The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals

BenefitsWire

Retirement Plans

August 1, 2026

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17 items · ~2 min read

In this issue

Regulatory Action and Guidance (2) · Retirement Plans (6) · Litigation (1) · General Benefits (4) · Executive Compensation (2) · Webinars (2)

Regulatory Action and Guidance

2 items

DOL signals continued focus on cybersecurity for plan fiduciaries

EBSA reiterated that its cybersecurity guidance applies to both retirement and health plans, and that prudent vendor due diligence is part of the fiduciary duty. MORE >>

Source: DOL

EBSA reminds plans of upcoming Form 5500 schedule and reporting changes

The agency highlighted revised Form 5500 schedules and counting rules for the coming filing season, affecting both defined contribution plans and funded welfare arrangements. MORE >>

Source: DOL

Retirement Plans

6 items

Appeals court revives excessive-fee claims against a large 401(k) plan

A federal appeals court reinstated participant claims that fiduciaries paid unreasonable recordkeeping fees, holding the complaint plausibly alleged a flawed monitoring process. MORE >>

Source: PLANSPONSOR

PBGC updates premium filing instructions for single-employer plans

PBGC released revised premium filing instructions reflecting the 2026 rates and a clarified treatment of contributions receivable for the variable-rate premium. MORE >>

Source: PBGC

PBGC posts updated interest assumptions for plan terminations and valuations

The agency published the monthly interest rates used to value benefits in single-employer plan terminations, which actuaries apply to lump-sum and annuity calculations. MORE >>

Source: PBGC

Sponsors press recordkeepers to clarify managed-account fee disclosures

Plan committees are asking recordkeepers for plainer managed-account pricing detail, citing fiduciary monitoring duties and uneven participant uptake of the service. MORE >>

Source: PLANSPONSOR

Auto-portability networks expand as small-balance cash-outs draw scrutiny

More recordkeepers joined auto-portability arrangements to move small balances forward at job change, as regulators weigh the effect of mandatory cash-outs on leakage. MORE >>

Source: PLANADVISER

Advisers report rising interest in in-plan retirement income options

Surveyed advisers say more committees are evaluating annuity and managed-payout options inside defined contribution plans, though fiduciary and portability questions slow adoption. MORE >>

Source: PLANADVISER

Litigation

1 item

Benefits litigation roundup: forfeitures, tobacco surcharges, and standing

Recent decisions split on whether using 401(k) forfeitures to offset employer contributions breaches fiduciary duty, while wellness tobacco-surcharge suits continue to advance. MORE >>

Source: Law360

General Benefits

4 items

IRS sets 2026 retirement plan contribution and benefit limits

The 401(k) elective deferral cap rises and compensation and catch-up thresholds adjust for 2026, with the higher catch-up limit for participants aged 60 to 63 now in effect. MORE >>

Source: IRS

EBSA finalizes QPAM exemption amendments tightening manager eligibility

The Labor Department finalized amendments to the QPAM exemption, adding recordkeeping conditions and disqualifying managers convicted of certain foreign crimes, effective for plan-asset transactions next year. MORE >>

Source: DOL

IRS opens determination-letter program to certain ongoing individually designed plans

A revenue procedure expands determination-letter availability for select individually designed plans, giving sponsors a window to confirm form compliance after recent statutory amendments. MORE >>

Source: IRS

SEC adopts amendments affecting plan investment disclosures

The Commission adopted disclosure amendments that recordkeepers and advisers will need to reflect in participant-facing materials and fund lineups beginning next plan year. MORE >>

Source: SEC

Executive Compensation

2 items

Public companies refine clawback policies after the first enforcement year

Issuers are tightening incentive-compensation recovery policies and disclosure controls as the first full year under the listing-standard clawback rules closes. MORE >>

Source: JD Supra

409A documentation errors surface in deferred-compensation audits

Practitioners flag recurring Section 409A drafting slips in separation and bonus arrangements, urging plan-document reviews before year-end to avoid participant-level penalties. MORE >>

Source: JD Supra

Webinars

2 items

Webinar: implementing the latest SECURE provisions in 2026

A practitioner panel walks through the mandatory and optional SECURE provisions taking effect this year and the plan-amendment timelines that follow. MORE >>

Source: ASPPA

Webinar: Form 5500 preparation and common audit findings

TPAs review the season's Form 5500 changes, frequent reporting errors, and the documentation auditors request most often during plan examinations. MORE >>

Source: ASPPA

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