Articles - Grid

New guidance from the IRS provides some definition on the SECURE 2.0 provision that allows matching contributions on qualified student loan payments, expanding the potential tools employers have to help employees address their student debt burdens.

Employers face talent acquisition and retention challenges, highlighting the need for benefit packages that meet diverse employee needs. The author explores the ongoing process organizations must navigate to adapt their plans, focusing on inclusivity and equity.

Cancer survivors often face more significant employment challenges than those with other chronic illnesses as they transition back to work. The authors emphasize the need for targeted and sustained efforts to support cancer survivors’ reintegration into the workforce and maintain their quality of life.

Given increasingly volatile financial markets, it is more crucial than ever for investors to understand how to navigate complex waters. Within the context of investment portfolios, the author sheds light on various features of fixed income and its pivotal role, including offsetting risk alongside other asset classes.

Multiemployer pension plans receiving Special Financial Assistance (SFA) must comply with the program’s administrative requirements, which cover withdrawal liability assessments, investments, contributions and more.

Ensuring that claims procedures fulfill statutory requirements is an important part of minimizing legal challenges for employee benefit plans. In the first article of two parts, the author describes the legal framework for claims procedures as well as timing and other requirements for claim determinations. A second article in the November/December issue will discuss the appeals process.

Health care expenses for dependents make up a sizable portion of multiemployer heath plan costs. Which dependents are plans required to cover, and what are the best methods for monitoring dependent eligibility?

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers the potential for benefit fund offices to increase efficiency and enhance services but can also pose significant challenges and risks. What should your fund office be doing now to prepare?

A surge in class action excessive fee lawsuits against health plan fiduciaries may be one unintended consequence of improved health care price transparency. The authors review the details of the first of such lawsuits and suggest considerations for fiduciaries to prepare for potential litigation.

As the aging population continues to grow, this demographic shift will greatly impact organizations and the overall economy, necessitating proactive support for employed caregivers. Employers that provide benefits to address caregiving-related health and wellness issues can minimize costs while fostering a supportive workplace culture.

Proxy discrimination can influence access to and pricing of employee benefit plans, hindering employers’ efforts to provide comprehensive benefits in more diverse workplaces. The authors examine how proxy discrimination may be adversely affecting minority groups in their interaction with the insurance industry.

Using these five strategic levers may help group benefits provide plan members with access to medications that improve their health while ensuring the sustainability of their prescription drug plans.

Even with the best intentions, trustees can face significant liability if accused of a wrongful act or breach of fiduciary duty. Fiduciary liability insurance safeguards both the plan's assets and the personal assets of trustees in cases of mismanagement, negligence or errors.

Why is responsible investing important? It's an approach that considers environmental, social, and governance factors, focusing on the long-term health and stability of the market. It recognizes that sustainable returns rely on stable and well-governed systems.

A fiduciary relationship exists when, considering all the circumstances, one person could reasonably expect the other to act in their best interests. As such, the fiduciary has a duty to act loyally and prioritize the best interests of the person who trusts in them.

Since its debut in 2018, the Hall of Fame has recognized CEBS graduates who have championed the CEBS designation.

Governing Council Election to Be Held This Fall

Jam with your community in Nashville! Whether you’re a returning attendee or considering it for the first time, make plans to attend this year’s Symposium. It’s not just a gathering, but a platform where high-caliber education and networking await to help you in your effort to strengthen your plans and take your career to the next level.

Given the complexity of modern-day trust funds, and pension funds, the large number of beneficiaries involved, and the legal framework under which trustees and trust funds must operate, professional advice becomes critical.