inc., Nos. 24-2624, 24-2978 (9th Cir. Jun. 5, 2025)]  MORE >>

Kantor & Kantor

Executive Compensation and Nonqualified Plans

Considerations for Executive Compensation During a Crisis

"When a business disruption involves decisions on how to reward, motivate, and retain executives, those setting pay must consider the needs of the company, its shareholders, and other stakeholders. Compensating executives during a crisis must balance the retention of top talent with constraints set by stakeholders and the principles of good governance."  MORE >>

Farient Advisors

Employee Benefits Jobs

💼

Business Development Lead - Healthcare

BPAS

Remote / NY / PA

View job as Business Development Lead - Healthcare for BPAS

💼

Client Service Manager-Combo Plans

July Business Services

Remote / Waco TX

View job as Client Service Manager-Combo Plans for July Business Services

💼

Business Systems Analyst

IJOIN

Remote

View job as Business Systems Analyst for IJOIN

Selected New Discussions

File Amended 5500-SF When Originally Filed 5500-EZ?

"We administer a 3 participant 401(k) plan. It had always been communicated that all 3 were 33⅓% partners. For the 2023 plan year (12/31/2023) we prepared and filed a Form 5500-EZ. However, we subsequently found out one of the 'partners' was actually an unrelated employee during the 2023 year. We are thinking of filing an amended Form 5500-SF for the 2023 year, the way it should have been filed. Does anyone think there will be trouble doing this? In other words maybe the IRS will come back and indicate that the original filing did not qualify for an EZ, therefore the amended return (the 5500-SF) is considered late for about 8 months?"

BenefitsLink Message Boards

Roth Catch-Ups for HPIs and In-Plan Roth Rollovers

"With the new Roth Catch-Up Rules for Highly Paid Individuals starting next year, I am trying to make sure that I understand the Rules for recharacterization. I understand that one of the methods for recharacterization is In-Plan Roth Rollovers (if completed timely and the plan permits). My question is this: If a participant is under age 59.5, would this be done as an In-Plan Roth Transfer and the 5-year recapture rule apply?"

BenefitsLink Message Boards

Press Releases

Vedder Price Bolsters Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits Group in New York with Addition of Shareholder Susan Nive

Vedder Price

New Platform Gives Retirement Plan Advisors and Plan Sponsors More Options, Flexibility

Nationwide

Progyny Joins Amazon's Health Benefits Connector Program as First Women's Health and Family Building Solution

Progyny

Brown & Brown, Inc. Enters Into Agreement to Acquire Accession Risk Management Group

Brown & Brown

Groom Earns Top Rankings in the 2025 US Legal 500

Groom Law Group

Fenwick Strengthens Boston Presence with Addition of Executive Compensation Partner Jim Hauser

Fenwick

Webcasts and Conferences
(Retirement Plans / Executive Compensation)

Thriving Through Uncertainty: Adapting to Market Volatility for Retirement Plan Success

RECORDED

HUB International

The Silent Goldmine: How Tech, Tax Credits & Mandates Are Disrupting Small Business Retirement Plans

June 11, 2025 PODCAST

401(k) Marketing

Hot Topics in Employee Benefits: Summer 2025 Updates

June 24, 2025 WEBINAR

Eversheds Sutherland

Last Issue's Most Popular Items

Retirement Income Products in Defined Contribution Plans (PDF)

The Wagner Law Group

Defaulting 401(k) Assets Into Payout Annuities for 'Pretty Good' Lifetime Incomes (PDF)

Pension Research Council, The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania

Modernization of DC Plan Investments

Groom Law Group

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BenefitsLink® Retirement Plans Newsletter, ISSN no. 1536-9587.

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