Each week while Congress is in session, our Policy team delivers a key update to highlight a topical benefits, health, or retirement news item from the Hill, such as a newly introduced bill, a summary of a committee hearing,...more
Each week while Congress is in session, our Policy team delivers a key update to highlight a topical benefits, health, or retirement news item from the Hill, such as a newly introduced bill, a summary of a committee hearing,...more
On April 2, 2024, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) released an amendment to Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption”). One requirement of the new rule is that managers must notify DOL via email...more
The Department of Labor (“DOL”) recently released a final regulation (the “Fiduciary Rule”) redefining “investment advice” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and section 4975 of...more
Each week while Congress is in session, our Policy team delivers a key update to highlight a topical benefits, health, or retirement news item from the Hill, such as a newly introduced bill, a summary of a committee hearing,...more
On April 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published its much-anticipated final regulation on the definition of “fiduciary” under section 3(21)(a)(ii) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as...more
On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL” or “Department”) issued a final regulatory package amending its fiduciary investment advice regulation and revising numerous existing prohibited transaction exemptions...more
On April 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published its much-anticipated final regulation on the definition of “fiduciary” under section 3(21)(a)(ii) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as...more
The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 directed the Department of Labor (“DOL”) to establish a database that individuals can search to help locate their retirement benefits. The database – referred to as the Retirement Savings Lost and...more
On April 2, 2024, the Department of Labor (“DOL” or “Department”) released an amendment (the “Amendment”) to Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption” or “Exemption”). The changes were proposed by DOL in...more
Each week while Congress is in session, our Policy team delivers a key update to highlight a topical benefits, health, or retirement news item from the Hill, such as a newly introduced bill, a summary of a committee hearing,...more
The Department of Labor (“DOL”) has sent a new, proposed fiduciary rule to the Office and Management and Budget (“OMB”) for review. The text of the proposal is not yet public. OMB must first conduct an interagency review...more
On August 9, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued a new notice (IR-2023-144, the “Notice”) cautioning employers “to be alert to a range of compliance issues that can be associated with Employee Stock Ownership...more
U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has accepted a new setback to its longstanding initiative to subject IRA rollover recommendations to ERISA’s fiduciary standard and its prohibited transaction rules. On May 15, 2023, the DOL...more
On April 25, 2023 the Department of Labor (“DOL”) published Field Assistance Bulletin 2023-01 (the “FAB”), which provides guidance to multiemployer pension plans that receive Special Financial Assistance (“SFA”) regarding the...more
Does combining a recommendation to take a rollover from a retirement plan with post-rollover advice mean that advice is being provided on a “regular basis” under the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) five-part test for fiduciary...more
November 18, 2022, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) released a number of changes to its Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (“VFCP”) in both an update of VFCP and related guidance....more
The Department of Labor (the “DOL”) recently finalized a regulation amending the rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), related to the selection of plan investments and the...more
A September 27, 2022 decision by the Southern District of New York addresses several key theories recently advanced by the plaintiffs’ bar in ERISA-based lawsuits against plan service providers. In Carfora v. TIAA, S.D.N.Y....more
The Department of Labor (“DOL”) recently proposed an amendment (the “Proposed Amendment”) to Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption”). The Proposed Amendment would...more
As the markets continue to create challenges for plan fiduciaries and asset managers, financial regulators are actively working on a number of projects that impact the investment of benefit plan assets. The Securities and...more
Over the decades since the enactment of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), many plan sponsors, service providers, and industry groups have applied for, and been granted, prohibited...more
One day after President Biden’s Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (“DOL”) issued Compliance Assistance Release No....more
On December 29, 2021, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) released a final form revisions (“Final Revisions”) modifying the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan (“Form 5500”) for benefit plans. 86 Fed. Reg....more
On December 21, 2021, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued a statement concerning the investment in private equity by ERISA-covered defined contribution plans (the “Statement,” available here). The Statement is intended to...more