"The new regulations confirm that plans should determine impacted participants by looking at each participant's prior year Social Security earnings as reflected in Box 3 on Form W-[2] Participants whose earnings exceed $145,000 (or the COLA limit of $150,000, if applicable) in 2025 will be subject to the Roth catch-up requirement for plan years beginning in 2026. Employees who did not have Social Security earnings from the employer during the prior year will not be subject to the Roth catch-up requirement."  MORE >>

"The complaint states that the Opinion used a purpose test and determined that the plan's purposes were to provide bonuses and not retirement income, when case law requires an examination of whether the plan has the effect of deferring income to termination of employment or beyond.... [It] is not unforeseeable that the court that previously held that the Morgan Stanley plan is subject to ERISA will invalidate the Opinion holding it is not." [Sheresky v. Chaves-DeRemer, No. 25-8935 (S.D.N.Y. complaint filed Oct. 28, 2025)]  MORE >>

"The number of new forfeitures cases has increased year over year, with five cases filed in 2023, 30 cases filed in 2024, and 43 cases filed so far in 2025 ... Cunningham has not yet resulted in a material increase in recordkeeping fee challenges or ERISA excessive fee lawsuits.... [S]table value funds have been the primary target in excessive fee lawsuits this year and investment challenges have significantly outnumbered recordkeeping fee challenges.... [There is] a trend toward lower settlements, including a growing number of six-figure settlements. "  MORE >>

"Excess mortality for Americans aged 65 or older dropped from more than 20% at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to only 1.3% in the past year -- according to a new analysis from the Society of Actuaries Research Institute.... Spikes in mortality persisted through early 2022, driving up the overall average excess mortality for the year, the analysis said. However, since that time, U.S. population mortality rates have returned to levels more consistent with 2019, and have exhibited the seasonal pattern usually seen in the U.S."  MORE >>

"Back-to-the-office requirements arrived as the Pandemic waned, but in many cases, on a modified, or hybrid, scale that still incorporates remote work on some days. It appears that for now, at least, the genie is out of the bottle and will not be going back in any time soon. That spells challenges for any employer -- including those that serve retirement plans and offer them. They have to find remote control. Or build it."  MORE >>

"[It's] hard to read an article about Social Security these days that doesn't proclaim the financial benefits of waiting till 70.... [M]any in the financial services industry ... are increasingly prone to labeling those who take those well-earned benefits 'on time' as being foolhardy at best ... [T]here's more to these types of decisions than 'the math' ... [S]ome people get so caught up in a slide rule exercise they forget that there are real, rational, personal reasons for the timing of the claiming decision."  MORE >>

"PE in retirement planning may not be new, but it certainly has been accelerated and rushed to the top of the radar for many retirement savers looking for new opportunities for their money. However, all that glitters may not be gold, and the risks associated with private markets can be significant due to their higher fees, liquidity strains and less established nature."  MORE >>

"AI is being used to streamline tasks such as verifying eligibility, adjudicating claims, and reconciling payroll. Service providers are deploying systems that can detect anomalies in claims data and tailor outreach based on participant demographics and financial needs.... Errors, such as misclassified procedures or misallocated funds, can occur, and accountability ultimately rests with the plan fiduciary, regardless of the technology involved.... Vendor relationships should be structured to allow for ongoing monitoring and documentation of AI-driven decisions."  MORE >>

"[1] My recordkeeper is the plan administrator.... [2] Nobody is complaining about our service providers or investments, so everything is fine ... [3] Our investment adviser is solely responsible for investment decisions.... [4] We must sign or approve whatever our recordkeeper sends us.... [5] Our fiduciary responsibilities apply only to our 401(k) and pension plans.... [6] We can do everything ourselves."  MORE >>