Curated 401(k) industry news: the headline, the publisher, why it matters, and a link to the original.
PlanVize News tracks real developments in 401(k) regulation, fiduciary litigation, and plan administration. Each entry is the original headline, the publisher, one line on why it matters to advisors and plan sponsors, and a link to read the full story at the source. No reproduced articles and no commentary dressed up as news. Every entry is reviewed by a person before it is published.
PlanVize News is part of PlanVize, a research tool for retirement plan advisors built on public DOL Form 5500 filings (with filing lag). It is informational only, not legal or investment advice. Learn more about Scan →
pionline.com
Why it matters: Oral arguments in this 401(k) litigation could reshape how fiduciaries evaluate alternative investments, directly affecting DOL rule interpretation and plan-design fiduciary decisions.
psca.org
Why it matters: Signals ongoing fiduciary litigation risk tied to 401(k) plan administration, underscoring why sponsors and advisors should keep reviewing process documentation and fee oversight.
PLANSPONSOR
Why it matters: Signals a court may side with plan sponsors on forfeiture claims, offering a possible defense data point for fiduciaries facing similar litigation.
psca.org
Why it matters: Proposed legislation touching rollovers, arbitration clauses, and ERISA litigation could reshape fiduciary liability and plan design decisions, making it worth watching for advisors and sponsors.
WSJ
Why it matters: A court decision on fiduciary liability standards for underperforming 401(k) investments could reshape the litigation risk investment committees face when selecting and monitoring plan options.
psca.org
Why it matters: Highlights growing ERISA fiduciary litigation risk tied to voluntary benefits and target-date fund selection, underscoring the need for sponsors to document prudent fund-selection processes.
Claim Depot
Why it matters: A $5 million ERISA settlement against BNBuilders underscores ongoing fiduciary liability risk, reinforcing why sponsors should regularly review plan fees, investments, and administration for compliance.
fa-mag.com
Why it matters: Signals possible regulatory and compliance scrutiny over the 401(k) alternatives rule, worth watching as it could affect fiduciary due diligence on alt-asset inclusion.
napa-net.org
Why it matters: Alleges a plan fiduciary favored proprietary funds in its own 401(k), underscoring litigation risk advisors and sponsors face over conflicted fund lineups.
finance.yahoo.com
Why it matters: Signals possible added scrutiny or delay around DOL's 401(k) alternatives rule, which sponsors and advisors should watch for fiduciary and plan-design implications.
mondaq.com
Why it matters: Signals continuing fiduciary litigation risk over target-date fund selection and monitoring, underscoring the need for sponsors to document their prudent process.
napa-net.org
Why it matters: Expanding ERISA fiduciary status to cover 401(k), IRA, and rollover advice could raise the compliance bar and liability exposure for advisors handling plan rollovers.
BenefitsPRO
Why it matters: Expanded e-delivery rules could reduce plan sponsors' administrative costs and compliance burden around required ERISA disclosures, though DOL's response remains unclear.
PLANSPONSOR
Why it matters: Leadership change at a major retirement plan provider could affect plan sponsors evaluating recordkeeper stability as part of their ongoing fiduciary vendor oversight.
PLANSPONSOR
Why it matters: Highlights DOL's willingness to step in via court order when sponsors abandon a plan, underscoring fiduciaries' ongoing duty to maintain oversight or face replacement.
Ogletree
Why it matters: New IRS guidance on SECURE and SECURE 2.0 amendment deadlines is worth watching by sponsors and advisors tracking plan document compliance timelines.
PLANSPONSOR
Why it matters: Oral arguments in this closely watched case could shape how courts judge fiduciary process around investment benchmarking, affecting how sponsors document and defend plan-menu decisions.
401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners
Why it matters: Sponsors and advisors should watch how this acquisition could reshape vendor relationships and service models, potentially affecting due diligence on 401(k) provider partnerships.
fa-mag.com
Why it matters: Highlights an untapped opportunity for retirement specialists to expand beyond plan design and fiduciary/ERISA work into wealth management services for existing plan clients.
PLANSPONSOR
Why it matters: A finalized default e-delivery rule could change how plan sponsors must handle participant disclosures, affecting compliance processes and communication costs.
Schlichter Bogard LLC
Why it matters: Signals continued litigation risk over forfeiture allocation practices, reminding plan sponsors to review how forfeited 401(k) funds are used to avoid similar fiduciary claims.
HousingWire
Why it matters: A dismissal of this ERISA forfeiture claim could offer plan sponsors a reference point for how courts are currently evaluating similar 401(k) forfeiture allegations.
Law Commentary
Why it matters: A court ruling favoring Trader Joe's in a $37 million forfeiture dispute could offer plan sponsors guidance on defending forfeiture-related fiduciary claims.
JD Supra
Why it matters: A favorable Supreme Court ruling on ERISA fiduciary liability for alleged plan investment under-performance could reshape litigation risk for plan committees evaluating investment menus.
401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners
Why it matters: Highlights a gap between small and large plans on immediate eligibility, a plan-design factor sponsors and advisors should weigh when reviewing access and participation outcomes.
Dykema - December 31, 2026, Retirement Plan Amendment Deadline: What Plan Sponsors Need to Know
Why it matters: Flags an upcoming December 31, 2026 retirement plan amendment deadline, a compliance date sponsors and advisors should track to avoid missing required plan document updates.
InvestmentNews
Why it matters: Signals growing access to private market investments within defined contribution plans, raising due diligence, fee, and liquidity considerations for fiduciaries evaluating new plan-design options.
PLANSPONSOR
Bloomberg Law
Morgan Lewis