Plaintiffs Drop Appeal of Home Depot ERISA Case

Plaintiffs dropped their appeal of a ruling that The Home Depot did not breach fiduciary duties regarding retirement plan forfeitures. U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson dismissed the case (Guadalupe Cano v. The Home Depot Inc.) with prejudice, preventing the plaintiffs from refiling or amending the complaint.

Source: Planadviser.com, December 2025

401k Forfeiture Case Against Northrup Grumman Dismissed

Northrop Grumman won dismissal of a lawsuit claiming it misused forfeited retirement plan funds to reduce employer contributions. In Garner et al. v. Northrop Grumman Corp. et al., U.S. Senior District Judge Anthony Trenga of the Eastern District of Virginia ruled that the plan documents allowed the company to apply forfeiture funds at its discretion.

Source: Planadviser.com, December 2025

Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Permit Roth IRA Rollovers

Lawmakers have reintroduced the bipartisan Retirement Rollover Flexibility Act (H.R. 6450 and S. 3352), which would allow workers to roll over Roth IRA savings into workplace-based Roth plans such as Roth 401k, 403b, or 457b. Currently, this type of rollover is prohibited. The bill aims to simplify retirement savings by enabling account consolidation and reducing the risk of early withdrawals.

Source: Napa-net.org, December 2025

Lifetime Income Products: Key Takeaways From the Department of Labor's Advisory Opinion

The DOL's Advisory Opinion 2025-04A clarifies that managed account solutions incorporating lifetime income products can qualify as Qualified Default Investment Alternatives under ERISA, provided they meet transferability and other regulatory requirements. Specifically, such solutions remain eligible even when offered through a variable annuity contract with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit.

Source: Mayerbrown.com, December 2025

Benefits: 2025 Highlights and 2026 Outlook

Employers across the United States experienced significant legislative, regulatory, and judicial changes in the benefits landscape throughout 2025, developments that will shape plan sponsor and fiduciary strategies in 2026. This year brought notable advancements in employee benefits, and this article highlights the key trends from 2025 while offering a forward-looking perspective for the year ahead.

Source: Mayerbrown.com, December 2025

When the Loan Defaults Come Home: A Fiduciary Wake-Up Call

Securian Financial is partnering with Custodia Financial to expand the Retirement Loan Protection (RLP) program within more in-plan offerings. This move addresses a long-standing issue where participants take 401k loans and risk severe financial setbacks if they cannot repay, signaling growing industry recognition of this problem. The article recaps the issue and explains why it matters.

Source: Jdsupra.com, December 2025

Fiduciary Gamechanger: The Cornell 403b Decision and What It Means for You

The Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Cunningham v. Cornell University marks a significant shift for retirement plan sponsors and fiduciaries. The case involved allegations that Cornell's 403b plans paid excessive fees and engaged in prohibited transactions under ERISA by contracting with service providers considered "parties-in-interest." The ruling means more lawsuits will survive early dismissal, leading to costly discovery and litigation. As a consequence, plan sponsors must be more diligent in compliance and documentation.

Source: Jdsupra.com, December 2025

Lack of Consequences for Small Employers With Poor 401k Plans

Small employer 401k plans often fall into a regulatory gap. While mistakes in payroll taxes or workplace safety trigger immediate enforcement, poorly designed 401k plans -- with high fees, limited investment options, and little education -- can persist for years without consequences. For many small businesses, offering a 401k is treated as a checkbox, and the plan's quality is rarely scrutinized unless a major issue or lawsuit arises.

Source: Fiduciarynews.com, December 2025

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