Jenny Gartman, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

IRS Guidance on Qualified Student Loan Payment (QSLP) Match Programs

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

11 Sep 202411 Sep 2024

Section 110 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 allows employers to make matching contributions toward employees’ qualified student loan payments (QSLPs) to 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans and governmental 457(b) plans (and SIMPLE IRAs plans not summarized in this blog). Internal Revenue […]

401(k) Plans Employee Benefits Retirement U.S.

Top Reasons for 401(k) Loans

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

04 Sep 202404 Sep 2024

Many 401(k) plans allow participants to take out loans from their individual 401(k) account. According to Employee Benefits Survey: 2024 Survey Report, 81% of corporate employer plans offered a 401(k) loan provision. While loan options provide flexibility for those tentative to contribute […]

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Inclusive Family-Forming Benefits: Definition of Infertility

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

07 Aug 202407 Aug 2024

According to Employee Benefits Survey: 2024 Results, to be released the end of August 2024, 42% of U.S. organizations currently offer fertility benefits (an increase from 40% in 2022). While fertility benefit offerings are more prevalent, there are varied reasons plan participants […]

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ERISA Preemption 101

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

31 Jul 202401 Aug 2024

Hailed by its authors as the law’s “crowning glory” or “crowning jewel,” the preemption clause in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) was designed to help simplify employee benefits administration for multistate employers. But what does ERISA preemption mean? […]

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ACA Litigation Update: Preventive Services Requirements Upheld

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

12 Jul 202412 Jul 2024

What’s new? On June 21, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Braidwood v. Becerra that the lower court had overreached when it struck down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) preventive services mandate nationwide. The Fifth Circuit held that federal […]

401(k) Plans Compliance DOL Employee Benefits ERISA Retirement SECURE 2.0 U.S.

Three DOL Developments for Retirement Plan Sponsors

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

09 Jul 202409 Jul 2024

So far in 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) has released proposals for plan administrators to populate a missing participant database and automatic portability of retirement plan accruals when employees change jobs. The DOL also finalized a retirement security rule package and […]

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The DOL Retirement Security Final Rule: Highlights for Plan Sponsors

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

20 Jun 202420 Jun 2024

On April 25, 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) published the retirement security final rule defining fiduciary status for investment advice to retirement investors under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). It is set to […]

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Best Practices for Multiemployer Retirement Plan Death Audits

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

29 May 202429 May 2024

Fiduciaries have many responsibilities that stem from the duties of care, loyalty and prudence, including ensuring the correct benefits are paid to the correct participants and beneficiaries of the plan. Benefits Magazine authors Lisa L. Kaiser, CEBS, and Carey R. Wooton, CEBS, explain […]

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Seeing the Value of Vision Benefits

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

21 May 202421 May 2024

May is Healthy Vision Month, which makes it a spectacular time to review vision benefit offerings and communicate to employees and plan participants the importance of eye care. According to the 2022 Employee Benefits Survey, more than half (62%) of U.S. employers […]

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Mental Health Parity—Pitfalls to Avoid

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

04 Apr 202408 May 2024

Recent DOL reports on Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act enforcement indicate pitfalls that plan sponsors should avoid in order to be compliant with parity rules. Learn more about impermissible exclusions of key treatments for MH/SUD and parity enforcement.