"State retirement mandates are a growing trend across the country ... If you're a business owner, that means the rules may not be optional anymore -- and the deadlines are coming fast.... This article provides a state-by-state breakdown of the current landscape, covering states with active mandates, pending legislation, and those with no mandates at all."  MORE >>

"Of the six factors, current practices are probably the most closely aligned with the DOL's expectations about the evaluation of fees and costs. That is due in part to the laser focus on fees and expenses of investments and service providers by plan sponsors and advisors, which in turn is due in part to the focus on fees and costs by plaintiffs' attorneys in ERISA fiduciary breach litigation."  MORE >>

"MBCBPs are accounted for as DB plans under U.S. GAAP, but stakeholders have raised concerns that there are different interpretations of how ASC guidance applies to MBCBPs, resulting in accounting liabilities not always reflecting the economics of MBCBPs.... By enhancing clarity, consistency, and alignment with the underlying economics of these plans, the new FASB guidance may make MBCBPs a more attractive and feasible option for a wider array of employers."  MORE >>

"[T]he Metz timing rule has no basis in the statutory text.... [T]he relevant statute contains only two requirements for actuarial assumptions. They have to be reasonable, and they have to offer the actuary's best estimate of the plan's anticipated experience. So ... there is an objective and a subjective component. The assumptions must be objectively reasonable, and they subjectively must represent the actuary's judgment, not ... the plan's judgment. What the statute doesn't say is anything about a timing rule." [M&K Employee Solutions, LLC v. Trustees of the IAM National Pension Fund, No. 23-1209 (S. Ct. May 21, 2026)]  MORE >>

"The three plans now under PBGC trusteeship are: Retirement Plan for Bargaining Unit Employees of Fostoria and Greenville (FRAM Plan) Cardone Industries, Inc. Union Employees' Pension Plan (Cardone Plan) Dalton Corporation, Warsaw Manufacturing Facility Pension Plan (Dalton Plan) Together, these plans cover 1,630 current and future retirees.... Retirees will continue receiving their full benefits without interruption, and participants who are not yet retired may apply for benefits once they become eligible."  MORE >>

"[A]dministrative review of the organization's member contribution process provided critical insights into the underlying causes of operational challenges and compliance risks. By identifying fragmented communication, inconsistent documentation, inadequate reconciliation, and incomplete automation as key issues, ... the organization [was able] to implement sustainable improvements. The recommended phased enhancements are designed to ensure compliance, operational efficiency, and high-quality member service, supporting the long-term reliability and accuracy of their pension administration."  MORE >>

"[A recent NBER working paper] points to a lack of institutional guidance for investors who are overwhelmed by the volume and diversity of annuity products, as well as the way they are framed.... protection, payout rates, fees, survivor benefits, liquidity, and other issues. When an annuity is a default option, or even just made available within a plan, that provides a framework for an interested investor."  MORE >>

"As the second quarter of 2026 draws to a close, the Pension Risk Transfer market continues to benefit from favorable momentum, with annuity purchase rates continuing their steady increase on this month-to-month basis. The duration 7 annuity purchase interest rate increased 11 basis points from last month, reaching 5.05%, while the duration 15 annuity purchase rate jumped 24 basis points to 5.26%. Both rates now stand at their highest levels since early 2024, presenting an attractive window for plan sponsors exploring pension de-risking solutions."  MORE >>

"The 2026 Trustees Report takes a major step towards offering a more realistic picture of Social Security's financial status. The advancement involves a long-overdue recognition that fertility will not rebound and that less immigration and the OBBBA will mean less revenue.... [T]he Trustees' 'offsetting' assumptions on productivity and mortality are unpersuasive and mask the full impact of the changes.... [T]he reforms required to fix Social Security are doable. All that is needed is the political will."  MORE >>

"Under the old USPS rule, a plan sponsor or recordkeeper could reliably mail notices or other important benefits documents the day before a deadline, counting on the postmark reflecting the date the USPS received the mail.... [U]nder the new rule, the same plan sponsor or recordkeeper could miss a deadline if the mail was not automatically sorted until later.... Tax filings and IRS correspondence could attract late-filing penalties. COBRA notices sent even a day 'late' by postmark can expose employers to statutory penalties. Benefit claims and appeals with missed administrative deadlines can result in denied coverage or loss of discretionary review rights. ERISA-required participant notices could be deemed noncompliant."  MORE >>