Compliance Archives - Word on Benefits

IRS Guidance: What Does It Mean?

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

23 Jan 202523 Jan 2025

A new year means renewed attention to the compliance requirements required of plan sponsors. In addition to legislation and regulations affecting employers, subregulatory guidance helps clarify the law and provides direction and insight into complex rules. What is subregulatory guidance? Regulations or […]

401(k) Plans Compliance Defined Contribution (DC) Plans DOL Employee Benefits Legislative Regulatory Retirement SECURE 2.0 U.S.

SECURE 2.0 Act: What’s Coming in 2025?

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

19 Nov 202419 Nov 2024

The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0) encompasses several changes affecting retirement plans that go into effect over the next few years. SECURE 2.0 aims to make it easier for employers to offer retirement plans and help employees plan for the […]

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MHPAEA Final Rules Amending NQTL Standard

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

01 Oct 202401 Oct 2024

On September 9, 2024, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), and the Treasury released new final rules implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The final rules set forth content requirements and timeframes for […]

Compliance Defined Contribution (DC) Plans Employee Benefits ERISA Investments Multiemployer Public Plans Retirement U.S. Webcast

Fiduciary Basics for Governmental Plans

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

20 Aug 202420 Aug 2024

Plan sponsors have a responsibility to protect the interests of employee and retiree participants in their benefit plans. Government plan sponsors for 457 and 401(a) defined contribution (DC) retirement plans should be aware of fiduciary basics and the latest trends to protect […]

Compliance Employee Benefits ERISA ERISA50 Legislative U.S.

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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Cross-Country Benefits Update

Eli Argueta

24 Jul 202424 Jul 2024

The 2024 Canadian Legal and Legislative Update kicked off with a comprehensive cross-country benefits update delivered by Kiersten Amos, counsel at McInnes Cooper, and Michael Wolpert, partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin. These updates covered a range of legislation affecting benefit plans across […]

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Cross-Country Pensions Update

Eli Argueta

15 Jul 202415 Jul 2024

Here is a quick overview of legislative and regulatory updates including Income Tax Act, Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and province-specific updates presented at the 2024 Canadian Legal and Legislative Update in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Income Tax Act (ITA) […]

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 […]

401(k) Plans Compliance DOL Employee Benefits ERISA ERISA50 Legislative Pensions Retirement U.S.

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 […]

Compliance DOL Legislative U.S.

What to Know Before the Overtime Final Rule Takes Effect July 1

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

11 Jun 202411 Jun 2024

After much anticipation, on April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its overtime final rule, updating the salary threshold for overtime exemptions for executive, administrative and professional (EAP) employees and highly compensated employees (HCEs). The rule is slated to […]