PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion - New Hardship Distribution Regulations for 401(k) Plans
A rising number of plan participants are making early 401(k) hardship withdrawals. A report by Vanguard found that 4.8% of participants initiated a hardship withdrawal in 2024, which us up from 3.6% in 2023....more
The wildfires moving through Southern California have destroyed communities and displaced countless individuals....more
In the past week, devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, California, have caused unprecedented destruction across the region, leading to loss of life and displacing tens of thousands. While still ongoing, the fires already...more
A research paper from the Wharton Pension Research Council states that 401(k) contributions are “remarkably stable” after loans and hardship withdrawals....more
On behalf of the ESOPs, Benefits & Compensation team, we hope your Summer is off to a great start. In the time of family vacations and out-of-office replies, the pace of employee benefits changes—both large and small—remains...more
Employers that sponsor retirement plans continue to have a lot on their plate. With SECURE Act 2.0 requirements now in play, this legislation continues to add more and more to your (already) overflowing plate. However, as is...more
Retirement Plan Task for Year End - Operational Required Changes for 2024 Long-term part-time employees: Although there is no amendment required to single employer retirement plan documents by December 31, 2023, there are...more
COVID, inflation, and a possible recession, all good reasons why hardship distributions are up. According to Fidelity, the percentage of 401(k) participants taking hardship withdrawals from their accounts rose to 2.4% in...more
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 was signed into law on December 29, 2022, and has ushered in one of the most significant pieces of retirement plan legislation in recent memory. SECURE Act 2.0 (SECURE 2.0) contains...more
If a 401(k) or 403(b) plan permits employees to take in-service hardship withdrawals in the event of an immediate and heavy financial need, new legislation provides that, effective for plan years beginning in 2023, employers...more
Welcome to Part 10 (of 10) of our series about the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0) (our other articles are on our JL Employee Benefits Blog Page). Among the many changes within SECURE 2.0, the following allow for...more
Employees, especially those far from retirement, are sometimes hesitant to put money into their employer’s 401(k) plan, knowing that their money won’t be available to them if unexpected expenses arise. Congress and the Biden...more
Join partners from McDermott’s Employee Benefits team as they discuss the impact of the recently passed SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. With over 90 changes to retirement plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), this webinar...more
The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 was enacted at the end of last year as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The act sets forth a number of changes affecting retirement plans that go into effect over several years....more
Besides ensuring the federal government remains fully funded, President Biden’s signature Thursday on the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA 23) contains several provisions that will directly impact health and...more
New legislation commonly called “SECURE 2.0” was passed by Congress last week and signed into law on Tuesday by President Biden. The new legislation includes almost 100 different changes that are linked to retirement plans. ...more
On December 29, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which includes the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0). SECURE 2.0 is an expansion of the Setting Every Community Up for...more
With high inflation and an economy that might be in a recession, it is no shock that hardship distributions are on the rise. About 0.5% of employers participating in 401(k) plans made a “hardship” withdrawal in October,...more
It’s easier to steal when no one is looking. In Ohio, a former plan participant is facing criminal charges for a fraudulent hardship request....more
As we approach the end of 2021, it is a good time to review upcoming year-end plan amendment deadlines applicable to retirement plans. Employers should review their plans with their providers and advisers to determine if any...more
You may have changed the way hardship withdrawals are made from your 401(k) plan a couple of years ago to comply with changes in the law, but did you amend your plan? And for amendments to required minimum distributions that...more
A special IRS-approved correction method available for elective deferral failures in 401(k) and 403(b) plans with automatic contribution features will sunset on December 31, 2020, meaning it will not be available to correct...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As Seyfarth has blogged about on multiple occasions, the CARES Act provides participants in tax-qualified retirement plans the opportunity to request distributions on a tax-favored basis by self-certifying...more
A lot has happened since the final regulations revising the hardship distribution rules were issued on September 23, 2019 (the “Hardship Regulations”). The Secure Act was enacted in December 2019, followed by the Cares Act in...more
As COVID-19 continues its upheaval of nearly all aspects of life, retirement plan administration included (see some of our prior discussions here, here, here and here), the Internal Revenue Service recently issued guidance...more