The Internal Revenue Service has announced the cost-of-living adjustments to the applicable dollar limits for various employer-sponsored retirement and welfare plans for 2026. Most of the dollar limits that are subject to adjustment for cost-of-living increases will increase for 2026. The Social Security Administration released separately the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security Tax.
The US government shutdown has now lasted nearly one month, marking it as the longest full shutdown in US history, surpassing the previous record held by the partial shutdown of 35 days in 2018 – 2019. As the shutdown continues, pressure mounts to reopen the government due to the growing number of uncompensated federal employees and affected programs; however, a resolution remains elusive. A critical deadline is approaching on November 1, 2025, which could further escalate the pressure to end the shutdown, as it is the start of open enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace.
GLP-1 therapies are transforming obesity and chronic disease treatment, yet navigating their complex regulatory landscape remains critical. From the Food and Drug Administration’s ‘Green List’ to state-specific rules, compliance isn’t optional – it’s a strategic advantage.
In a recent webinar, McDermott Will & Schulte’s Health & Life Sciences Group explored strategies for scaling GLP-1 programs, covering topics like innovative care delivery models, direct-to-consumer advertising enforcement, and compliance best practices.
Recent bipartisan US Senate proposals aim to strengthen Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) by streamlining their formation for small businesses and expanding US Department of Labor support. The legislation reflects growing consensus that ESOPs enhance retirement security and employee engagement, aligning with broader efforts to modernize benefit structures.
In this BenefitsPRO article, Allison Wilkerson and Myriem Bennani break down the legislation and the implications for ESOP trustees.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released Tax Tip 2025-59, reminding employers that they can support employees’ undergraduate or graduate education through educational assistance programs. These programs can cover costs such as tuition, books, supplies, equipment, and other fees, as well as qualified student loan repayments.
The US House of Representatives’ Committee on Education and Workforce recently advanced three retirement-related bills, including the bipartisan Retire through Ownership Act, which aligns Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) valuations with Internal Revenue Service standards. Allison Wilkerson said the bill would “go a long way” in reducing the valuation and fiduciary risk for ESOP trustees who currently depend heavily on case law due to limited formal guidance.
Learn more about these retirement-related bills in this PLANSPONSOR article.
On July 29, 2025, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a guidance memorandum that defines what it considers to be “unlawful discriminatory policies and practices” under federal civil rights laws. The guidance also includes a list of non-binding “best practices” to help entities decrease the risk of legal violations. While the guidance is primarily geared toward federal funding recipients, the DOJ warns that private employers subject to federal civil rights statutes should review the guidance and ensure their employment practices do not run afoul of federal law.
Learn what implications the DOJ’s guidance has for DEI practices in the private sector.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly been integrated into the tools used by and for employer-sponsored group health plans, prompting a multitude of concerns. In this article, we discuss key issues that require immediate attention from both plan sponsors and plan administrators.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2025-40, providing updated static mortality tables for defined benefit pension plans under Code Section 430(h)(3)(A) and Section 303(h)(3)(A) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. These updated static mortality tables apply for purposes of calculating the funding target and other items for valuation dates occurring during the 2026 calendar year.
On August 7, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order titled “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors.” The order seeks to expand access to alternative investments in retirement plans, aiming to diversify investment options for plan participants.
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