BenefitsWire

“PBGC issued Technical Update 26-1, temporarily waiving the requirement to report a reduction in the number of active participants covered by the plan if due to an attrition event. The waiver is prospective; it only applies to plans whose reportable event notices are due on or after it is issued. Based on PBGC’s review of recent reportable event filings, waiving this reporting requirement will reduce compliance burdens for plan administrators and sponsors while preserving PBGC’s ability to receive timely notice of workforce reductions through the single-cause event reporting requirement.” MORE >>

Source: PBGC

“The proposal would expand Rule 17a-7 to cover securities valued using directly or indirectly observable market information, generally Level 2 securities. This change would make many corporate, municipal, and other fixed-income securities eligible for cross-trading. Securities valued primarily using unobservable information, generally Level 3 securities, would remain ineligible. Funds could use either of two methods to price a cross trade: The two methods are intended to accommodate current valuation and trading practices while providing an objective basis for the price paid by each side of the trade.” MORE >>

Source: Faegre Drinker

[Regulatory Action and Guidance]

“ACPWB's benchmarking analysis demonstrates that lifetime income standards and requirements governance sophistication varies materially by organizational size. Among 1,344 firms assessed, inconsistent enforcement outcomes correlates with competitive advantage in recruiting retirement plan advisors talent. The relationship between lifetime income standards and requirements practices and organizational outcomes has strengthened over 5 years. ACPWB's assessment of lifetime income disclosure for defined contribution plans trends in the Mountain reveals a notable compliance gap among plan sponsors. Survey data from 3,781 organizations indicates that 66% attribute changes to evolving Department of ” MORE >>

Source: policy-dol-pwb.acpwb.com

[Litigation]

“Members who fully understand their benefits, have realistic expectations about retirement expenses, and take time to plan are often better prepared to make informed decisions and avoid unwelcome surprises after they stop working. Here are five ways plans can strengthen their members’ readiness for retirement. Retirement information is most valuable when it is easy to find, understand and use.” MORE >>

Source: NCPERS

“In a significant change to ERISA litigation in the Eleventh Circuit, the court this week held en banc that participants bringing statutory ERISA claims—including claims for breach of fiduciary duty—need not exhaust a plan’s internal claims procedures before filing suit. In Bolton v. Inland Fresh Seafood Corp. of America, Inc., the court overruled its forty-year-old decision in Mason v. Continental Group, Inc. Under Mason, the Eleventh Circuit was the only circuit to extend the administrative exhaustion requirement beyond claims for benefits due under an ERISA plan, where courts consistently require exhaustion, to an across-the-board requirement for all statutory ERISA claims.” MORE >>

Source: Gibson Dunn

“In a significant development for importers seeking refunds of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), Judge Richard K. Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) certified the lead refund case as a class action on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Freestyle World v. United States, slip op. 26-123, No. 26-1088 (Ct. Int'l Trade Oct. 8, 2026). The decision is not final, however – it remains subject to appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and could be overturned, so importers should not treat class membership as a guarantee of refunds. If the certification stands, any refund order the CIT ultimately enters in the class action will apply” MORE >>

Source: Miller & Chevalier

“The CPI as reported by the BLS for the 12 months ended September 30, 2026, was 3.7%, higher than the 3.0% annual change in the CPI as of September 30, 2025 (i.e., the close of the prior FFY). It is higher than the 3.2% average annual change over the past 10 years ended September 30, 2025; and higher than the 2.5% average annual change over the past 20 years ended September 30, 2025. Based on the reported CPI, we estimate the annual increase factor for the 2027 IRS limits to be about 3.5%.” MORE >>

Source: Milliman

“On October 13, 2026, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it made two arrests, searched multiple laptop farms, and seized 187 computer devises used by the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK) to defraud U.S. based companies to “fund its regime through remote information technology (IT) work for U.S. companies.” The coordinated effort, dubbed “operation Lonestar Roundup,” took place primarily in Ohio and Texas. According to the DOJ’s press release, “North Korea continues to deploy remote IT workers using stolen identities to infiltrate American companies and generate revenue for the regime and its weapons programs.” MORE >>

Source: Robinson & Cole LLP

“and organizations across industries will need to understand what comes next. Join Foley & Lardner for a timely post-election briefing that goes beyond the headlines to examine the results, the new balance of power in Congress, and the Trump Administration’s likely response.” MORE >>

Source: Foley & Lardner