ERISA Archives - Word on Benefits

Supreme Court Rules in Withdrawal Liability Case

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

22 May 202622 May 2026

In a unanimous ruling on May 21, the Supreme Court affirmed a circuit court decision and held that pension plans have the flexibility to update actuarial assumptions after year-end when calculating withdrawal liability rather than fixing those assumptions at the close of the prior year.

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DOL Enhances Informal Guidance and ERISA Compliance Assistance

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

14 May 202614 May 2026

Today’s blog reviews recent guidance on ERISA enforcement priorities, including the fiduciary duty of loyalty and proxy advisor actions that qualify as investment advice under ERISA’s five-part test.

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Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Investments Proposed Rule: Six Factors for Prudence

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

16 Apr 202616 Apr 2026

Today’s blog highlights safe harbor factors and key fiduciary duties in the Department of Labor’s March 31, 2026 proposed rule.

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DOL Vacates Fiduciary Investment Advice Rule

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

14 Apr 202614 Apr 2026

Today’s blog shares next steps for fiduciaries on the heels of the Department of Labor’s recent removal of the 2024 retirement security rule and the restoration of the 1975 definition of investment advice fiduciary.

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PBM Fee Disclosure Regulatory and Legislative Update

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

27 Feb 202627 Feb 2026

Today’s blog details a proposed rule from the DOL that would bring transparency to the the fees and compensation PBMs receive from ERISA self-insured plans.

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The Latest DOL Developments Impacting Benefits

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

25 Feb 202625 Feb 2026

Today’s blog dives into the Department of Labor’s support for retirement plan sponsors in breach of fiduciary duty and excessive fee cases, new developments in group health plan and voluntary benefits litigation, as well as EBSA enforcement priorities.

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The Multiemployer Health Plan Landscape Report: Key Findings

Cathe Gooding, CEBS

22 Dec 202522 Dec 2025

Today’s blog shares key findings from The Multiemployer Health Plan Landscape: A 15-Year Look, a report recently released by the International Foundation.

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What Employers Need to Know About Trump Accounts

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

30 Sep 202530 Sep 2025

Today’s blog discusses the main points employers should know when considering whether to contribute to “Trump Accounts”, including account eligibility, employer contributions, plan document requirements, eligible investments and nondiscrimination rules.

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Expanding 401(k) Investment Choices With Alternative Asset Allocation Funds

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

16 Sep 202529 Sep 2025

An executive order signed in August may give 401(k) participants more access to investment strategies under which a portion of their contributions are allocated to alternative assets, offering them the opportunity to accumulate more money in their retirement accounts.

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2025 Statistics for 401(k) Plan Benchmarking

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

28 Aug 202528 Aug 2025

Today’s blog offers statistics for 401(k) plan benchmarking, revealing recruiting and retention trends, highlighting areas for plan improvement, and providing a framework for making adjustments.