The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Retirement Plans
October 5, 2026
— § —
8 items · ~3 min read
Top of the Brief
Retirement Security Is at Risk. Americans Want Pensions“Rising costs, market volatility, longer life expectancies, more self-employed gig workers, and gaps in workplace retirement coverage have left millions of workers questioning whether they will ever be able to retire at all, let alone with dignity. Recent research from NIRS shows that 80% of Americans believe the nation is facing a retirement crisis, and 85% believe policymakers should make retirement security a higher national priority. Over the past few decades, the U.S. has shifted retirement risk away from employers and onto individual workers. Traditional pensions steadily disappeared across much of the private sector, replaced by defined contribution plans that do not mandate savings, r”
In this issue
Regulatory Action and Guidance (3) · Retirement Plans (3) · Press Releases (1) · General Benefits (1)
Regulatory Action and Guidance
3 items“The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) issued Technical Update No. 26-1 on September 18, 2026, which waives on a prospective basis the requirement to report an attrition event under the agency’s reportable events regulation, which can be found at 29 CFR Part 4043.” MORE >>
Source: Littler
“The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provided new guidance on how employers can contribute to Trump Accounts, also known as Section 530a accounts. President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill created the tax-advantaged investment accounts for children. Trump accounts became available on July 4, 2026. U.S. Treasury has made a $1,000 contribution to Trump Accounts for children born in the United States between 2025 and 2028. After establishing a Trump account, parents, guardians, and other individuals can contribute up to $5,000 annually until the year before the child turns 18. The annual contribution limit will increase with inflation beginning in 2028. The newly” MORE >>
Source: Hall Benefits Law
“The Statement reinforces existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, and the related regulatory framework under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, with a particular focus on private credit. The Statement focuses on four areas: key considerations for valuing private credit assets; material disclosures concerning fair value measurements and portfolio risk and performance characteristics; use of reported net asset value (NAV) as a practical expedient; and the auditor's role in enhancing the credibility of fair value information.” MORE >>
Source: Faegre Drinker
Retirement Plans
3 items“But shifting market conditions are putting a renewed spotlight on diversification, valuations and the role value investing can play in retirement plan portfolios. Invesco U.S. Senior Client Portfolio Manager Sergio Marcheli joins 401(k) Specialist Editor-in-Chief Brian Anderson to discuss the current environment for value investing, where opportunities may be emerging, and how retirement plan advisors and sponsors can evaluate whether their 401(k) investment lineups have appropriate value exposure.” MORE >>
Source: 401(k) Specialist
“PLANSPONSOR is asking for help identifying organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership in helping employees prepare for retirement. The Plan Sponsor of the Year awards recognize the actions sponsors have taken to improve participants’ retirement and financial wellness outcomes. While plan statistics such as participation rates, deferral rates and other metrics provide important context, the awards…” MORE >>
Source: PLANSPONSOR
[General Benefits]
The 401(k) IPS Illusion: When Weak Policies Protect Fiduciaries and the Industry – More Than Participants“Many workers assume that their 401(k) operates under a serious Investment Policy Statement: written rules that control fees, identify risks, expose conflicts, and hold the investment committee accountable. That assumption is dangerously optimistic. An IPS can impose real discipline. It can also consist of reassuring language that leaves nearly every important decision to the committee’s discretion. A document promising “prudent investments” and “periodic review” tells participants little unless it explains what must be investigated, what information must be obtained, and what happens when an investment fails the review.” MORE >>
Source: The Commonsense 401(k) Project
Press Releases
1 item“Forgot Your Password? If you do not yet have an ERIC Online profile or user name and password, please create one using Create Profile Form. If you need assistance with your user name/password or profile, please contact ERIC at (202) 789-1400.” MORE >>
Source: ERIC
General Benefits
1 item“Rising costs, market volatility, longer life expectancies, more self-employed gig workers, and gaps in workplace retirement coverage have left millions of workers questioning whether they will ever be able to retire at all, let alone with dignity. Recent research from NIRS shows that 80% of Americans believe the nation is facing a retirement crisis, and 85% believe policymakers should make retirement security a higher national priority. Over the past few decades, the U.S. has shifted retirement risk away from employers and onto individual workers. Traditional pensions steadily disappeared across much of the private sector, replaced by defined contribution plans that do not mandate savings, r” MORE >>
Source: NCPERS