June 26th, 2024 Insight on Plan Design & Investment Strategy Every Weekday Compliance PNC Wins ERISA 401(k) Excessive-Fee Lawsuit A Pennsylvania federal judge ruled that an expert witness to the plaintiffs was unreliable, dismissing the argument that the plan paid excessive fees to its recordkeeper Alight. Benefits Employers Can Trust Address Provided by Employees For employers, mailing COBRA notices by first-class mail to a former employee’s last known address is acceptable, Illinois federal court rules.    Most Read Benefits Health Care Cost Control to Take Center Stage in 2026 Health Plan Fiduciary How-To How and Where Can Plan Sponsors Identify ‘Gag Clauses’ in Contracts? Compliance Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Allow Roth IRA Rollovers Into Workplace Plans ECONOMIC EVENTS The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index dipped in June to 100.4, down from 101.3 in May. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—increased to 141.5 from 140.8 last month. However, the Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—fell to 73.0 in June, down from 74.9 in May. The Expectations Index has been below 80 (the threshold which usually signals a recession ahead) for five consecutive months. MARKET MIRROR Tuesday, the Dow fell 299.05 points (0.76%) to close at 39,112.16, the Nasdaq rose 220.84 points (1.26%) to close at 17,717.65 and the S&P 500 rose 21.43 points (0.39%) to close at 5,469.30. The Russell 2000 fell 8.47 points (0.42%) to close at 2,022.35, and the FT Wilshire 5000 Index rose 156.73 points (0.29%) to close at 54,477.15.  The 10-year Treasury note decreased 23/32, bringing the yield to 4.252%. The 30-year Treasury bond decreased 3/32, bringing the yield to 4.382%.  Opinions Why PBGC’s Flat-Rate Premiums Need to Drop Lowering premiums might spur some organizations to consider offering a defined benefit plan, which could be an additional form of income in retirement. Ask the Experts What Tests Determine Who Is a Highly Compensated Employee? Experts from Groom Law Group and CAPTRUST answer questions concerning retirement plan administration and regulations. SMALL TALK ON THIS DATE: In 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Francisco. In 1974, baseball player Derek Jeter—who, as one of the game’s leading competitors, helped the New York Yankees win multiple World Series—was born. In 1976, Toronto’s CN Tower opened to public. At 1,815 feet, it was the world’s tallest freestanding structure until being surpassed in 2007 by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In 1977, Elvis Presley performed in public for the last time. In 1979, after almost 20 years of professional fights, heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali announced his retirement from boxing. In 1997, J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (also called “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”), and the first book of the author’s popular series about a boy wizard, was first published in London. In 2003, politician Strom Thurmond—who was one of the longest-serving senators in U.S. history and a prominent states’ rights and segregation advocate—died at age 100. In 2013, in “United States v. Windsor,” the Supreme Court struck down the provision in the Defense of Marriage Act that defined marriage for federal purposes as a legal union between one man and one woman. In 2015, in “Obergefell v. Hodges,” the Supreme Court rules that state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional; writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy stated that “no longer may this liberty be denied.” Industry Intel Roundup—Featured Webinars PLANSPONSOR is pleased to present the next edition of our Industry Intelligence roundup. This week, we are featuring webinars sponsored by experienced providers in the industry. The content was created to educate, inform and offer ideas for plan sponsors regarding plan design, investing, administration and compliance. SPONSORED BY: ACI | December 16, 2025 Retirement Realities – What Sponsors May Be Missing What do plan sponsors believe about retirement readiness, and how does that compare to what participants actually feel? During this webinar, Glenn Dial, Senior Retirement Strategist at American Century Investments, will unpack the findings from the firm’s 12th Annual Retirement Survey. He’ll explore where sponsor and participant perspectives align – and where they diverge – on key issues like savings confidence, market risk, and retirement income expectations. Glenn will also touch on the evolving role of target date funds (TDFs) and how guaranteed income is being viewed in today’s defined contribution landscape. This session is designed to help retirement professionals better understand the sentiment gaps and take action to close them. What You’ll Learn: Fresh insights from the 2025 Retirement Survey. Key disconnects between plan sponsors and participants. Perspectives on market risk, TDFs, and retirement income. Strategic considerations for plan design and communication Whether you're a plan sponsor, advisor, or industry stakeholder, this webinar will help you rethink how retirement plans can better serve the people they're built for. January 28, 2026 Benchmarking Your Plan In this webinar, we’ll review findings from the annual PLANSPONSOR Defined Contribution Survey. Speakers will discuss ways to benchmark a DC plan to ensure it’s an important workforce attraction and retention tool. They will also address incorporating key plan design features that can improve employee retirement outcomes. August 18, 2026 DB Plan Administration Besides findings from PLANSPONSOR’s annual Defined Benefit Administration Survey, our panel will discuss trends in the defined benefit plan sector. Speakers will also talk about ongoing management of DB plans—whether closed, frozen or active—and benchmarking DB plan providers. With many corporate DB plans now overfunded, the panel will also discuss ways that sponsoring companies can use their plan’s surplus. November 18, 2026 Understanding Participant Behavior The PLANSPONSOR Participant Survey examines the attitudes and behaviors of American workers participating—or not—in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. We’ll explore findings about respondents’ participation and saving decisions, retirement expectations and most-valued benefits. Speakers will suggest what the findings mean for retirement plan design, benefit offerings and participant engagement. SPONSORED BY: Alight | December 3, 2025 The Vital Role of HSAs—Beyond a Spending Account This webinar will explore the multifaceted value of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for both employers and employees, positioning them as more than just tools for healthcare spending. It highlights the unique triple tax advantage of HSAs which makes them a powerful and cost-effective benefit for organizations aiming to enhance employee financial wellness without increasing costs. We will also emphasize immediate employee benefits such as tax savings, flexibility in covering a wide range of medical expenses, portability, and the absence of a “use it or lose it” rule. Finally, we will address the importance of minimizing fees, as even small differences can significantly impact long-term savings. It encourages plan sponsors to evaluate HSA providers with the same rigor as 401(k) vendors and to focus on low-cost investment options. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here to get NEWSDash directly in your mailbox! Unsubscribe | Manage Subscriptions | Contact Us Copyright ©2025 Asset International, Inc. All rights reserved. No reproduction without prior authorization. Modern Slavery Statement 2022 | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Privacy (including cookies), Social Media & Legal 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20850