Current volatile market conditions and increasing interest rates are causing defined-benefit plan administrators and sponsors to consider purchasing annuity contracts (often called “terminal funding annuities”) to fund...more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters provides an overview of the IRS’s “New 90-Day Pre-Examination Compliance Pilot” audit process and explains what you can do to prepare for it.
For more information, visit:...more
Department of Labor notices in 2020 and 2021 lumped “climate change” with other environmental, social, and corporate governance concerns that the DOL initially said should generally not be considered when selecting retirement...more
Almost one year from the date it updated its investment duties regulation (29 C.F.R. § 2550.404a-1), triggering our previous article “DOL to Plan Sponsors: ‘It’s All About the Benjamins!,’” the Department of Labor (DOL)...more
If you thought the “Matrix” and “Spider-Man” sequels were impressive, you will be delighted to know that in a matter of weeks after revisiting its guidance on ESG retirement plan investments, the Department of Labor also...more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters explains what we can learn about a recent case in which a former employee claimed to be owed benefits, and provides suggestions on how companies can protect themselves.
The video...more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters discusses issues that can arise when employers with group health plans increase the premiums paid by employees midyear, which we might see more of since certain grandfathered health...more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters discusses a new group health plan documentation requirement for mental health parity compliance.
The video transcript can be found on The Tax of Life Blog, a blog focused on recent...more
Dear Department of Labor: The fiduciary role of selecting 401(k) and 403(b) plan investment options based on diversification and projected risk and return is too easy. Can we sacrifice some returns in order to promote social...more
Participants do not always prefer the investment choices retirement plans offer. Whether participants want additional ways to diversify their portfolios or have other reasons, participants are asking retirement plan sponsors...more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters discusses three timely employee benefits issues: using employee benefits to reduce expenses; helping retirement plan participants in an inconsistent investment market; and, the...more
9/17/2020
/ 401k ,
403(b) Plans ,
Benefit Plan Sponsors ,
Bonuses ,
COBRA ,
Compensation & Benefits ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Eligibility ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Contributions ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Employment Tax ,
Furloughs ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Management ,
Layoffs ,
Payroll Expenses ,
Reduction in Hours ,
Retirement Plan ,
Wage and Hour
On June 3, 2020, the Department of Labor provided valuable insights via an information letter addressing private equity investment (PEI) within defined contribution retirement plans (such as 401(k) plans). ...more
Carlton Fields tax attorney discusses two more preliminary considerations with executive benefits programs. Which employees should be targeted? What kind of benefit should be offered?...more
Carlton Fields tax attorney discusses preliminary considerations with executive benefits programs. Which companies benefit most? What kind of arrangements are available?...more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters discusses IRS Notice 2020-29, which permits 2020 cafeteria plan election changes, and what it means for group health plan sponsors with employees affected by COVID-19....more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters talks about the increase in COBRA litigation, new COBRA requirements that could make it worse, and simple steps group health plan sponsors can take to protect themselves....more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters explains what employers claiming employment tax credits under the coronavirus program need to know about health insurance in order to maximize their credits....more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters discusses an important issue employers with money purchase pension plans or governmental 401(a) plans should consider before allowing coronavirus-related retirement plan...more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters provides tips on implementing employee benefit plan cost-saving measures....more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters suggests potential ways to reduce the costs of employer-sponsored retirement plans....more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters suggests potential ways to reduce the costs of employer-sponsored group health plans....more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters explains how to determine which employee benefit plans might be ripe for reducing expenses....more
Carlton Fields tax attorney Lowell Walters explains how companies can structure or use employee benefit plans to reduce business tax liabilities....more
On February 26, the U.S. Supreme Court in Intel Corporation Investment Policy Committee v. Sulyma unanimously held that participants are not presumed to read retirement plan investment information....more
Retirement plan committees are being asked whether to add the coronavirus-related retirement plan distribution and loan provisions to their retirement plans. ...more