"Ultimately, the objective of the Executive Order is to dissuade proxy advisors from making recommendations based on DEI and ESG initiatives. The utilization of the ERISA fiduciary statutory scheme as a tool for dissuasion has direct and significant impacts on service providers to retirement plans. From a practical perspective, service providers and fiduciaries to ERISA plans should consider the following:"  MORE >>

"This [article] provides an overview of President Trump's recent Executive Order directing regulatory agencies to take action to enhance 401(k) plan access to such strategies, and continues by summarizing some prior history, moves on to outline concerns of plan fiduciaries and then offers some of the reasons proponents and opponents have concerning alternative assets in 401(k) plans."  MORE >>

"Key developments include: [1] Rapid growth in auto portability adoption. [2] Public support for auto portability from leading DC recordkeepers. [3] A reframing by industry thought leaders of the 'forgotten' 401(k) accounts issue through the lens of portability."  MORE >>

"Proxy advisors who provide recommendations and analysis to shareholders (including ERISA plan fiduciaries) regarding how to vote proxies on corporate matters may not fit neatly within the traditional fiduciary framework. However, the Executive Order directs the DOL to consider whether proxy advisors to ERISA plans should be ERISA fiduciaries because of their 'relationship of trust and confidence' with their clients."  MORE >>

"43 percent of individuals interviewed between ages 56-75 combined work and benefits for at least some period of time ... [T]wo-thirds of them claimed before the FRA -- typically right at age 62 -- while another 30 percent claimed between the FRA and age 69 -- typically right at the FRA. This pattern suggests different circumstances and different reasons for claiming."  MORE >>

"Data from the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) found that participants say they lose out on $948 from their lack of personal finance knowledge, for a combined total of $246 billion in lost revenue. Further, close to half (48.6%) of survey respondents say that an inadequacy of their own financial prowess had led to losses of $500, while 14.6% report setbacks of $2,500."  MORE >>

"If you're running behind on retirement savings, you'll probably want to contribute the extra amount, even though there's not a current tax advantage.... A person who is currently age 50 and maxes out on both catch-up and super catch-up contributions could therefore end up with something in the neighborhood of $200,000 (assuming a 5% annual return) in the Roth 401(k) by age 65. And because contribution limits are adjusted for inflation each year, the total would likely be higher than that."  MORE >>

"For more than 30 years, 'stable value' has been marketed to retirement plan fiduciaries as a conservative, low-risk, bond-like option. That description is only accurate for one form of stable value: diversified synthetic stable value. General Account (GA) and Separate Account (SA) stable value products are fundamentally different. They embed insurance spread products, opaque crediting decisions, and conflicted compensation structures that directly collide with ERISA's duties of loyalty, prudence, and prohibited-transaction rules."  MORE >>

"Following a review of the DFVC Program, as modified in 2002 and 2013, the Department has determined to expand the penalty relief to plan MEWAs, non-plan MEWAs, and ECEs who are required to file the Form M-1.... The Department, to encourage voluntary compliance with ERISA's reporting requirements, is extending to plan and non-plan MEWAs and ECEs that are required to file Form M-1 the same $750 maximum penalty amount currently available to small plans filing a late Form 5500, and to filers of apprenticeship and training plans and top hat plans. In addition, top hat and apprenticeship plans will no longer be directed to the DFVC payment calculator. All plans eligible to pay a flat $750 fee will follow a link to a gov.pay site.... The DFVC Program described herein shall be effective December 19, 2025."  MORE >>

"The standard mileage rate for transportation or travel expenses for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile for all miles of business use (business standard mileage rate) ... The standard mileage rate is 14 cents per mile for use of an automobile in rendering gratuitous services to a charitable organization under Section 170.... The standard mileage rate for 2026 is 20.5 cents per mile for use of an automobile: [1] for medical care described in Section 213; or [2] as part of a move for which the expenses are deductible under Section 217(g)."  MORE >>