SEC assigns ‘duty of loyalty’ for financial advisers
The latest proposal clarifies an RIA’s duty of care and other fiduciary obligations when dealing with clients.
Regulation and compliance
Trump sides with Texas, won’t defend Obamacare in court
The Trump administration is siding with Texas in the state’s bid to convince a federal judge that Obamacare is largely unconstitutional.
Benefits Think Hardship withdrawal compliance makes retirement plan administration easy (well, easier, anyway)
Recent IRS guidance and legislative changes show hardship withdrawals is an area where both plan sponsors and participants may still have questions.
Belinda S. Morgan
Foley & Lardner LLP
Benefits Think The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is now in effect: What clients need to know
The act establishes pregnancy as a protected class under Massachusetts law and protects employees and prospective employees who are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related condition from discrimination and retaliation.
Daniel R. Long
Foley & Lardner
Benefits Think The DOL Audit: Understanding the spectrum of risk
Investigations rarely happen out of the blue — they tend to occur because someone invited investigation. So, what can employers and their service providers do to avoid one?
Jason Grantz
Unified Trust Company
Alera Group’s new compliance director to set best practices
As the brokerage grows by leaps and bounds, it names a regulatory compliance leader to help firms deal with new laws.
Benefits Think ‘High’ stakes for employers dealing with evolving cannabis laws
The evolving legalization of marijuana for both medical and recreational uses continues to cause workplace issues for employers.
Patrick J. McMahon
Foley & Lardner LLP
SEC’s regulation best interest falls short of making broker-dealers fiduciaries
Industry experts believe the final rule needs to spell out how this rule differs from past suitability standards.
Facebook allegedly used by more firms to block older job seekers
A proposed class-action lawsuit alleging Facebook’s ad placement tools facilitate discrimination against older job seekers has been expanded to identify additional companies.
Benefits Think Supreme Court ends the debate and upholds class action waivers
In a major win for employers, SCOTUS held that arbitration agreements with class action waivers do not violate the National Labor Relations Act.
Christopher Ward
Foley and Lardner
Benefits Think Brokers will always be fiduciaries
It is widely anticipated that the March 15 ruling will soon take effect, restoring the DOL’s 1975 regulation defining fiduciary investment advice to plan and IRA investors.
Joshua J. Waldbeser
Drinker Biddle
It Costs $685 Billion a Year to Subsidize U.S. Health Insurance
The U.S. government will pay $700 billion in subsidies this year to provide Americans with health insurance through their jobs or in government-sponsored health programs.
Despite efforts to kill it, ACA remains on employers’ radar
The Affordable Care Act and association health plans still have a role to play in shaping the nation's healthcare landscape.
National, local policies pose regulatory challenges for employers
From paid sick leave to workplace harassment, employers have a bevy of compliance challenges from the federal, state and local levels, says attorney Diana Bardes.
Benefits Think What to do if the IRS sends an ACA non-compliance notice in error
Inaccurate or incomplete information has incorrectly identified business owners as failing to satisfy healthcare coverage requirements.
Bret Busacker
Holland & Hart LLP
Despite efforts to kill it, ACA remains on employers’ radar
The Affordable Care Act and association health plans still have a role to play in shaping the nation's healthcare landscape.
Supreme Court says employers can bar worker class actions
A divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers can force workers to use individual arbitration instead of class-action lawsuits to press legal claims.
15 employers that boosted benefits in wake of tax reform
Aflac, Chipotle, Starbucks and Visa are among the employers investing their tax savings back into the workplace.
Harassment, pay equity top the minds of employer concerns
HR professionals say recent regulatory changes and the #metoo movement have prompted changes to benefits and business strategies.
Benefits Think The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is now in effect: What employers need to know
The act establishes pregnancy as a protected class under Massachusetts law and protects employees and prospective employees who are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related condition from discrimination and retaliation.
Daniel R. Long
Foley & Lardner