Continuing our series on this year’s retirement plan regulatory updates, we now shift our focus to legislative updates. If you missed our first blogs, you can read our Internal Revenue Service update and our Department of Labor update.
A retirement plan can appear to be running smoothly while operational and governance issues quietly accumulate beneath the ...
Key Takeaway Revenue Procedure 2026-34 expands and formalizes opportunities for retirement plan sponsors to correct certain plan ...
Continuing our series on this year’s retirement plan regulatory updates, we now shift our focus to the Internal Revenue Service. ...
Article Key Takeaways 401(k) plans may be repeating governance mistakes already seen with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). As ...
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Article Key Takeaways The Department of Labor's proposed safe harbor for defined contribution plans provides a framework for ...
Caryn Sanchez walks through our quarterly market commentary for the third quarter of 2026. You can listen to it here:
Each year, our Regulatory Update covers regulatory, litigation, and legislative updates and changes affecting plan sponsors and ...
Article Key Takeaways Beginning in 2026, employees age 50+ earning more than $150,000 in prior-year FICA wages must make catch-up ...
Article Key Takeaway A recent criminal case involving a third-party administrator (TPA) highlights the Employee Benefits Security ...
Not all perimeter shifts involve private equity. Many of today’s most common DC options—stable value, guaranteed income products, ...
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Article Key Takeaways Why is private equity interested in 401(k) plans? Private equity fundraising has fallen for three straight ...
Caryn Sanchez walks through our quarterly market commentary for the second quarter of 2026. You can listen to it here: Her full ...
Private equity is knocking on a new door and it’s one retirement plan sponsors can’t ignore. After four years of reduced ...
Article Key Takeaway: What does the 2026 IPO wave mean for index funds and retirement plans? Index funds still involve active ...
If CITs represent a quiet shift in structure, private markets represent a much louder test of the system. Over the past several ...
Article Key Takeaways Continuation funds reveal a structural reality: in private equity, the general partner (GP) often benefits ...
Article Key Takeaways Recordkeeper referral programs are a separate business line—focused on moving participant assets, not ...
Article Key Takeaways “Democratizing” in finance is often a warning sign, not a benefit. In financial marketing, the promise of ...
One of the most visible structural changes in modern DC plans is the move from mutual funds to collective investment trusts. To ...
The regulatory framework governing retirement plans was built at a time when most workers relied on defined benefit pensions. ...
In our previous post, we introduced the idea of a “regulatory perimeter,” the boundary separating highly protected retail ...
What does the Department of Labor’s new investment selection rule mean for retirement plan sponsors? In this update, Erik breaks ...
For decades, the U.S. retirement system, particularly defined contribution plans like 401(k)s, has relied on a carefully ...
Article Key Takeaways The DOL’s proposed investment selection rule applies to all retirement plan investments—not just ...
Article Key Takeaways: Professional Capture in Retirement Plan Consulting Professional capture occurs when a retirement plan ...
Key Takeaways The DOL’s proposed rule reshapes how fiduciaries evaluate all retirement plan investments, emphasizing a ...
Article Key Takeaways This article explains why private equity ownership and fiduciary duty are structurally incompatible and ...
Caryn Sanchez walks through our quarterly market commentary for the first quarter of 2026. You can listen to it here: Her full ...
Article Key Takeaways Recordkeepers now operate as platforms, not just service providers. They control most participant ...
We are excited to share that for the fourth year in a row, six of our advisors have been included on the PLANADVISER Top ...
Article Key Takeaways The DOL has issued a proposed regulation clarifying how ERISA fiduciaries may evaluate investments in ...
We are pleased to share we have been included on the National Association of Plan Advisors’ (NAPA) Top DC Plan Advisor Teams list ...
A Texas federal court has officially vacated the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule, returning us to the original five-part ...
Retirement plans are stepping back into the deregulated marketplace — and the risks deserve more attention. This week, we ...
The retirement plan provider landscape has shifted. Recordkeepers are no longer just administrators—they’re expanding into ...
A new trend in ERISA litigation is focusing on voluntary benefits offered to employees, such as medical, vision, and dental. Both ...
Quarterly Market Commentary Caryn Sanchez walks through our quarterly market commentary for the fourth quarter of 2025. You can ...
At the end of last year, the DOL filed amicus (friend of the court) briefs in two ERISA breach of fiduciary duty cases. In both ...
Start the year informed! In this week’s Fiduciary Focus, Erik breaks down Vanguard’s latest economic and market outlook and what ...
Each year, our IDEA Committee works to serve as an authentic and proactive filter to assess policies, procedures, and programs ...
The Department of Labor (DOL) continues its efforts in support of employers facing ERISA breach of fiduciary duties litigation. ...
The House of Representatives has passed a bill that includes a provision allowing 403(b) plans to include collective investment ...
Multnomah Group is proud to announce that we have been recognized as one of the 2025 Best Places to Work in Money Management by ...
The landscape of ERISA litigation is evolving. With the introduction of the ERISA Litigation Reform Act, plan sponsors may soon ...
The DOL has officially withdrawn its defense of the Biden administration’s 2024 fiduciary rule, which sought to place retirement ...
Our final post in the 2025 Regulatory Update series explores industry trends, including the growing role of alternative ...
The IRS announced 2026 dollar limits on benefits and contributions for qualified retirement plans.
Private equity’s influence on service sectors—from emergency response to healthcare—has revealed a troubling pattern: quality can ...
Litigation remains a driving force in retirement plan governance. In this installment of our 2025 Regulatory Update series, we ...
Forfeiture Lawsuits A District Court in New York has dismissed another forfeiture lawsuit. The judge ruled that the plan ...
Our 2025 Regulatory Update series now examines the Department of Labor, where new leadership and a deregulatory agenda are ...
In this week’s video update, Erik previews findings from a two-year analysis of over 30 retirement plans. The data shows that ...
Continuing our 2025 Regulatory Update series, we turn to the IRS. This year’s guidance brings both clarity and complexity, ...
Welcome to our 2025 Regulatory Update blog series, where we break down the year’s most important developments for retirement plan ...
Public sector employees dedicate their careers to serving our communities, yet the retirement plans they rely on often fall short ...
The Department of Labor just released its latest regulatory agenda—a key signal of what’s on the horizon for retirement plan ...
Last week, the President signed an executive order asking the Department of Labor to clarify its position on alternative ...
Public sector retirement plans are often complex by nature—multiple providers, varied investment menus, and administrative ...
President Trump signed an executive order on August 7 supporting the use of alternative investments such as private equity and ...
Plaintiffs in the Aldi retirement plan case are now challenging not just the use of forfeitures to offset employer contributions, ...
As a retirement plan sponsor, your fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA are clear: act in the best interests of your ...
In another blow to frivolous lawsuits focused on the use of plan forfeitures, the Department of Labor (DOL) filed an amicus brief ...
A new area of class action litigation is on the rise - general account fixed annuity products used as cash alternatives in ...
When it comes to managing a retirement plan, most fiduciaries focus on visible fees—recordkeeping, investment management, and ...
At our company meeting this week, our team explored the growing impact of incentives on the retirement plan industry. While ...
Who really benefits from a fiduciary breach? This week, Erik reflects on insights gained from a recent conference with research ...
The Department of Labor (DOL) is reviewing its position on ESG investing and whether cryptocurrency is an appropriate investment ...
The U.S. defined contribution retirement system is massive, estimated at $12.4 trillion at the close of 2024. While not all plans ...
The White House is considering a directive to expand 401(k) plan access to private equity investments. This move, bypassing the ...
In this week’s update, Erik breaks down two major developments that highlight the increasing influence of private equity in the ...
It is with great pride that we share with you that our manager research analyst, Rebecca Dobson, has officially earned the ...
Two recent judicial decisions may throw cold water on the newest trend in ERISA litigation, plan sponsors' use of forfeitures. ...
In our Fiduciary Focus this week, Erik shares insights from a recent due diligence visit with a national managed account ...
The latest GDP data revealed that the U.S. economy shrank in Q1. The primary driver behind this contraction was the heavy net ...
We are thrilled to share that Multnomah Group has recently welcomed two new team members, Stella Harkness and Jake Larson.
In this week's update, Erik delves into the significant market movements and their implications for retirement plan sponsors. ...
I was only three when Saigon fell, and the Vietnam conflict effectively concluded, so today is the period of the highest ...
The Supreme Court has clarified pleading standards for ERISA prohibited transaction claims with its ruling favoring plaintiffs in ...
Multnomah Group continues to monitor the status of two lawsuits challenging the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Biden-era fiduciary ...
In recent years, the influence of politics has permeated nearly every aspect of our lives, from the beverages we choose to drink ...
On April 2, President Trump announced new tariffs on nearly all major trading partners. The average tariff rate across countries ...
We are excited to share that for the third year in a row, six of our advisors have been included on the PLANADVISER Top ...
In the recent case of Utah v. Micone, No. 2:23-CV-016-Z (N.D. Tex. Feb. 14, 2025), the U.S. District Court for the Northern ...
The retirement plan marketplace is undergoing significant changes, with plan sponsors increasingly addressing a broad array of ...
A Federal judge in the Northern District of Texas has ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the ESG-focused case Spence v. American ...
The push to pass legislation allowing collective investment trusts (CITs) in 403(b) plans couldn’t get over the finish line in ...
Season's Greetings from all of us at Multnomah Group! Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, ...
UnitedHealth Group (UHG) has agreed to a $69 million settlement to end the case of Snyder v. UnitedHealth Group. The settlement ...
Each year, our DEI Committee works to serve as an authentic and proactive filter to assess policies, procedures, and programs ...
We have come to the end of our Regulatory Update blog series, so far we have covered updates from the IRS, explored legislative ...
Multnomah Group’s annual Regulatory Update included information related to two Department of Labor (DOL) rules issued over the ...
We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our team, Emily Zinn, who joins us as the Director of Vendor Services. Emily ...
In our ongoing series on the Annual Regulatory Update, we’ve already covered updates from the IRS, explored legislative changes ...
In our ongoing series on the Annual Regulatory Update, we’ve already explored legislative changes and key insights from the ...
Form 8955-SSA is used by plan sponsors to report participants who have separated from service and are entitled to deferred vested ...
The IRS announced 2025 dollar limits on benefits and contributions for qualified retirement plans.
Continuing our series on this year’s retirement plan regulatory updates, we now shift our focus to the Department of Labor. If ...
Each year, our annual Regulatory Update covers the regulatory, litigation and legislative updates and changes that are affecting ...
403(b) plan sponsors are required to adhere to the long-term/part-time (LT/PT) participation rules that go into effect Jan. 1, ...
Inflation & the Federal Reserve The Federal Reserve has held rates at a recent high of 5.25-5.50% since July 2023. Ending ...
On Friday, Oct. 4, the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) agreed to hear a petition from workers at Cornell University that centers on a ...
The IRS issued guidance for 403(b) plan sponsors on the SECURE 2.0 rule requiring long-term/part-time (LT/PT) employees to be ...
I was recently at an industry conference of retirement plan consultants and participated in a session discussing how ...
The primary objective of this blog is to educate retirement plan fiduciaries about the use of insurance separate accounts in ...
At some point, all good plan fiduciaries will need to make changes to their investment menu. This could be a simple replacement ...
The most recent trend in retirement is to focus on retirement income. However, many conversations revolve around believing that ...
Only so many tasks are more difficult than finding the most suitable target date fund (TDF) series for a plan’s participants. Our ...
We want to congratulate our consultant and director of vendor services, Hailey Fields, for being distinguished as a 2024 ...
On August 19,, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released interim guidance (Notice 2024-63) related to section 110 of the SECURE ...
ERISA Overview: The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) regulates employee benefit plans, including pension ...
We have a saying at the firm. The best recordkeeper conversion is the one you don’t have to do. However, the only thing worse ...
Your retirement plan consultant can play a helpful role in assisting you with your plan’s yearly plan audit. Retirement plan ...
The Department of Labor calls for employers to educate their committee members on their roles and responsibilities. Employees ...
Senators have introduced bill S.4917 to allow the use of Collective Investment Trusts (CITs) in 403(b) plans. This mirrors the ...
Cybersecurity threats are more frequent in today’s market than ever before. Data protection is critical, whether in the ...
In the complex landscape of retirement plan management, fiduciaries face numerous challenges, including maintaining the integrity ...
On June 28, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned the well-known ...
Inflation & the Federal Reserve At their June meeting, the Federal Reserve continued to hold rates at 5.25-5.5%, a position ...
We are thrilled to share that Multnomah Group has recently welcomed two new team members, Azzurra Cappuccini and Josh Snisky.
SECURE 2.0 includes many optional provisions for plan sponsors to consider that will allow participants to make penalty-free ...
An ERISA lawsuit has been filed against Bechtel, a large engineering company, naming Bechtel’s board and retirement committee as ...
One optional provision in SECURE 2.0 allows employees to have employer matching and non-elective contributions made as after-tax ...
We are excited to share and celebrate the achievements of two outstanding individuals within our organization: Candace Finn and ...
The Department of Labor (DOL) has released the final version of its controversial fiduciary rule, portions of which will be ...
Inflation & the Federal Reserve The Federal Reserve held rates steady at a range of 5.25-5.5% in its March meeting. The Fed ...
It’s fee benchmarking season here at Multnomah Group, which means that we are reviewing scads of fee disclosure documents to ...
In the intricate world of retirement planning, the distinction between a consultant and a fiduciary has never been more critical. ...
We are pleased to share we have been included on the National Association of Plan Advisors’ (NAPA) Top DC Plan Advisor Teams list ...
We are excited to share that for the second year in a row, six of our advisors have been included on the 2024 PLANADVISER Top ...
On March 7, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure that would permit 403(b) retirement plans to include Collective ...
Inflation & the Federal Reserve The Federal Reserve held rates steady in their December meeting as they continued to monitor ...
SECURE 2.0 introduced a variety of optional provisions that allow individuals to make penalty-free withdrawals from their ...
We are pleased to share our latest plan sponsor guide, focused on simplified practices of effective and efficient retirement plan ...
Season's Greetings from all of us at Multnomah Group! Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, ...
As the New Year is quickly approaching, we wanted to share a reminder about 2024 retirement plan contribution limits. Breion ...
We are excited to share that Multnomah Group has been included in the 2023 Best Places to Work in Money Management awards ...
2023 marks the second year of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Our Committee serves as an authentic and proactive ...
Each year, our Technical Services Committee creates a Regulatory Update covering the legislative, regulatory, and litigation ...
A robust fiduciary governance structure allows employers to proactively manage their retirement plan to ensure its ongoing health ...
Each year, our Technical Services Committee creates a Regulatory Update covering the legislative, regulatory, and litigation ...
On October 31, the Department of Labor published its long-awaited proposed fiduciary rule titled the Retirement Security Rule. ...
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Today, November 3, marks Multnomah Group's 20th anniversary! Founding principals Erik Daley and Scott Cameron reflect on the last ...
The IRS announced 2024 dollar limits on benefits and contributions for qualified retirement plans.
Each year, our Technical Services Committee creates a Regulatory Update covering the legislative, regulatory, and litigation ...
Each year, our Technical Services Committee creates a Regulatory Update covering the legislative, regulatory, and litigation ...
Our Technical Services Committee has released the 2023 Regulatory Update! Our annual Regulatory Update provides an overview of ...
Last week, we took part in the first annual We Believe in Portland clean-up with AdoptOneBlock, Thesis and Boly:Welch. It was ...
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court’s summary judgment decision in favor of AT&T in the case Bugielski v. ...
In his latest Timely Topics video, Breion Rollins walks through the different types of retirement plan fees. Plan sponsors must ...
A new entrant in the political showdown related to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) focused investing exists. An ...
The IRS issued Notice 2023-62 on August 25 which provides an extension to the enforcement date for the new Roth catch-up ...
There has been another well-deserved victory for defendants in the multitudes of lawsuits filed against large retirement plans ...
Two of the hot topics in the SECURE 2.0 legislation are two provisions related to after-tax Roth-type savings. We’re covering ...
In our Fiduciary Facts video series, we provide quick and comprehensive answers to the most common questions we receive from ...
This new case study explores the challenges faced by small organizations in the management of their retirement plans and how ...
Recordkeepers often offer managed account services to participants. This training material walks your committee through what a ...
Determining an investment menu for your retirement plan has a long-lasting and meaningful impact on the retirement readiness of ...
Two of the hot topics in the SECURE 2.0 legislation are two provisions related to after-tax Roth-type savings. In this two-part ...
A few weeks ago, I hopped out of my car and strolled up the walkway at a client’s place of business. For a moment, I was less ...
The benefits of conducting a vendor search substantially outweigh the potential short-term inconveniences. This two-part series ...
This last blog in our series on advisor independence includes key action items for plan sponsors. To understand the context of ...
Earlier this year, The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that household debt balances set a record high of $17.05 ...
The U.S. economy rose at an annualized pace of 2.0% in the first quarter of 2023, a decrease from the fourth quarter of 2022 when ...
The Yale University case is one of the first excessive fee suits filed against a university 403(b) plan, and it has finally been ...
In our second blog in this series, we will dive deeper into the litigation surrounding managed accounts. When advisors and ...
Conducting a vendor search can be a detail-laden, time-intensive process that takes up to six months to complete. If the vendor ...
This blog is the first in a series of three exploring advisor independence in managed account services and the role of a ...
Automatic enrollment in retirement plans has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many employers choosing to ...
A successful retirement plan depends on plan design and administration but can significantly benefit from participants' active ...
We are excited to welcome two interns to Multnomah Group for our 2023 summer internship program! This year’s program is running ...
SECURE 2.0 reduces the eligibility requirement from three years to two years and retains the 500 hours of service threshold. ...
SECURE 2.0 includes an optional provision allowing an employer to make matching contributions based on a participant's student ...
At the NAPA 401(k) Summit last month, I had the opportunity to sit on a panel discussing the evolution of Qualified Default ...
SECURE 2.0 provides two optional opportunities for plan sponsors to provide participants access to funds for emergencies that ...
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In the retirement plan industry, conducting regular audits is essential to ensuring compliance and optimizing plan performance. ...
U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose at an annualized pace of 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2022, a slower pace than recorded ...
As we continue growing our 100% employee-ownership structure, we are pleased to share that Hailey Fields and David Williams are ...
Recent retirement plan litigation continues to be focused on retirement plan costs. One of the simpler allegations in those cases ...
On February 23, 2023, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) announced changes to the Form 5500 Annual Return and ...
We are excited to share that six of our advisors have been included on the 2023 PLANADVISER Top Retirement Plan Adviser list! The ...
Recently, two large recordkeepers, Empower and TIAA, announced plans to expand their wealth management services. These services ...
On March 22, the Federal Reserve approved an additional rate hike of 0.25%, bringing the benchmark federal funds rate to a range ...
Two banks, Silicon Valley Bank & Signature Bank, collapsed in a crisis that evolved over the last few weeks. Silicon Valley ...
The clash on the use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in making investment decisions continues to wage on. ...
We are pleased to share we have been included on the National Association of Plan Advisors’ (NAPA) Top DC Plan Advisor Teams list ...
In 2019, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act introduced a new retirement savings vehicle ...
I am honored to have been invited to participate in a panel discussion at the NAPA 401(k) Summit next month. Since the pandemic, ...
On Friday, March 10, Silicon Valley Bank collapsed after its parent, SVB Financial, shared that it sold its bonds at a ...
The Department of Labor (DOL) introduced a final regulation at the end of 2022 allowing fiduciaries to take Environmental, Social ...
As a retirement plan consultant, I have seen first-hand the significant impact that choosing the right recordkeeper can have on ...
Multiple lawsuits were filed this summer alleging the use of the BlackRock LifePath suite of target date funds in retirement ...
As an employer, one of your top priorities is likely to ensure that your employees are happy and productive. Financial wellness ...
Retirement can be a challenging time for anyone, but several issues unique to women can make it even more difficult. Here are six ...
The number of retirement plan provisions in SECURE 2.0 is expansive, and we know that can feel overwhelming for a plan sponsor. ...