"This direct final rule (DFR) removes 29 CFR 2550.404a-4 from the Code of Federal Regulations, which is a regulation published in 2008 that provides a fiduciary safe harbor for the selection of annuity providers for the purpose of benefit distributions from individual account retirement plans covered by title I of [ERISA]. The regulatory safe harbor became unnecessary in 2019 when Congress amended ERISA to add a more streamlined fiduciary safe harbor covering the same activity. Although the statutory safe harbor did not technically nullify or repeal the regulatory safe harbor, its existence offers an unnecessary and inefficient alternative and may inadvertently be a trap for the unwary."  MORE >>

"This DFR removes 29 CFR 2550.401c-1 from the Code of Federal Regulations, which the [DOL] believes is obsolete. The regulation applies only to certain insurance policies or contracts issued to (or on behalf of) employee benefit plans on or before December 31, 1998. Given the unlikelihood that any of these policies or contracts remain in effect, the DOL believes the regulation is no longer needed and, if left on the books, could add confusion and unnecessary complexity."  MORE >>

"Crypto in 401(k) plans.... ESG/fiduciary rules ... Private equity investments in retirement plans."  MORE >>

"Do you need to add a Roth feature to your plan? ... Will you have deemed Roth elections? ... How will you track wages? ... How will you exclude self-employed individuals (owners and partners)? ... How will your payroll provider coordinate with your recordkeeper? ... Will this affect your nonqualified plan?"  MORE >>

"DB plans provide the foundation of retirement security with guaranteed income and risk pooling, while well-designed DC plans offer flexibility and additional savings opportunities.... By prioritizing strong governance, responsible portfolio allocation, and thoughtful plan design, leaders can ensure long-term stability and meet the evolving needs of retirees."  MORE >>

"Ruth Frew, ASPPA's first female president, passed away on June 26.... Ruth was the second woman credentialed as a Fellow in the American Society of Pension Actuaries (which was later renamed ASPPA). She has a long record of service with ASPPA; she was on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and also served as Treasurer and vice president in charge of the Education and Examination Committee. In 1992, Ruth became the first woman to serve as ASPPA's President."  MORE >>

"[L]essons from Social Security's history can help inform future reform.... [1] It is important to measure and monitor the system's long-term funded status on a reasonable basis. [2] It is important to fix the Valuation Date Creep. [3] True system sustainability will not be achieved by assuming higher levels of revenue will be generated by future taxpayers, and [4] Reform should incorporate automatic algorithms to keep the system in long-term actuarial balance when future experience inevitably differs from assumed experience."  MORE >>

"Interpretive Bulletin 75-2 ... provided the DOL's views on whether a 'party in interest' has engaged in a prohibited transaction with an employee benefit plan where the party in interest has engaged in a transaction with an entity in which the plan has invested.... Interpretive Bulletin 75-6 related to ERISA section 408(c)(2) and whether a plan could make an advance to a fiduciary to cover expenses to be properly and actually incurred by such person in performing duties with respect to the plan.... Interpretive Bulletin 75-10 ... addressed ambiguity arising from the joint jurisdiction of the Department and IRS with respect to parallel provisions in title I of ERISA and the Code.... [T]he DOL believes the interpretive bulletins are no longer needed, and if left on the books, add potential confusion and unnecessary complexity.... This direct final rule removes these obsolete interpretive bulletins prospectively as of the effective date and has no effect on their legal effectiveness prior to that date."  MORE >>

"[1] Mental health parity enforcement freeze ... [2] Crypto 401(k) warning withdrawn ... [3] ESG investing rule replacement."  MORE >>

"Three panels ... discussed and analyzed how executive compensation is set and the entire disclosure framework ... [T]here was agreement on at least four themes: [1] Complexity and length have outstripped usefulness.... [2] Executive personal security costs are not perks.... [3] The PvP, pay-ratio and clawback rules all merit re-examination.... [4] A principles-based reset could reclaim materiality."  MORE >>