28 pages. "What's New: [1] Address fields ... [2] New boxes 7a-7d of Form 1099-R ... [3] Renumbered box 8 of Form 1099-R ... [4] Reporting the actuarial value of the contract in box 8a is optional for 2026 Form 1099-R ... [5] Qualified long-term care distribution reported on Form 1099-R ... [6] New code HP for box 14b of Form 5498." [Also available: 2026 IRS Form 5498 and 2026 IRS Form 1099-R]  MORE >>

"The DOL's Technical Release is helpful, but it is agency guidance and not a final regulation.... Employers that are considering implementing Trump Accounts may want to continue planning and wait for further guidance and the finalization of the IRS proposed regulations before implementing. If an employer decides to move forward, [it should] carefully document the program, keep its involvement limited, and avoid treating the arrangement like a conventional employer-sponsored retirement plan, especially after the beneficiary's growth period ends."  MORE >>

"The [DOL's] new proposed regulations significantly change how retirement plans may rely on the rule that allows only one paper participant statement per year. While the original rule seemed simple, the proposed regulation adds layers of conditions and documentation." [Article provides a side-by-side comparison of old and new requirements.]  MORE >>

"Up to 33% of the SFA may be invested in return-seeking assets. The remaining SFA must be invested in investment-grade fixed-income securities and cash. PBGC says it has received questions about which fixed-income investments qualify as permissible SFA investments and the types of derivative exposure that are allowed. In response, they propose several clarifications and amendments to the investment rules."  MORE >>

"[R]egulatory expectations -- particularly from the [DOL] -- have continued to evolve, with a growing focus on documentation, process integrity, and proactive oversight. The updated template reflects these developments in three important ways: [1] Greater emphasis on fiduciary process and decision-making [2] Expanded preventative controls to reduce missing participants [3] Improved documentation to support audit and enforcement readiness. Rather than replacing the original six-step framework, the update operationalizes it in more detail, translating high-level guidance into actionable procedures."  MORE >>

22 pages. "About 70% of 401(k) participants report they have thought about, at least to some degree, how to convert their retirement savings to retirement income. Among these retirement withdrawal planners, 94% think it's important for employers to provide resources to help employees determine how best to make retirement withdrawals ... Retirement withdrawal planners can be divided into those who've thought a lot about how they'll convert their 401(k) savings into retirement income (30%) and those who've thought about it some (70%).... 77% of those who've thought a lot about making retirement withdrawals used plan-provided resources."  MORE >>

66 pages. "ICI's economic analysis investigated how the addition of a private market allocation could impact diversification and risk-return profiles of DC plan portfolios. [The] analysis summarizes findings from academic literature on private fund performance and conducts three quantitative exercises: applying statistical methodologies to unsmooth private asset returns ... analyzing a mean-variance efficient frontier; and simulating TDF glide path outcomes."  MORE >>

"[T]he DOL needs to issue an RFI ... about how participant-directed plans work and what services are provided to participants.... [T]here is a need for the DOL to have information about the prudent practices of smaller and mid-sized employers and their plans.... [T]he DOL should have emphasized that the cost of the additional services cannot exceed the value of the services to the participants.... [T]heir examples are inconsistent with how participant-directed plans work -- and particularly smaller and mid-sized plans."  MORE >>

"The problem is that Trump Accounts further complicate our already-complex savings account system. We have at least 11 different tax-advantaged savings vehicles, with different rules, limitations, and regulations. Moreover, Trump Accounts are structured as a bizarre mix of Traditional and Roth IRAs, but with additional restrictions ... As such, Trump Accounts really do not provide any additional incentive to save.... [T]he main attraction is the $1,000 initial deposit from the federal government."  MORE >>

"Trump Accounts may be for kids, but the employer benefit conversation is very much for the grown-ups. And employers have a bigger role than most originally thought when Congress created these accounts last year. So yes, Trump Accounts may start as 'baby's first IRA.' But if employers, payroll providers, advisors, and benefits teams get involved, they could become something more: a new family-focused piece of the workplace savings ecosystem."  MORE >>

"The salary scale factor need not be the same as the 8.5% rate applied to the contribution since then we would be back to an allocation based on current compensation as the factors in the numerator and denominator would cancel out. But when salary scales were prevalent in funding defined benefit plans they were lower than the rates used to project earnings so there would still be some level of favoritism towards older participants (i.e., those who decide whether to set up a plan in the first place)."  MORE >>

"In-plan annuities present a classic case of informational asymmetry. The plan sponsor, fiduciary committee, consultants, insurers, and recordkeepers generally possess sophisticated actuarial, financial, and mortality information that the average participant neither possesses nor can independently obtain. Participants frequently hear only the appealing phrase: 'Guaranteed income for life.' "  MORE >>

"GAI holds promise to improve efficiency and professional services in tax practice. However, ethical obligations of competence, diligence, and confidentiality remain unchanged. By implementing robust use-management strategies and maintaining human supervision, tax professionals can harness AI's benefits while safeguarding reliability and public trust. As tax practitioners integrate GAI into their workflows, it is crucial to recognize that technology serves as a powerful tool, not a substitute for professional judgment. AI can streamline routine tasks, enhance research, and provide valuable insights, but final decisions must always rest with qualified professionals who understand the complexities of tax law and ethical standards. Practitioners must remain vigilant in reviewing what is produced by AI, validating its factual assertions and citations, and handling sensitive client data safely and securely in accordance with both federal and state regulations."  MORE >>

"Employer enthusiasm for artificial intelligence is outpacing employee willingness to use the technology as a tool as part of their benefits programs.... 83% of employers surveyed were interested in using AI to help workers better understand their benefits. Only 58% of employees surveyed said they would use AI for that purpose, and just 24% said they were currently doing so."  MORE >>

"Many employees at companies that just went public or will very soon ... are sitting on valuable appreciated company stock or equity compensation. For some, the liquidity from the initial public offering (IPO) will bring life-altering amounts of wealth.... [This article] features some quick tax rules and tips for employees (and their advisors) beyond the basics ... [along with] a warning about how substantial wealth combined with overly aggressive tax strategies can create a risk of criminal prosecution."  MORE >>