Compliance

The final rule includes minor changes to an interim final rule issued last year in response to public comments.

Flambeau, Inc.’s requirement that employees participate in a wellness program to participate in its health plan is covered by an ADA safe harbor, a district court found.

Among other things, the 8th Circuit found Principal’s adherence to its agreement with a plan sponsor does not implicate any fiduciary duty.

On September 11, 2015, PBGC published a final rule that made significant changes to the prior regulation about reportable events.

The company had set an “ideal age range” for applicants.

The IRS has issued updated procedures for requesting letter rulings and has made changes to VCP fees.

One attorney specializing in ERISA litigation suggests the pace of excessive fee lawsuits is gaining more momentum in 2016.

It may be a new calendar year for defined contribution (DC) retirement plans, but the professionals running them are still concerned with the same serious fiduciary risks that troubled...

The agency has added references to 403(b) pre-approved plans in its user fee guidance.

The IRS is making changes to the program in anticipation of its elimination.

However, a bankruptcy court judge has granted Walter Energy’s request to terminate retiree benefits for union workers.

Lawmakers’ repeated efforts to clarify the application of certain tax and retirement laws and regulations to the church retirement plans have come to fruition.

A federal district court previously found that Henkel Corp. effectively reduced nonqualified retirement plan participants’ benefits by not properly withholding taxes.

The first of the appellate courts to rule on recent church plan litigation, the 3rd Circuit reiterated that only churches may establish ERISA-exempt church plans.

Employers have more time to file information reporting to both employees and the IRS.

The court rejected the argument that “bargaining power” of participants is a requirement for a plan to be considered a “top hat” plan.

The bill expands allowable SIMPLE plan rollovers, expands exceptions to the 10% early withdrawal penalty on retirement plan distributions, and contains provisions for church plans.

A federal judge found the meaning of “church” is not as simple as “a house of worship.”

It seems nearly all types of plans and investment approaches have been challenged recently in the courts. Next year probably won’t be any different. 

Another class action lawsuit has emerged challenging a retirement plan sponsor for allowing allegedly excessive fees—this one directed at a plan provider’s own 401(k) program.