"With regard to whether investment management services, described in paragraph (e)(4)(iii) of the QDIA regulation, may incorporate lifetime income products and features in compliance with the regulation, it is the view of the Department that such investment alternatives can be QDIAs provided they satisfy the transferability requirements and other provisions of the regulation.... [T]he LIS program would not fail to be a QDIA solely because it is offered through a variable annuity contract with a GLWB component ... [It] is the view of the Department that the LIS program, if operating as [described], would satisfy the requirements to be a QDIA as described in paragraph (e) of the QDIA regulation."  MORE >>

"This rule amends the regulation to specify the spreads used to determine the 4044 yield curve as of the last days of October, November, and December of 2025 (i.e., the 'fourth quarter 2025 spreads'). "  MORE >>

"[A] January 1 merger date causes a logistically inconvenient and impractical one-day plan year for the merged plan.... [T]he correct course of action is to complete a one-day final Form 5500 and audit report.... [T]he DOL's main concern is that the transfer of participant account balances from plan to plan be subject to audit procedures. To EBSA, an independent verification of the transfer is the most important practical consideration "  MORE >>

"Plan sponsors should begin preparing now to ensure smooth compliance with the 2026 effective date. The most important steps include: [1] Identifying HPIs based on FICA wages, [2] Confirming that plan documents include Roth provisions and In-Plan Roth Rollover/Transfer options, and [3] Coordinating with payroll providers to ensure proper classification and reporting."  MORE >>

"[S]ponsors should communicate these regulatory changes to participants well in advance, enabling employees to adjust their contribution elections and maintain compliance.... For certain employees, catch-up contributions will transition from pre-tax to Roth, making it essential to understand the mechanics of Roth contributions and their impact on annual tax planning."  MORE >>

"The final rule extends the time the plan has to correct the Roth violation to the end of the taxable year following the taxable year of the mistake or the plan year following the plan year of the mistake depending on the nature of the mistake. However, correction for the purpose of the Roth requirement does not eliminate other consequences, such as the 10 percent excise tax if ADP failures are not corrected by their earlier deadline."  MORE >>

"A Florida federal judge rejected a proposed $440,000 settlement between CSX Transportation Inc. and the U.S. [DOL] to end a lawsuit alleging the railroad operator unlawfully deducted fees from employee retirement funds, saying the deal contains an 'obey the law' provision that conflicts with Eleventh Circuit precedent." [Chavez-Deremer v. CSX Transportation Inc., No. 22-0849 (M.D. Fla. Sep. 19, 2025)]  MORE >>

"Total U.S. pension risk transfer (PRT) new premium fell 64% in the second quarter of 2025 to $4.1 billion ... There were 138 contracts sold in the second quarter, down 30% from the prior year. In the first half of 2025, PRT carriers sold 252 contracts, 24% below the contracts sold in the first six months of 2024."  MORE >>

"Public sector entities seeking exemption from Social Security must demonstrate that they comply with the requirement that they sponsor a pension plan whose benefits are 'comparable' to Social Security. The most common method of demonstrating compliance is to show that the plan benefits are equal to or greater than a safe harbor that was established in 1991. But does the safe harbor truly ensure that benefits are comparable?"  MORE >>

"[The Claiming Age Clarity Act (HR 5284)] seeks to provide clarity on when seniors can claim benefits for Social Security and modernize the terminology associated with it. It also hopes to deter future beneficiaries from claiming at an earlier age so individuals can maximize on their benefits."  MORE >>

"This annual notice provides the 2024-2025 special per diem rates for taxpayers to use in substantiating the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred while traveling away from home, specifically [1] the special transportation industry meal and incidental expenses (M&IE) rates, [2] the rate for the incidental expenses only deduction, and [3] the rates and list of high-cost localities for purposes of the high-low substantiation method."  MORE >>

"The departure of an employee, regardless of the reason, sets off a chain of events affecting wages, bonuses, equity awards, retirement benefits, health coverage, and other company-sponsored programs. The manner in which each of these benefits is handled will depend on the termination circumstances, the precise language of the governing documents, and the applicable legal requirements. Mistakes can be costly ... so it is essential to approach each dismissal situation with care and consistency."  MORE >>