"[Rev. Rul. 2025-15] clarifies the federal tax withholding and reporting responsibilities of retirement plan administrators when a distribution check is issued but remains uncashed and a subsequent check is later issued to the participant.... [1] No refund or adjustment for withholding on uncashed checks ... [2] Withholding requirements for subsequent checks ... [3] Reporting obligations ... [4] No relief for plan administrators."  MORE >>

"In isolation, the changes to the mortality table will increase minimum lump sums by a minimal amount -- 0.15%-0.20%. Sponsors using the static tables for funding can expect to see a similar increase in liabilities. However, changes in interest rates will generally dwarf the effect of the change in mortality."  MORE >>

"SECURE limited the ability of some inherited IRA beneficiaries to stretch their distributions from the IRA. Non-eligible designated beneficiaries and non-designated beneficiaries are restricted in their ability to stretch distributions beyond 10 years. Eligible designated beneficiaries, such as spouses, are still able to do the inherited stretch."  MORE >>

"The DOL not only agrees that the plaintiff's claims are insufficient as pled, but also explains that scenarios like that in Hutchins, where forfeiture decisions are made in accordance with plan terms -- terms established by plan sponsors in a settlor capacity -- do not serve as a basis for fiduciary breach claims." [Hutchins v. HP Inc., No. 23-5875 (N.D. Calif. Feb. 5, 2025; on appeal to 9th Cir. No. 25-826; DOL amicus brief filed Jul. 9, 2025)]  MORE >>

"Addressing immediate priorities and anticipating needs are at the heart of what a retirement plan professional does to serve clients, their plans, and their participants. Some recent analyses offer concrete tips for achieving that level of service."  MORE >>

"[T]he Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act (HR 2988) would also impose new participant notice requirements for defined contribution (DC) plans that offer brokerage windows and prohibit fiduciaries from considering diversity criteria when hiring service providers."  MORE >>

"After piloting the Online Retirement Application (ORA) in 2024, the agency has now rolled it out government-wide. All new retirement applications must be submitted electronically.... The modernization aims to streamline the process by digitizing retirement applications, verifying service credit eligibility, and storing retirement files electronically."  MORE >>

"[F]rom 2010 to 2022 most private sector workers that were covered by employer-sponsored plans were in DC plans and that the number covered by DB plans decreased,  continuing a trend that began 50 years ago .... [W]hile the number of DB plans was roughly similar in 2022 compared to 2010, the composition of DB plans changed. Cash balance plans comprised 16.9% of all DB plans in 2010 but increased to 57.3% of all DB plans in 2022."  MORE >>

"PRC has developed policy principles to be used to evaluate any legislation aimed at increasing retirement income, particularly for low-and-moderate wage earners.... [1] Universal coverage. [2] Secure income. [3] Adequate income. [4] Shared responsibility between employees, employers and government. [5] Required contributions from employees and employers."  MORE >>

"Competing proposals were the subject of a July 17 hearing by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee that looked at how best to provide independent workers with access to portable workplace benefits, particularly for health care and retirement."  MORE >>

"Although the IRS previously required taxpayers to submit section 83(b) elections via physical mail, the IRS now permits taxpayers to submit Form 15620 online via the IRS website. Because of the importance of making a proper and timely section 83(b) election, taxpayers should consider making any such elections online."  MORE >>

"[E]ven though ERISA exempts top-hat plans from fiduciary duties, it still preempts state-law claims that impose alternative standards of conduct or remedies.... Plaintiffs cannot use Section 1132(a)(3) to seek monetary relief for plan losses, regardless of whether they style the remedy as 'surcharge' or 'equitable compensation.' The court reaffirmed a narrow reading of 'equitable relief.' " [Aldridge v. Regions Bank, No. 24-5603 (6th Cir. Jul. 17, 2025)]  MORE >>

"[T]his article identifies key issues and decision points related to executive equity and outstanding equity awards, highlighting the importance of the difference between how equity awards must be treated (mandatory) and what can be negotiated (discretionary). This article also discusses how the Internal Revenue Code impacts a company's decisions about equity and outstanding equity awards in the context of an executive's termination from employment."  MORE >>