Keith R. McMurdy

The DOL this week published its highly anticipated proposed rule to expand the types of retirement advice covered by fiduciary protections. What will that mean for advisers and their employer clients?

Commentary: Yes, employers can distribute plan documents electronically, but they must follow the rules, and don’t assume intranet posting is enough — because it is not.

Commentary: There isn't one right answer to what a plan should look like, but there’s no harm in asking around to see what other employers consider reasonable.

Commentary: Self-policing, self-reporting and self-correcting before there is an investigation gives plan sponsors and administrators a better opportunity to control the costs and mechanisms of the corrective process.

Commentary: Employers who start revising their FMLA policies to address this change should also use it as an opportunity to review their benefit plan language to make sure it accurately reflects the updated definition.

The 6th Circuit recently reversed Rochow v. Life Ins. Co. of N. America in an en banc opinion. The new decision determined that unless there is a showing that that the remedy for denial of benefits under 502(a)(1)(B) is inadequate to make plaintiff whole, equitable relief under Section 502(a)(3) is unavailable.

Plan sponsors need to know their definition of domestic partners, how to verify their status and how they apply the plan terms.

Back in November, the DOL issued FAQ Part 22, which directly addresses some recent efforts by employers to reimburse employees for participation in the exchange through Code Section 105, or through some type of other arrangement.

Good recordkeeping is important to avoid paying for benefits for ineligible recipients.

Good recordkeeping is important to avoid paying for benefits for ineligible recipients.

The high court’s unanimous ruling affirms contract law principles.

Employers are concerned multiemployer plans won’t count toward providing employees with health coverage, and may subject them to penalties. Here’s what they can do.

Stay current with this checklist of 2015 contribution limits for retirement and health care benefit plans.

The New Year marks a start for ACA compliance, and while many employers struggle to comply with the specifics, it’s a good reminder to focus on where you are now and how you plan to move forward.

Having up-to-date investment policy statements is important, but are they plan documents? Do they have to be provided to participants upon request? Here’s what your employer clients need to know.

President Obama has signed multiemployer pension plan reform into law, which some professionals are touting as the most comprehensive legislation affecting multiemployer pension plans since 1980. What does reform mean for you and your clients?

The Jan. 1, 2015 ACA compliance deadline for large employers is quickly approaching and your employer clients may have unanswered questions. Here are some of the most common employer concerns still looming and the answers you can provide them.

The IRS plans to close a major loophole in the ACA by banning employers who offer ‘skinny’ medical plans without hospitalization coverage from qualifying as minimum value plans under the health reform law.

As an effort to comply with the ACA, some employers have been considering offering employees a lump sum of cash to purchase health care coverage on the exchanges, but the DOL now says such an arrangement isn't going to cut it.

The IRS last week announced new adjustments for retirement plans, including for 401(k) deferrals, contributions and benefits, and the amount of compensation counted for plan purposes beginning in 2015. Here’s what you and your employer clients need to know.