Treasury Secretary says Monday the new program is already helping millions of families build investing knowledge.
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Retirement
Treasury Secretary says Monday the new program is already helping millions of families build investing knowledge.
Even high-income employees are uncertain about where to put their next dollar, highlighting the need for workplace guidance on financial wellness.
Market optimism may be masking deep retirement risks. Planning for retirement has always been hard, but when government policy is unpredictable, it makes it even more challenging.
With contributions to Trump accounts having gone live on July 4, 2026, there has been lots of discussion recently about the “kiddie tax.” That’s because, once a child reaches January 1 of the year they turn age 18, they will be able to withdraw or do a Roth conversion of accumulated Trump account funds.
The DOL’s proposed regulation on selecting investments, including alternative assets, 2026-06178.pdf, identifies six factors that should be considered in the process of selecting any investments for participant-directed plans, such as 401(k) plans and private sector 403(b) plans.
Most young children should have a Trump account. But that doesn’t mean families should prioritize saving in them.
Effective July 4, 2026, employers may contribute up to $2,500 annually on a tax-free basis to “Trump Accounts,” a new tax-advantaged savings account for employees’ dependent children under age 18, which was established under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (Pub.
Today's blog shares updates on employer contributions for employees’ dependent children with Trump accounts.
The December 31, 2026 deadline is fast approaching for most non-governmental plan sponsors to amend their tax-qualified retirement plans to comply with changes made by the SECURE Act of 2019, the CARES Act, the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act of 2021, and the Secure 2.0 Act (the “Acts”).
The proposal adds to the current “wired at work” safe harbor issued in 2002 and does not replace existing disclosure rules. Plan administrators could continue using current delivery methods or elect to use the new safe harbor if finalized.
Recent analysis projects private capital could make up 6% of assets in defined contribution plans by the end of the decade, driven by gradual adoption through target-date funds, collective investment trusts and the DOL’s proposed safe harbor for fiduciaries.
New survey data shows the resurgence of green-zone plans, funded status trends and lessons for the future of multiemployer pensions.
Some ultrahigh net worth clients would be affected by a change to retirement plan contribution and distribution rules that's under consideration in Congress.
New NFP research finds 72% of workers are behind on retirement as rising costs, competing priorities, and financial stress make saving harder.
For once, retirement plan sponsors received a rare piece of regulatory news that doesn’t require antacids. The Department of Labor’s civil monetary penalties for 2026 are staying flat.
While the firms' first jointly developed investment solutions target wealthy investors, an under-the-radar detail in Wednesday's announcement signals plans to expand the strategic alliance into retirement-focused products—potentially bringing more private market solutions to workplace retirement plans.
In Q2 2026, the funded status of Segal's model private sector single-employer pension plan rose 8 points to 110%.
The latest data reveals a striking paradox for the U.S.: start-ups are taking 10-12 years to reach exits, while employees in many sectors often stay for an average of just 2-3 years.
On Friday, July 3, Treasury posted its 2026 regulatory agenda, which includes the following retirement and executive compensation items.
One of the key fiduciary roles in the assessment of any DC lifetime income program process necessarily involves whether, and how, the plan or the vendor accommodates any required spousal consent rules related to the payout of annuities.
New research reveals growing interest among DC plan sponsors in adding alternative investments to their 401(k) lineups, though many want more information before moving forward.
We also explore how Section 315 and Section 101 of the SECURE 2.0 Act impact plan mergers and family attribution rules, as well as why engaging ERISA counsel for a legal opinion is essential now that the IRS no longer issues determination letters for coverage testing.
Groom examines integral part trusts, a lesser known vehicle that tax-exempt organizations can use to fund employee benefits in a tax efficient, flexible way.
Employers have an opportunity to encourage workers to participate in a retirement savings account today.
Legislation introduced today by leading congressional Democrats would require distributions from retirement accounts exceeding $10 million and prohibit additional contributions, targeting taxpayer-subsidized "mega" IRAs while leaving savings rules unchanged for most Americans.
How rising interest rates, evolving fixed income opportunities, personalized investing, and retirement income needs are driving fiduciaries toward a more balanced approach that combines the strengths of active and passive management to improve participant outcomes.
The deadline to adopt a restated pre-approved 403(b) plan is rapidly approaching. Here's what employers need to know.
Don Trone examines how to build new protocols for fiduciary governance.
The IRS recently announced its intention to propose regulations relating to the 21 percent tax imposed with respect to any “excess” executive compensation paid by certain tax-exempt organizations.
In Part 1, we introduced the executive compensation landscape and examined incentive stock options (ISOs) and nonqualified stock options (NQSOs).
Just when retirement plan sponsors thought disclosure rules couldn’t get any more convoluted, the Department of Labor has offered temporary relief on SECURE 2.0’s paper statement requirements.
Allianz Life study finds seven in 10 workers and retirees struggle with the psychological shift from saving to spending, as retirement risks make it difficult to confidently begin drawing down retirement accounts.
Seyfarth Synopsis : The Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued Technical Release 2026-02, which clarifies that neither Trump Accounts nor employer contributions to Trump Accounts are considered “employee pension benefit plans” under Section 3(2) of ERISA.
Jim Watkins’ recent article on fiduciary prudence protocols is one of the best practical guides I have seen for investment committees. It is written as a roadmap for plan sponsors who genuinely want to satisfy ERISA’s prudence requirements before selecting an investment.
If you’ve spent any time around startup equity, you’ve probably heard someone describe the standard 90-day post-termination exercise window as a “trap for the well-meaning employee”. That is a little dramatic, but not entirely wrong.
This proposed rule would provide the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's policies for calculating, imposing, and waiving monetary penalties to pension plans for failure to provide certain required notices or other material information timely to PBGC and plan participants.
Key Wealth survey finds many mass affluent inheritors are reducing retirement savings and taking on more investment risk based on inheritances they often haven't confirmed they'll receive.
Employers who recognize these compromises are most likely to see behavioral changes from participants, Schroders’ study reports.
As market conditions grow more complex, retirement plan fiduciaries are rethinking the traditional active-versus-passive debate.
As a plan provider, one of the more frustrating parts of asset sale transactions is watching a perfectly salvageable retirement plan get marched toward termination because the M&A lawyers want zero daylight between the buyer and anything that smells like seller liability.
Large slices of public pension portfolios are reported at manager estimates rather than market prices, and the author argues that real valuation and reporting standards are overdue.
I’ve always believed the retirement plan business needs its own version of a greatest hits album for bad decisions. Not because I enjoy watching train wrecks, although professionally speaking, they can be educational.
Physician and outpatient services and prescription coverage pose a significant threat to US fiscal resources, according to Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research.
Nearly two-thirds of surveyed defined contribution plan participants relied on their own financial adviser or one provided by an employer for plan decisions.
The American 401(k) is often celebrated as one of the greatest financial innovations of the past half century. Millions of workers have accumulated retirement savings through payroll deductions, employer matching contributions, and decades of economic growth.
2026 U.S. Retirement Trend Report from NFP finds 89% of workers trust employer-provided financial advisors, yet many miss out by not engaging
The IRS has released Notice 2026-34, establishing the 2026 Cumulative List of Changes in Plan Qualification Requirements for Defined Benefit Pre-approved Plans (the “2026 Cumulative List”).
I never hired an employee for my law firm because I was an employee once too. I joke that no employee ever said they were paid too much and no employer ever said they paid their employees too little.
Effective July 1, 2026, government contractors in Illinois who perform prevailing wage work must afford apprentices fringe benefits. These fringe benefits include pensions, vacations, and training, among other things
Why force someone hired on Tuesday to sit around until the first of the next month or next quarter before they can defer into the 401(k) plan? Immediate access feels employee-friendly, modern, and flexible.
Background Under ERISA section 4043, defined benefit plan administrators must notify PBGC when certain “reportable events” occur. One of those events is a reduction in the active participant headcount.
The authors note that Trump Accounts generally exist outside the retirement plan framework, as neither the statute nor current guidance provides a mechanism for incorporating them into a retirement plan.
Don Trone explains how policy, permission, proficiency, platform and protocol keep the industry from reaching artificial intelligence’s full potential
Plan sponsors often approach vendor searches with the best intentions and the wrong priorities. The most common mistake is treating the process like a shopping exercise instead of a fiduciary decision.
The DOL recently released its Agency Rule List, which contains several important retirement and health plan initiatives for this year
The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released Notice 2026-36 (Notice of Intent to Issue Regulations under Section 4960), (the “Notice”) relating to the tax on executive compensation under Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) Section 4960, as modified by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the “OBBBA”)
Today’s retirement plans (401(k), 403(b), defined benefit pension plans, etc.) are growing ever more sophisticated, offering plan participants more features and options for increased retirement savings.
Thrivent shows split in retirement confidence among savers hurdling through market inflation and advancements in AI technology
IRALOGIX findings opens a broader conversation about retirement planning and competing financial responsibilities
As the conversation around retirement income continues to evolve, Lincoln Financial’s Matt Condos says the opportunity is not to introduce something entirely new, but to extend what has already worked
What larger retirement plan sponsors stand to gain and give up in a pooled employer plan created under the SECURE Act of 2019.
Happy Summer from the Kaufman & Canoles ESOPs, Benefits & Compensation team! As the weather heats up and we enjoy the longest days of the year, we have a few updates and reminders on the benefits front for your consideration
Congress is once again considering legislation that would allow 403(b) retirement plans to invest in Collective Investment Trusts (CITs).
They really should be fully understood by the fiduciaries involved in the selection and maintenance any lifetime income program, especially if one is attempting to comply with the DOL’s proposed prudence safe harbor.
For three decades, the retirement industry has fought a losing battle. Competition drove investment management fees relentlessly downward.
A new academic report provides unusually strong evidence for a central argument made in both the our investigation of Ohio STRS and our broader CalPERS report: public-pension compensation systems can reward staff for an internally manufactured version of performance that is materially better than the pension’s
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 409A) imposes strict rules governing the timing of deferred compensation payments, such as when and under what circumstances such payments can be made.
Philadelphia voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure authorizing the creation of the Philadelphia Retirement Savings Board to oversee “PhillySaves,” a city-run automatic retirement savings program for workers whose employers do not sponsor retirement plans
American workers struggle to balance saving for retirement with other concerns such as emergency funds, paying down debt, healthcare and everyday expenses
Learn how TrumpIRA.gov and the Saver’s Match could expand retirement savings access, which workers and account types may be affected, and what plan sponsors should consider in today's blog.
If you are considering selling your business, you may often believe that the only available option is selling to an unrelated third-party buyer, such as a competitor or a private equity fund.
July 14 is the inaugural Women’s Retirement Security Day, a day the American Retirement Association created to acknowledge the unique challenges women face in saving for retirement.
that fits a particular agenda.
now include the self-employed.
Hobbs, Esq. Britney, a retired singer and superstar, owns and operates Lucky Records (the “Company”), a record company in Los Angeles with 44 employees. The Company sponsors the Lucky Records 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the “PS Plan”) to help its employees save for retirement.
The U.S. Department of Labor (the “DOL”) recently issued Technical Release 2026-02, providing guidance on whether certain Trump accounts established under Section 530A of the Internal Revenue Code and the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (“Trump Accounts”) and employer contribution programs to such accounts constitute employee benefit plans subject to ERISA.
Nearly three-quarters of workplace retirement plan participants would prefer to delegate retirement planning and investing decisions, while younger generations increasingly expect employers to provide guidance
CEOs send letter to Senate Banking Committee asking for movement on House-passed bipartisan bill that would finally permit access intended by SECURE 2.0
Trump Accounts launched on July 4, 2026. These special individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can help children under 18 build savings.
SpaceX's record-fast addition to the Nasdaq-100 means millions of retirement savers now have indirect exposure to the newly public company through index funds and some target-date portfolios.
Ari Sonneberg and Barry Salkin propose a federal insurance backstop for defined contribution plan cybersecurity losses, building on the DOL's January 2026 enforcement policy naming cybersecurity and data protection as its highest priority. A thought piece, but a timely one given plan sponsors' growing exposure to participant account theft.
If your organization sponsors a pre-approved 403(b) plan, an important compliance deadline looms on the horizon.
SpaceX's record-fast addition to the Nasdaq-100 means millions of retirement savers now have indirect exposure to the newly public company through index funds and some target-date portfolios
Mariner, Cariloop provide family care, healthcare support; and Alight, BNY offer support for retirement plan administration, investing.
The venture capital firm, California’s public pension fund and other investors are reportedly paying $2.8 billion for the asset manager.
This comes amid a wave of plan sponsors opting to outsource the investment management of their pension plans.
Registered investment advisers have gained access to ne w investments such as Voya’s V-ALT collective investment trusts.
More than three-fourths of Philadelphia voters backed city-sponsored individual retirement accounts.
Fifteen states now have some automatic enrollment of public sector employees, but nearly half of US states prohibit it.
Once upon a time, 401(k) eligibility was easy. Age 21. One year of service. Quarterly entry dates. Everyone understood the assignment
On Friday, July 3, Treasury posted its 2026 regulatory agenda, which includes the following retirement and executive compensation items: Final regulations Required minimum distributions (“RMDs”) as
“Plan document providers have a little over a year to get their pre-approved defined benefit plans updated for these changes and submitted to the IRS. Stay tuned for ‘LRM’ sample language to help
As hardships arise, employers rethink whether retirement plans should focus solely on preserving nest eggs—or also help workers weather today’s storm.
Participants can select income features and turn a portion of their retirement savings into an annuity contract.
Principal acquires benefits company; LPL Financial hires 2 advisers in separate transactions; Retirement and Wealth at Alliant buys Retirement Solution Group; and more.
Fewer financial worries and increased longevity were among the benefits reported by Chilean retirees surveyed about guaranteed income.
The firm says offering the investments will help participants diversify their portfolios as many near retirement
Tom Hawkins explains the logic behind Retirement Clearinghouse’s newly updated missing participant policy template
When my wife and I first got married, we did what most young couples do. We were trying to build a home on a budget, so we bought a lot of household items at Walmart. It wasn’t because we were
As we previously reported, following an executive order issued by the Trump Administration last year, there has been a recent trend encouraging access to alternative assets through retirement
Philadelphia voters approved a city-run program, but the Alaska State Legislature failed to override the governor’s veto of its version.
Experts from Groom Law Group and CAPTRUST answer questions concerning retirement plan administration and regulations.
The company argues that claims of underperformance should be judged against a meaningful, comparable benchmark.
Trump Accounts, a new tax-advantaged individual retirement account (IRA) intended for the benefit of minor children, were established under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Section 530A as part of the
Analysis of nearly 58,000 retirement plans over 16 years concludes that defined contribution plans without alternative investments delivered higher returns than defined benefit plans with significant
Auto-enrollment is one of those retirement plan features that sounds wonderfully simple in a sales presentation. “We’ll automatically enroll employees, boost participation, and help people save.”
Investment menu rulemaking and outstanding SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 guidance dominated the regulators’ newly posted lists.
Experts answer questions regarding plan sponsor fiduciary duties for health benefits .
The US Treasury also posted a rule list that provides SECURE 2.0 guidance including required minimum distributions.
A legal expert says that advisers who understand the workings of digital assets and ERISA rules will be ‘invaluable’ to plan fiduciaries.
The two partners will develop a model that “can serve as a centralized channel for secure data integration and transactions,” to reduce operational hurdles
The two partners will develop a model that “can serve as a centralized channel for secure data integration and transactions,” to reduce operational hurdles
New PEP underscores commitment to scaling pooled plans and expanding retirement access for nonprofits; Newport tabbed as pooled plan provider and administrative fiduciary while Aprio providing
and what trustees can do to lower administrative costs.
Many retirement plans must be amended by December 31, 2026 to bring the plan document into compliance with a number of legislative changes. To ensure your plan document accurately reflects your
I’ve always liked immediate eligibility for deferrals. Clean, simple, easy to explain. Let people in the door and let them start saving. Where things go sideways is when a provider layers on a safe
This update would amend Topic 715 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, which governs the measurement of pension liabilities for a plan sponsor’s financial statements. Under the current
The countdown clock is running. The stadium lights are on, and the clock is ticking toward extra time. Plan sponsors must amend many qualified retirement plans by December 31, 2026. Just like in a
“If they’re going to be asset-class neutral, we would hope they’d also be asset-wrapper neutral, particularly where you’ve got a wrapper that’s basically only used by retirement investors,” Walsh
Participant engagement is also a top factor of long-term progress with retirement savings, Empower reports
On June 17, 2026, the DOL issued Technical Release 2026-02, which confirms that “Trump Accounts” and Code Section 128 Trump Account contribution programs generally will not constitute “employee
(PBGC) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, a new collection of information. The purpose
Recently-issued IRS Notice 2026-33 provides necessary guidance on long-term care distributions. Here’s what you need to know. A distribution made during the taxable year that does not exceed the
Everyone in the retirement plan business loves talking about technology. Recordkeepers spend millions promoting participant websites, mobile apps, artificial intelligence tools, and payroll
An ongoing dispute about a Department of Labor advisory opinion published last September raises a basic but unanswered question under the ERISA: What is a bonus? The answer to this simple question is
Today's blog describes the risks that deplete retirement savings and strategies for addressing them.
Disclosure for Most Public Companies- On May 19, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) released proposed amendments
Key Takeaways: The OBBBA significantly expanded Code §4960 for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2025, broadening the scope of employees that tax-exempt organizations must evaluate for potential