The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Retirement Plans
August 14, 2026
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8 items · ~2 min read
Top of the Brief
Treasury, IRS Suggest Rules for Quicker Electronic Rollovers“Electronic transfers and standardized forms for moving retirement savings between plans would be encouraged under the proposed regulations.”
In this issue
Retirement Plans (4) · Litigation (2) · Regulatory Action and Guidance (2)
Retirement Plans
4 items“New Financial Finesse research suggests employees approaching retirement who engage with virtual financial wellness programs are significantly more likely to take key retirement planning actions and improve retirement readiness.” MORE >>
Source: 401(k) Specialist
“As workplace retirement plans become more connected with broader wealth management, advances in technology, changing participant expectations and advisor demand are driving a shift toward holistic retirement planning that brings 401(k)s out of their traditional silos.” MORE >>
Source: 401(k) Specialist
“Are you a private equity buyer presented with an opportunity to acquire a business owned by an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)? Be prepared for a unique transaction process.” MORE >>
Source: Foley & Lardner
[General Benefits]
Dead People for Private Equity? Bloomberg Exposes Astroturfing Behind Trump DOL’s 401(k) Push“The Trump Labor Department has been trying to make it easier for private equity, private credit, crypto and other alternative assets to enter ordinary Americans’ 401(k) plans.” MORE >>
Source: The Commonsense 401(k) Project
Litigation
2 items“ADP TotalSource Group, Inc., Automatic Data Processing, Inc., and ADP TotalSource Retirement Savings Plan Committee (collectively, the “Defendants”) recently settled a class action lawsuit alleging various breaches of fiduciary duty and prohibited transactions arising from the Defendants’ management and administration of the ADP TotalSource Retirement Savings Plan (the “Plan”).” MORE >>
Source: JD Supra
“A participant wanted to liquidate his 401(k) savings to take advantage of an anticipated market uptick — it didn’t happen as quickly as he’d hoped. He sued. Lost. Appealed. And then mostly lost — but why?” MORE >>
Source: American Retirement Association
Regulatory Action and Guidance
2 items[Retirement Plans]
Developing Treasury, IRS Suggest Rules for Quicker Electronic Rollovers“Electronic transfers and standardized forms for moving retirement savings between plans would be encouraged under the proposed regulations.” MORE >>
Source: PLANADVISER
[Retirement Plans]
PBGC Makes Coverage Assessments Permanent for Prospective Pension Plans“New program lets employers seek guidance on PBGC insurance coverage before establishing a defined benefit plan.” MORE >>
Source: PLANSPONSOR
Also of Note
- ‘Zero-Fee’ IRAs Contain Many Hidden Costs — “Zero-fee” does not necessarily equate to lacking costs, according to a new PensionBee Inc.” (PLANADVISER)
- Delayed Retirement and AI Adoption Among Top Financial Health Trends — “New research from Principal found that 69% of employers say their workers are postponing retirement because of the economic environment, citing financial security as a leading concern.” (401(k) Specialist)
- Workers Delay Retirement Amid Financial Uncertainty, Surveys Show — “The current economic backdrop for retirement savers may seem dark, with the rising cost of living and persistent inflation.” (PLANADVISER)
- Removal of a Reporting Requirement for Trusts Whose Charitable Contribution Deductions are Solely for Contributions Made by Passthrough Entities — “Proposed Rule on public inspection, scheduled to publish 2026-08-17.” (Federal Register)