"The updated models incorporate recent legislative changes ... [and] also include changes intended to make the 402(f) notice clearer and more concise.... Plan administrators may customize the updated models to [1] omit any information that does not apply to the relevant plan and/or [2] provide any additional information so long as the information is consistent with IRS rules."  MORE >>

"Kleinfeldt's estate argued that his fax was 'for all practical purposes similar to' the procedures set forth in the plan documents.... The court found that the fax was 'a method that deviates materially from the Plan's terms' and therefore it 'falls short of being 'for all practical purposes similar to' the procedures required by the plan documents[.]' " [Packaging Corp. of Am. Thrift Plan for Hourly Emps. v. Langdon, No. 25-1859 (7th Cir. Feb. 2, 2026)]  MORE >>

"The company's 401(k) plan covers about 63,000 participants and holds nearly $15 billion in assets, according to the complaint. Roughly one-third of these funds were in what plaintiffs termed 'underperforming' products ... The former employees argued that the company was involved in self-dealing and prohibited transactions under ERISA because it designed its own funds, picked the managers, decided how assets were allocated and then collected related fees." [Lowbruck v. Dell, No. 26-0209 (W.D. Tex. complaint filed Jan. 28, 2026)]  MORE >>

"For advisors who want to help plan sponsor clients begin proactively looking at plan providers' utilization of AI, here are six ideas: [1] Start doing due diligence ... [2] Understand a recordkeeper's AI priorities ... [3] Get knowledgeable about data-security risks ... [4] Learn about hallucination risks: ... [5] Look into protections if problems occur ... [6] Talk proactively about advisory firm's AI use."  MORE >>

"[M]ore than half of plan sponsors rank cybersecurity as their number one plan concern, surpassing worries about poor investment performance (45 percent) and insufficient participant savings (43 percent). That concern is well founded."  MORE >>

"The aggregate funded ratio for U.S. corporate pension plans is estimated to have increased by 1.0 percentage point in January, ending the month at 105.3% ... The change in funded ratio observed this month is primarily due to a 0.9 percentage point rise in asset value, combined with a 0.3 percentage point reduction in liability value. The aggregate funded ratio is estimated to have increased by 6.1% over the trailing twelve months."  MORE >>

"For the 2025 Form 1040, the IRS has added new lines 4c and 5c, which mostly contain boxes to be checked instead of having to write in a code on the form. Line 4c includes a box for 'Rollover' (Box 1), another for 'QCD' (Box 2), and a blank box (Box 3).... Line 5c includes a box for 'Rollover' (Box 1), another for 'PSO' (Box 2), and a blank box (Box 3). Box 3 should be checked and a word or code should be entered next to Box 3 if another IRS instruction requires it."  MORE >>

"Retirees can use a life insurance retirement plan to supplement their income, but it might not be the most effective strategy. Here are three alternatives to consider."  MORE >>

"[I]ndividuals and businesses in the State of Montana affected by severe storms and flooding that began on Dec. 10, 2025 ... now have until May 1, 2026, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.... [I]ndividuals and households that reside or have a business in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Lincoln, and Sanders counties qualify for tax relief."  MORE >>

"ISS's pay-for-performance quantitative analysis to assess pay for performance alignment will be extended to a five-year look back period from a three-year period for certain components of the analysis.... ISS announced that it would be taking a more favorable view of time-based equity awards with extended time horizons with respect to its pay-for-performance analysis.... Glass Lewis updated its pay-for-performance methodology, transitioning from a single letter grade of 'A' through 'F', to a scorecard-based approach that consists of up to six tests. "  MORE >>