"The familiar contours of what has been feasible for decades, and which have shown recent signs of renewed energy -- so-called target-date, life-cycle and other 'allocator' strategies of which Alternative Assets are a component -- will continue to be the likely theatre of operations for the near future."  MORE >>

"Participants often work for multiple participating employers during a year. As a result, no single employer may have complete visibility into an individual's prior-year wages. In addition, coordination across multiple payroll and recordkeeping systems can make compliance significantly more complicated.... Although the relief provides additional time, implementation will require careful coordination among boards of trustees, plan professionals, participating employers, payroll providers, and recordkeepers."  MORE >>

"Faith-based organizations have some interesting -- but sometimes confusing -- options when it comes to retirement benefits -- and the [DOL] wants to help.... [A DOL] web page ... notes that the [IRS] uses the term 'church' to generically refer to a place of worship ... but that, despite their name, church plans can be sponsored by certain faith-based nonprofits that are not formal houses of worship. ad space On the other hand, it cautions that being a faith-based employer doesn't automatically mean you're eligible to sponsor a church plan."  MORE >>

"Recordkeepers now operate as platforms, not just service providers. They control most participant touchpoints while plan sponsors retain the fiduciary risk.... Infrequent recordkeeper changes and captive participants give recordkeepers durable commercial leverage.... Participant data use, indirect compensation, and rollover recommendations are emerging exposure areas.... Outdated contracts, limited monitoring, and infrequent RFPs leave sponsors exposed.... Sponsors must understand, monitor, and periodically re-market their recordkeeping arrangements."  MORE >>

"The proposed clearinghouse would function as a digital hub, bringing together employers, recordkeepers and retirement accounts. At its core is technology similar to 'auto portability,' which automatically moves a worker's retirement savings from an old employer's plan into a new one. Instead of requiring individuals to initiate rollovers, the system would identify matching accounts and move funds seamlessly, preserving tax advantages and long-term growth."  MORE >>

"Legislation that would have laid the groundwork for a state-run retirement plan providing coverage for those whose private-sector employers do not offer a retirement plan had been coursing through both chambers of the Tennessee legislature. But not anymore -- that language has been replaced with wording that would instead authorize the state of Tennessee to serve as a non-bank custodian for Trump Account funds."  MORE >>

"USPS ‌told the White House Office of Personnel Management that effective Friday it will stop making $200 million payments every other week for its employer contributions for the defined ​benefit portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System. USPS warned Thursday ​that without reforms it could run out of cash as ⁠soon as February."  MORE >>

"[W]omen's earnings are fundamental to household wealth, yet they are more likely than men to take career breaks or seek more flexible employment to accommodate childcare responsibilities. In the public sector, almost all employees are offered traditional DB pensions, which are explicitly designed to encourage continuous tenure with a single employer.... The advantages of DC and other portable retirement plans are especially important for single mothers[.]"  MORE >>

"Trustees and administrators must treat AI vendors as ERISA service providers for ERISA purposes. AI tools much be carefully vetted to ensure compliance with ERISA. Legal, IT, trustees and vendors share responsibility for ethical and effective AI use. ERISA plan fiduciaries must act prudently in selecting and monitoring service providers, including with respect to their use of AI. Some of DOL's cybersecurity best practices can be adapted to AI systems, such as strong access control procedures, prudent annual risk assessments and vendor oversight."  MORE >>