April 8th, 2020 Insight on Plan Design & Investment Strategy Every Weekday Rules/Regs The Climate Change Dilemma As interest towards ESG investments increases, fiduciaries are questioning whether it's their duty to offer sustainable funds. Ask the Experts Partial FICA Tax for Governmental 457(b) Plan Contributions “I read in a past Ask the Experts column that employer contributions are subject to FICA, except if the employee is not subject to FICA taxes in general, as is the case for certain state and local government employees that are members of a retirement system. Our state and local governmental employees are not subject to Social Security; however, they are eligible for Medicare, and pay Medicare taxes. Would employer contributions to the 457(b) be subject to Medicare taxes?” Most Read Data and Research Immediate Vesting Is Better for Recruitment Than Cliff Vesting Is for Retention Data and Research Retirement Is Going to Change—But How? Data and Research Household Retirement Readiness Drops to Fair From Good Market Mirror Tuesday, the Dow decreased 26.13 points (0.12%) to 22,653.86, the NASDAQ lost 25.98 points (0.33%) to finish at 7,887.26, and the S&P 500 closed 4.27 points (0.16%) lower at 2,659.41. The Russell 2000 was virtually unchanged at 1,139.17, and the Wilshire 5000 was down 9.97 points (0.04%) at 26,522.11. The price of the 10-year Treasury note was down 6/32, increasing its yield to 0.734%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond decreased 31/32, bringing its yield up to 1.320%. Compliance Appellate Court Says Mercy Health’s Pension Plan Is a Church Plan However, the case was sent back to a federal district court to determine whether ERISA’s church-plan exemption violates the Establishment Clause. Products Transamerica Takes Steps to Help Plan Sponsors, Participants During Coronavirus The retirement plan provider is waiving certain fees and has established a dedicated team to support participants in their decision making. John Hancock Announces New COVID-19 Fee Policies The firm is waiving fees related to participant hardship withdrawals and suspending fees for plan amendments made in response to the pandemic. Small Talk With stay-at-home orders across the country, young children may be concerned that the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny will not be able to visit during this time. The New York Times reports that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday that the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are considered essential workers. She also suggested a new take on the traditional Easter egg hunt. ON THIS DATE: In 1789, the House of Representatives held its first meeting. In 1913, the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified, requiring direct election of senators. In 1935, Congress voted to approve the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a central part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. In 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 714. In 1986, actor Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel, California. In 2002, Suzan-Lori Parks became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama for her play “Topdog/Underdog.” In 2013, Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom, died in London at age 87 from a stroke. WEDNESDAY WISDOM: “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”—Leo Buscaglia, author Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here to get NEWSDash directly in your mailbox!

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