"The proposed regulations do not resolve some of the key ERISA fiduciary issues associated with alternative investments: [1] The inherent lack of liquidity still presents an operational issue for 401(k) plans ... [2] The inherent valuation challenges still present an operational issue for 401(k) plans with respect to processing distributions ... [3] The inherent lack of transparency and complexity can make it challenging for plan fiduciaries to properly evaluate potential alternative investments.... [4] Plaintiffs' attorneys have already indicated they intend to hold plan fiduciaries accountable if plans offer alternative investments."  MORE >>

11 pages. "The safe harbor factors would apply to the initial decision to select an investment option but not ongoing monitoring of the investment.... Fiduciaries could demonstrate compliance with any safe harbor factor by relying on recommendations from an investment advice fiduciary or delegating investment selection responsibility to a professional investment manager.... The proposal doesn't specify when the safe harbor would take effect. Nor does DOL explain the proposal's implications for investment selection decisions made before issuance of a final regulation."  MORE >>

"By doing nothing more than signing termination amendments, JJDD has created several problems. Mr. Icicle is particularly alarmed that they did not amend the cash balance plan to freeze benefits or tell participants about the termination, which means benefits have been accruing to plan participants all this time.... [W]hile the 401(k) plan does not suffer from the benefit accrual problem (and there was no obligation to provide participant notice), it has issues of its own.... And, not incidentally, no Forms 5500 had been filed for the two plans since they were 'terminated.' "  MORE >>

"This industry-leading resource aims to educate plan sponsors, retirement plan advisors, consultants and fiduciaries about the full range of retirement income solutions available in the defined contribution marketplace. The Framework provides standardized, side-by-side data on retirement income products from a wide range of leading providers, helping retirement industry professionals make informed comparisons of product structures, fee models, guarantee features, liquidity options, and portability aspects."  MORE >>

"As more employees work past traditional retirement age, pension and benefit systems are colliding with assumptions built for a workforce that no longer exists. Plans that are still built around the long-abandoned idea of mandatory retirement at age 65 -- once the standard mandatory retirement -- now face tax, legal and human-rights challenges as employees remain working into their late 60s and early 70s. The result is a growing disconnect between modern economic realities and retirement rules rooted in policy decisions made nearly a century ago."  MORE >>

"ARA CEO Brian Graff said political alignment is building for sweeping retirement reform centered on universal coverage, enhanced Saver's Match, and auto-enrollment -- potentially adding millions of new plans and tens of millions of savers."  MORE >>

"Workers' confidence in having enough money to live comfortably in retirement fell 6 percentage points from 2025 to 61%, while retirees' confidence fell 5 percentage points to 73%.... Fewer than 3 in 5 workers said they have enough savings to handle an emergency expense, down from 64% in 2025. Among retirees, fewer than 7 in 10 said the same, down from 74%.... About 3 in 5 workers and 3 in 10 retirees said debt negatively affects their ability to save for or live comfortably in retirement.... Nearly 6 in 10 workers said the cost of health care is hurting their ability to save for retirement, while 2 in 5 retirees said health care expenses in retirement have been higher than expected."  MORE >>

"For closely held business owners, the company often represents their largest asset -- and their primary retirement funding source. Yet retirement plans are frequently disconnected from exit planning conversations. For advisors, this gap represents both risk and opportunity."  MORE >>

"The Society of Actuaries Aging and Retirement Strategic Research Program issued a call for essays to explore the impact of family structure on retirement. The objective was to gather a variety of perspectives and experiences as to how different family structures may impact retirement planning, financial arrangements and risks that may be encountered in retirement. A primary goal of this collection is to spur thoughts for future research and set the stage for upcoming efforts."  MORE >>

"With ERISA having no readability standards, the advisers seeking to take advantage of the benefits granted to them by the safe harbor (or now just to be prudent) are likely to find themselves having to translate some of these very ugly documents into a sort of plain English that is decipherable by their plan sponsor clients. It looks as if a successful 'translation' may become a part of the adviser's own fiduciary obligation."  MORE >>

"One of the most notable aspects of [FAB 2026-01] is that EBSA plans to focus its enforcement efforts on cases that pose meaningful harm to the employee benefits system, especially those involving bad faith conduct.... They have an express focus on breaches of the fiduciary duty of loyalty. However, just as important, the DOL emphasized that ERISA is a 'law of process, not results.' ... [T]he agency says it generally won't second‑guess fiduciary decisions where a prudent process was followed."  MORE >>

"Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned from her post [April 20].... Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling will be acting secretary ... The [DOL's] inspector general had been conducting an internal investigation of Chavez-DeRemer since January ... over reported allegations of misconduct."  MORE >>

"Following a checklist is a great way to make sure you get the most out of your restricted stock units (RSUs), manage them effectively, and avoid common mistakes. If you work at a publicly traded company, you can utilize [this] list that includes best practices commonly discussed with clients[.]"  MORE >>