Compass Articles
Prudent Participant Data Usage Principles
Float is not inherently improper, but it must be disclosed, understood and evaluated under ERISA’s fiduciary standards of prudence and loyalty.
Special Edition: President Trump Issues Executive Order to Expand Retirement Savings
On April 30, 2026, as a follow-up to remarks from the State of the Union address earlier in the year, President Trump issued an executive order (EO) designed to expand retirement plan access and close the nation’s retirement savings coverage gap
Float: Out of Sight, But Not Out of Mind – A Quiet Source of Income in Retirement Plan Dollars
Float is not inherently improper, but it must be disclosed, understood and evaluated under ERISA’s fiduciary standards of prudence and loyalty.
Special Edition: Fiduciary Duties In Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives Proposed Rule
On March 30, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed regulation expanding alternative investments for 401(k) plans.
Required by SECURE 2.0, DOL Proposes Tweaks to Electronic Disclosure Rules
On February 24, 2026, EBSA issued a proposed regulation designed to modify the existing safe harbors regarding electronic delivery of certain notices, which would carry out section 338 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022.
Voluntary Benefits: An Expanding Benefits Lineup — and a Fiduciary Blind Spot
Once limited to supplemental life or disability insurance, today’s voluntary benefits options can include …
Required Minimum Distributions: A Potential Billion-Dollar Oversight
According to Vanguard’s latest research, failing to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) isn’t just a …
Survey Findings: Six Key Trends for 2026
Three major recent industry surveys, Fidelity, Vanguard and the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA), highlight …
Special Edition: Proxy Practices Could Shift Under New Executive Order
On December 11, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) to end what he called “the outsized influence …
Know the Numbers: IRS Retirement Limits Explained
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updates a complex set of contribution and benefit limits to take into …
Navigating AI in Retirement Plan Administration
Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands to be a transformative technology in the workplace and is fast emerging as an …
Final Catch-Up Regulation Published
On September 15, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department released a final regulation …
Uncashed Retirement Distribution Checks
While retirement plan balances of terminated participants above $7,000 can remain in the plan, small balances …
Special Edition Compass: Executive Order Could Open Door for Alternative Investments in DC Plans
On August 7, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) directing the Secretary of Labor to, among …
(Even) Where There’s a Will… Beneficiary Designations Rule
One of the more commonly overlooked aspects of saving in a workplace retirement plan is designating a …
Special Edition Compass: (How) Does That “Big, Beautiful Bill” Impact Retirement Savings?
Intense last-minute negotiations allowed both houses of Congress to pass the so-called One Big Beautiful …
A Reset on Cryptocurrency Guidance
The rise of digital currencies as an investment vehicle has captured the attention of both institutional …
Navigating ERISA: Prohibited Transactions and Their Exemptions
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Cunningham v. Cornell University reinforces a key takeaway for …
Compass Special Edition: Supreme Court Sides with Plaintiffs
A case that has been closely watched by the retirement industry has a long-awaited outcome. Industry …
Vested Interests
Historically, vesting schedules have been a strategic tool for employers to balance the costs of retirement …
What’s the Alternative(s)?
Defined benefit (DB) plans have long benefited from the alpha and broader diversification associated with …
Understanding the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program
The Department of Labor (DOL) recently updated its Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP). The updates …
The Compass: Trends in Profit-Sharing and 401(k) Plans
The Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) has just published its 67th annual survey of profit-sharing and 401(k) …
Compass Special Edition: Latest DOL and IRS updates for Retirement Plans
As we kick off the new year, Washington is bustling with activity before the change in administration. The Department …
Delegation, Oversight and Reporting Back to the Board
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Section 402(a) outlines the essential requirements for the …
Retirement Plan Fee Disclosures
Among the many required disclosures of retirement plans, there are two regarding fees. The Department of Labor …
DOL Updates Cybersecurity Guidance
In September 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued “new” guidance for plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries …
A Fiduciary Focus on Forfeitures
Roughly a year ago, a pair of attorneys located in Pasadena, California launched the first of what would become a series …
Student Loan Matching Programs
SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0) has dozens of optional provisions. One of those provisions permits employers …
A “New” Litigation Target in Healthcare
Plan sponsors have long been on notice that they have a responsibility to ensure that the services provided to their …