Author Archives: admin

Sometimes, in the strange world of ERISA litigation, you get a surprise. And in Hutchins v. Hewlett Packard, we got one: the Department of Labor, yes, that DOL, the one whose name alone strikes fear into the heart of many … Continue reading →

There’s a hard truth about being a plan sponsor or a plan provider: you can be doing everything right and still get sued. That’s the world we live in—especially in the retirement plan space. You can dot every “i,” cross … Continue reading →

There’s a hard truth about being a plan sponsor or a plan provider: you can be doing everything right and still get sued. That’s the world we live in—especially in the retirement plan space. You can dot every “i,” cross … Continue reading →

Could listing designated beneficiaries on a participant statement spark a fiduciary breach lawsuit? In today’s world, the answer is always yes — and in LeBoeuf v. Entergy, it did. This case involved Alvin Martinez, a longtime Entergy employee who remarried … Continue reading →

I’ve been in the retirement plan business for 27 years, and during that time, I’ve seen the best and the worst it has to offer. But without a doubt, the most despicable person I’ve encountered is Matt Hutcheson. Matt paraded … Continue reading →

After six long years of litigation, Intel’s 401(k) plan design just got a big legal endorsement. A three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit dismissed a lawsuit filed by plan participants who claimed that including hedge funds and private equity in … Continue reading →

The Investment Company Institute (ICI) just confirmed what many of us have seen on the ground: 401(k) mutual fund fees keep dropping, and that’s great news for plan participants. According to ICI’s 2024 report, average equity mutual fund expense ratios … Continue reading →

The IRS just dropped Revenue Ruling 2025-15, and while it’s not revolutionary, it’s a reminder that when it comes to uncashed distribution checks, constructive receipt still rules the day. Here’s the deal: If a participant or beneficiary doesn’t cash their … Continue reading →

News that Principal has transitioned administration of its largest pooled employer plan (PEP), Principal EASE, to FuturePlan by Ascensus isn’t just a reshuffling of duties — it’s a smart move in a maturing market. Principal EASE serves a large base … Continue reading →

When I look back at my time as an employee, before I ran my own practice, before I was speaking in stadiums and calling the shots, I remember two kinds of people: the good ones and the bad ones. And … Continue reading →