"This document outlines best practices, roles and responsibilities for complying with the Roth catch-up contribution requirement, with the aim of simplifying complex processes and promoting consistency across the industry.... [1] Roth-CUP identification file ... [2] Responsibility for monitoring the 402(g) threshold ... [3] Deemed Roth catch-up election (deemed election) ... [4] Participant communications ... [5] Error handling and corrections ... [6] Participant deferral election methods ... [7] Implementation of separate elections ... [8] Plan design and implementation variability ... [9] Five questions plan sponsors should ask their payroll providers. "  MORE >>

"The Supreme Court of the United States will decide how pension plans must set the interest rate assumptions used to calculate how much an employer owes if it withdraws from a multiemployer pension plan. The outcome will likely affect employers' timing considerations regarding withdrawal from their multiemployer pension plans, as the differences could amount to millions of dollars, depending on the Court's decision."  [M & K Employee Solutions, LLC v. Trustees of the IAM National Pension Fund, No. 22-7157 (D.C. Cir Feb. 9, 2024; cert. pet. granted Jun. 30, 2025 No. 23-1209)]  MORE >>

"The Balance the Scales Act (HR 2958) ... would amend ERISA to require that EBSA submit an annual report to Congress on so-called 'common interest agreements' (CIAs) or what the bill referred to as 'adverse interest agreements.' ... [The EBSA Investigations Transparency Act (HR 2869)] would require EBSA to submit an annual report to Congress providing a status update on its investigations in order to help the committee conduct 'effective oversight on investigations' by EBSA.... [T]he Retire Through Ownership Act [HR 5169] would create a safe harbor for ESOP fiduciaries that use IRS rules for appraising shares in ESOPs."  MORE >>

"In a testing scenario where a plan is passing the actual deferral percentage (ADP) test and failing the ACP test, one option available in the regulations for passing the failed test is 'shifting' the excess percentage by which the plan is passing the ADP test to the ACP test to help with passage. Keep in mind, this shifting method does not involve actually moving assets from one source to another."  MORE >>

"This paper explores recent developments that address many of the long-standing investment and operational concerns, making private markets -- especially private equity -- more viable for DC plan sponsors. [The authors] focus on all aspects of the investment process, from asset allocation and portfolio construction to implementation and manager selection."  MORE >>

"Now that we’re seeing fixed-income yields come down a bit, that means that fixed-income investors will probably have their returns constrained a bit, and it will lower the safe spending rate for retirees. Generally speaking, interest rate cuts are a positive for the economy and for equities, but not in every single declining-rate environment. In almost any market environment, people should consider delaying Social Security if they can afford to do that, but especially when the safe alternatives look less attractive."  MORE >>

"Retired investors can employ one of two key tacks to extract cash for living expenses from their portfolios: an income-centric approach or a total return/rebalancing approach (or a combination of the two). The good news is that index funds and ETFs lend themselves well to either.... It's not hard to control a portfolio's risk level with index funds and ETFs ... The tax efficiency stakes may be higher ... A lower-return portfolio cries out for low-cost products."  MORE >>

"A more practical framework begins with the expected real return of the portfolio used to bridge the delay -- typically around 4%-5% for a balanced 60/40 allocation. Unless a retiree has specifically earmarked more conservative assets, such as a bond or a TIPS ladder, it's realistic to assume that delayed benefits will be funded by withdrawals from the overall portfolio -- meaning that the 'cost' of delayed filing is the growth foregone on the assets withdrawn to replace Social Security income."  MORE >>

"Since the 1990s, our retirement system has been based on three pillars: government benefits, pensions from employers, and additional private saving. This report redefines each pillar for the modern labor force and financial markets -- and it proposes adding a fourth.... As part of the second pillar, 401(k)s could provide retirees with stable income. Yet this option remains rare because of regulatory hurdles.... Reimagining the retirement system requires adding a fourth pillar: working into retirement.... [R]ight now, obstacles -- on both the supply and demand side -- prevent many older Americans from working at all, even if they would like to do so."  MORE >>

"[I]ndividuals and businesses in parts of Wisconsin affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and mudslides that began on August 9, 2025 ... now have until Feb. 2, 2026, to file various federal individual and business tax returns  ... [I]ndividuals and households residing or having a business in Milwaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties qualify for tax relief."  MORE >>

"Employers must provide eligible employees with up to five years of unpaid leave during the life of their employment. Throughout this period, employers must maintain the employee's seniority, health care, and pension benefits.... USERRA applies to all employers -- private and public -- regardless of the number of workers."  MORE >>

"A SOC 2 review evaluates the design and effectiveness of a firm’s controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. By undergoing this assessment, service firms can demonstrate transparency in their internal practices, reassuring clients and stakeholders that their sensitive data is being handled with the highest standards of care."  MORE >>