The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Retirement Plans
August 10, 2026
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9 items · ~2 min read
Top of the Brief
Proposed Rules: Employer Contributions to Trump Accounts and Nondiscrimination Rules for Dependent Care Assistance Programs"This document contains proposed regulations that would provide guidance with respect to employer contributions to Trump accounts, including applicable nondiscrimination rules, and the nondiscrimination rules for dependent care assistance programs."
In this issue
Regulatory Action and Guidance (4) · Retirement Plans (2) · Litigation (2) · General Benefits (1)
Regulatory Action and Guidance
4 itemsThe IRS issued final regulations on backup withholding for third-party network transactions, reflecting statutory changes that impact payment settlement organizations. This clarifies reporting and withholding obligations for these transactions. MORE >>
Source: Federal Register
“Under IRC Section 6433, the Saver’s Match will provide certain low- and moderate-income taxpayers with a maximum 50% match on the first $2,000 of qualified retirement savings contributions made to an employer-sponsored retirement plan or IRA, up to $1,000 annually. The matching contribution will be paid by Treasury (or the Secretary’s delegate) to applicable retirement savings vehicles for eligible taxpayers starting in 2028, based on contributions made for the 2027 tax year.” MORE >>
Source: American Retirement Association
"This document contains proposed regulations that would provide guidance with respect to employer contributions to Trump accounts, including applicable nondiscrimination rules, and the nondiscrimination rules for dependent care assistance programs." MORE >>
Source: Federal Register
[Press Releases]
IRS Notice 2026-48The IRS and Treasury intend to propose regulations for Saver's Match Contributions, a retirement savings incentive for low-to-moderate income individuals, as established by the SECURE 2.0 Act. MORE >>
Source: IRS
Retirement Plans
2 items“Not all vendors operate the same way. Differences in communication style, governance structure, implementation approach, and overall culture can significantly influence the success of a long-term pension administration relationship. A vendor that is technically capable but culturally misaligned can introduce friction during implementation and ongoing operations.” MORE >>
Source: NCPERS
[General Benefits]
Do You Have a Retirement Plan Committee Charter?“Most organizations have a retirement plan committee that oversee administration of the retirement plan. These committees range from more informal arrangements to formal written documents that specify how many people serve on the committee, the various titles of those on the committee, and the responsibilities.” MORE >>
Source: American Retirement Association
Litigation
2 items“The central question should therefore be: Why expose a 401(k) participant to opacity, valuation discretion, illiquidity, leverage and multiple layers of fees unless the fiduciary can demonstrate that participants are actually being compensated for taking those risks? “Institutions invest this way” isn’t an answer. A 401(k) isn’t a corporate pension.” MORE >>
Source: The Commonsense 401(k) Project
"If the Fourth Circuit’s reasoning is adopted in other circuits, it would have a major impact on ERISA cases involving the manner in which plan assets are invested." MORE >>
Source: Trucker Huss
General Benefits
1 item“For years, employers have responded to workforce needs by expanding benefits. Mental health support. Family-building programs. Virtual care. Chronic condition management. Caregiving resources.” MORE >>
Source: HR Dive
Also of Note
- GIPS Compliance: The New GAAP? Why Pension Trustees Should Stop Confusing Reporting Standards with Market Reality with Private Equity — “Neither asks the harder question: What would someone actually pay for this partnership today?” (The Commonsense 401(k) Project)
- PEPs Aren’t Reducing Advisor Value. They’re Redefining It — “For many retirement plan advisors, PEPs raise an uncomfortable question: if a PEP takes over the lion’s share of fiduciary and administrative responsibilities, what role is left for the advisor?” (American Retirement Association)
- Guidance on Saver’s Match on the Way — “Under IRC Section 6433, the Saver’s Match will provide certain low- and moderate-income taxpayers with a maximum 50% match on the first $2,000 of qualified retirement savings contributions made to an employer-sponsored retirement plan or IRA, up to $1,000 annually.” (American Retirement Association)
- Gibson Dunn Team Secures Unanimous Ruling in Favor of Client DoorDash — “The Second Circuit held that the law was subject to intermediate scrutiny, not deferential Zauderer review.” (Gibson Dunn)
- Recognizing the Spring 2026 Class of NCPERS Advanced Fiduciaries — “NCPERS would like to recognize the 14 public pension trustees and staff who most recently earned the prestigious Advanced Fiduciary (AF) designation: Designed for public pension trustees, plan administrators, and investment and operations staff with fiduciary oversight responsibilities, the NCPERS Advanced Fiduciary (AF) credential provides a competitive edge when serving on committees, working with boards, or pursuing leadership opportunities.” (NCPERS)
- Texas: The New Epicenter of Private Equity, Pension Money and the Data-Center Gold Rush — “Some have received Abbott appointments. Some have direct relationships with Texas public investment funds.” (The Commonsense 401(k) Project)
- Why 1 size fits all workforce solutions are reaching their limits — “The point isn't that every employer needs every service.” (HR Dive)
- FINRA’s Review of Its Enforcement Program: New Day at FINRA, Too? — “The report’s 24 recommendations address governance, due process, transparency, information requests, timeliness, and the resolution of enforcement actions.” (Foley & Lardner)
- From AI Governance to Funding Policies: How Segal Supports Today’s Public Pension Leaders — “By: Lizzy Lees, Director of Communications, NCPERS Segal's Scott Miller and Brad Ramirez sat down with NCPERS to discuss what public pension trustees need to know today: why AI governance can't stop at your office doors, how to oversee vendor use of AI, and what full funding means for contribution policy and continuing education.” (NCPERS)