Our Blog - Surety Matters

  Small businesses looking to attract and retain committed employees may be trying too hard to offer nifty sounding new perks while overlooking classics, like a 401k. In fact, surveys reveal that employers tend to…
Read Moreabout Perks: Shiny New Vs Tried and True?

  The Department of Labor has issued updated cybersecurity guidance, and confirmed that the protocols are applicable to all plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Attorneys are advising fiduciaries to implement…
Read Moreabout Updated Cybersecurity Guidance

  This year’s hurricane season has already been noteworthy, and weather projections indicate that “above the norm” levels of stormy weather will continue through the fall. Business owners, especially plan sponsors, are wise to take…
Read Moreabout Stormy Weather: Zip Up

  Claims focused on “failed fiduciary process” related to the use of plan forfeitures  continue to bubble up. With the lawsuits winding through federal courts, it’s too early to know if they will trigger the…
Read Moreabout Forfeiture Claims: Copycats?

  When the Employee Retirement Income Security Act makes headlines, it’s usually something for plan sponsors to worry about, such as lawsuits, increased regulatory measures or cybersecurity concerns. But here’s celebratory ERISA news: the 50th…
Read Moreabout Celebrating ERISA At 50?

  The fiduciary duties of retirement plan sponsors apply to both the interests of participants and beneficiaries. Accordingly, it is essential for plan sponsors to make sure the processes for designating, reviewing and updating beneficiaries…
Read Moreabout Beneficiary Designations: Essential Practices

  As plan sponsors across the country wander into the swirl of lifetime income options becoming available, ERISA experts remind them to stay focused on the essence of their fiduciary duties–prudence and loyalty–whenever assessing plan…
Read Moreabout Assessing New Products? 

  Examples of “don’ts” offer a crystal clear picture of the diligence expected of retirement plan sponsors. At the Department of Labor (DOL), the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), provides a snapshot of civil violations,…
Read Moreabout Plan Sponsor: What Not To Do

  Although retirement plan sponsors typically outsource plan administration, they remain ultimately responsible for the plan’s success, and that means plan data must be accurate and up-to-date. Of course, plan data must also be protected…
Read Moreabout Clean Data?