The DOL has submitted a Request for Information regarding pooled employer plans to the White House's Office of Management and Budget. This submission, made on July 1, is at the pre-rule stage and aims to gather input on implementing ERISA amendments from the SECURE Act. The DOL plans to consult with various stakeholders, including employers, employees, and retirement plan service providers, to identify areas where guidance could aid in establishing and operating PEPs.
The defined contribution community commonly recognizes the complexity of annuities, with over half of plan sponsors in a January 2024 Greenwald Research survey stating that they find annuities too complicated. This complexity encompasses not only the functionality and costs of the products but also determining the most suitable options and understanding participant demand. As DC plan sponsors weigh their options -- ramping up promotion of existing annuities or developing new ones in response to shifting demand and loosened rules -- they would do well to examine how annuities have long been used in 403b plans. But the lessons there, too, are nuanced.
Retirement income solutions are becoming more popular, but challenges remain in their adoption and implementation within plans. During a Broadridge webinar on June 26, industry experts Jania Stout, Nicole Corning, and Michael Kleeman discussed obstacles to integrating guaranteed income options and strategies for facilitating participants' transition from saving to spending. The webinar aimed to provide insights for advisors on how to engage with plan sponsors regarding these developments in retirement income solutions.
A new lawsuit claims that plan fiduciaries acted unreasonably, resulting in significant financial losses for the Plan and its participants. The lawsuit indicates that as a "jumbo" plan, with over $1.3 billion in assets, the fiduciaries had the ability to negotiate for quality, low-cost services but failed to do so. Additionally, it accuses them of not taking timely action to reduce Plan expenses and allowing excessive charges for services from 2019 to 2023.
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes various tax incentives for paid family leave, employer-provided child care, telehealth services, and education benefits. The act makes several tax credits from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 permanent, which may encourage more employers to offer related benefits. The article highlights key aspects of the budget reconciliation package relevant to employers and benefit plan sponsors.
The private fund industry is seeking to gain access for its funds to be included in 401k plans. While a discussion on the benefits of private fund investments is more suited for investment professionals rather than legal experts, there are significant legal considerations under ERISA that affect the inclusion of these investments in participant-directed plans. This article explores some of those legal challenges.
Fiduciaries often consider risks like market volatility and regulatory changes, but they must also focus on the growing threat of cybercrime, which targets 401k plans. Cybercriminals see these plans as prime targets due to the sensitive data and significant financial assets they hold. Understanding cybersecurity threats is essential for fiduciaries to adhere to their governance responsibilities under ERISA. The article outlines seven common cybersecurity threats that fiduciaries need to recognize to safeguard participants' retirement savings.
Nearly half of private sector workers lack retirement benefits through their jobs, creating significant financial challenges for them. According to a brief from The Pew Charitable Trusts, this absence of employer-sponsored retirement plans can lead to increased reliance on government social services, which poses a financial burden on taxpayers. Expanding access to and participation in workplace retirement savings options is therefore crucial, as it would help families prepare for retirement and alleviate future costs associated with social services for state and local governments.
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Collected Wisdom™
Our researchers look for what they think are some of the better resources available to assist you in administering your plan or helping your clients. We group these resources in our COLLECTED WISDOM™ topics to make it easy for you to locate the information you need. Each item in a category contains a summary and date of when it was placed in the group.
We also maintain some older material in these collections for perspective and context.
