"In recent years, various stakeholders have expressed interest in expanding investment options in 401(k) plans to include alternative assets, such as private investments and digital assets. Proponents say that the benefits of incorporating these investments include the potential for higher investment returns and increased portfolio diversification. Opponents note the risky and speculative nature of these investments, the high and sometimes opaque nature of private equity fees, and concerns about the liquidity of these investments."  MORE >>

"[O]ne exception to the 10% additional tax on early withdrawals from an IRA under IRC Section 72(t) is for a series of substantially equal periodic payments (SEPPs). However, the series of payments must meet several stringent requirements to qualify for this exception."  MORE >>

"[L]itigation continues to evolve ... Legal outcomes are still highly inconsistent ... [W]hile many claims continue to focus on outcomes, such as fees and investment performance, they increasingly test the processes, governance and oversight structures surrounding the plan."  MORE >>

"The CPI as reported by the BLS for the 12 months ended April 30, 2026, was 3.8%, up from 3.3% for the 12 months ended March 31, 2026, and higher than the 3.0% annual change in the CPI as of September 30, 2025 (i.e., the close of the prior FFY). It is also higher than the 3.2% average annual change over the past 10 years ended September 30, 2025, and higher than the 2.5% average annual change over the past 20 years ended September 30, 2025."  MORE >>

"Practical options: [1] Keep the plan open and let time, future accruals, or compensation changes absorb some of the surplus. [2] Use a companion retirement plan ... [3] De-risk the investment portfolio ... Radical options: [1] Corporate‑level transaction followed by a plan merger where an overfunded plan's surplus is effectively used to offset an underfunded plan's deficit ... [2] Section 420 transfers, where surplus from one overfunded DB plan can be used to pre‑fund retiree health or life‑insurance benefits, [3] Trading liquid assets for a mix of insurance protection and cash value[.]"  MORE >>

"From April to May ... the duration 7 rate increased to 4.94%, while the duration 15 rate rose to 5.02%. Both rates are currently sitting at some of the highest levels observed since June 2025. Additionally, the past two months have produced some of the most meaningful incremental increases seen in some time."  MORE >>

"The [DOL's] recently proposed framework ... [is] a potential inflection point -- not because private market investments are suddenly appropriate for all retirement savers, but because clearer guardrails make it possible to think more constructively about how these options might be introduced responsibly. Key to that conversation is the role of the recordkeeping industry as a critical hub -- connecting employers, participants, and retirement plan advisors to the investment options available."  MORE >>

"Few financial products evoke skepticism more than annuities; it’s why most target-dates that incorporate them prefer terms like lifetime income or guaranteed income. But the in-plan variety can sidestep some of the most common complaints about retail annuities: the commission structures, the aggressive sales tactics, the limitless variations."  MORE >>

"The economic realities of declining plan fees for advisors and providers have forced most to search for new revenue through wealth services like IRA rollovers, managed accounts and outside assets ... [T]he economics of selling and servicing a 401(k) plan to a small business owner are not compelling. Fees are relatively low, liability is high, and the work can be overwhelming for plan sponsors, advisors and providers. The package is the opportunity to engage with that small business owner whose main concern is not the value of a 401(k) plan to them or their employees."  MORE >>

"The newly introduced (and new and improved) RISE Act takes aim at some of the biggest practical problems with the current startup credit. ... The RISE Act ... raises the minimum startup tax credit from $500 to $2,500. This is particularly important for the smallest employers ... [T]he RISE Act offers a new, innovative solution: transfer the startup tax credit to the retirement plan providers when they reduce the employer's out of pocket startup costs."  MORE >>

"[T]he Chief Actuary of Social Security estimated that passage of the [OBBA] would increase the 2025 long-range actuarial deficit for the system to -3.98%. [The authors] expect the one-year Valuation Date Creep will once again be -.06% ... [and that] changes in assumptions and experience for 2025 [will] add another -10% to the deficit, about the same as in 2024.... This brings [the] estimate for the 2026 75-year long-range actuarial balance (deficit) to be -4.14%, or a funded status of about 76%."  MORE >>

"At its core, [FAB 2026-01] portends agency leadership's intended shift away from broad or aggressive enforcement strategies toward a more disciplined and targeted approach.... EBSA emphasizes its continued commitment to protecting plan participants and beneficiaries, with a focus on where enforcement resources have the greatest impact."  MORE >>

"Make sure HR personnel and benefits administrators ... avoid steering employees toward Medicare in lieu of coverage under your employer-sponsored plan.... If you offer an HSA benefit, make sure that employee contributions stop once they are enrolled in Medicare, and look out for any contributions made during a period of retroactive Medicare coverage.... While mandatory retirement age policies should generally be avoided, experienced counsel can help you navigate other potential options, such as voluntary phased retirement programs, as well as succession planning for owners or C-suite executives approaching retirement."  MORE >>

"This checklist helps employers understand their obligations and opportunities when an employee notifies them of their new marriage. Questions often arise on possible election changes, beneficiary rights and organizational policies. This checklist captures common compliance issues and offers helpful suggestions to avoid complications down the road."  MORE >>