It’s hard to believe but January 2021 is right around the corner! For plan sponsors, that means now is the time to make way for part-time employees to participate in 401(k) plans. Comply With the SECURE Act Retirement plan sponsors...

On Monday, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that plan participants of defined benefit plans not underfunded do not have legal standing to sue plan fiduciaries for claims of mismanagement. The ERISA case in...

Most fiduciary problems at small and mid-size businesses don't start with bad intentions. Business owners sponsor retirement plans for good reasons: to help employees build their futures, to compete for talent, and to save for their own retirement too. Trouble...

Fulfilling fiduciary obligations around cybersecurity requires plan sponsors to oversee a complex network of recordkeepers, payroll systems, and custodians. With so many partners involved, answering "who can access what data" is rarely straightforward. Toward improved oversight, ERISA experts suggest three...

Compiled with guidance from accountants, attorneys, and ERISA compliance experts If you sponsor a workplace retirement plan — a 401(k), profit-sharing plan, or similar arrangement — you carry one of the most consequential legal obligations in employment law. Embedded within...

Teachers have a gift for planning—it comes with the turf. Semester plan? Check! Personalized goals for students? Check! Scheduling for the practice test? Check! But, amidst all the planning to help children learn and grow, it’s important to make time...

With the exploration of private equity and other alternative investments in 401k plans underway, plan sponsors are confronting increased uncertainty and complexity as ERISA fiduciaries. Decision making errors in the face of duties like prudence and loyalty come with the...

In the spirit of “you never know,” it’s wise to periodically review the officially named beneficiaries on all of your accounts, such as bank accounts, life insurance, and retirement accounts, ensuring they reflect your current intentions, given life’s inevitable changes....

When you sponsor a retirement plan, like a 401k, the plan document is your play book, and you should be consulting it whenever questions pop up. For example, do you match catch-up contributions? Exactly which employees are eligible and when?...

When you sponsor a retirement plan, like a 401k, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring that participants receive all required information in a timely manner. This is true even if you outsource administration, including notifications to a third party: you...