The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Retirement Plans · June 12, 2026
Expert Analysis
Reading 45,000 Comments on DOL 401(k) Investment Selection Rule
“The March 31 proposal set out a regulatory safe harbor outlining six factors fiduciaries can consider when selecting investments: performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, benchmarks and complexity. The proposal, issued following President Donald Trump's August 2025 executive order on expanding access to alternative assets in retirement plans, is intended to clarify fiduciary prudence when selecting investments, while reducing litigation risk for plan sponsors.”
PLANADVISER
Creating Committees of Excellence
“Crafting a successful plan committee usually includes outsourcing fiduciary responsibilities, customizing the structure and following plan documents.”
PLANSPONSOR
Monthly Roundup (May 2026)
“DOL Issues Field Assistance Bulletin on Guiding Principles for EBSA Enforcement PrioritiesMay 1, 2026 Groom Law Group Recognized in BTI Super Listener A-Team 2026May 4, 2026 Executive Order Directs Agencies to Promote Access to Individual Retirement AccountsMay 4, 2026 SEC Clarifies Registration Issues for PEPsMay 6, 2026 Happy Mother’s Day from the Departments!”
Groom Law Group
How to Design a Plan: Prioritize Real Lives, Not Templates
“Employers from Google to Prestage Farms said plan sponsors must look beyond one-size-fits-all retirement benefits and choose benefits based on their workers’ circumstances.”
PLANSPONSOR
This Week From the Hill (June 8 – 12, 2026)
“The House and Senate have been considering an immigration enforcement funding budget reconciliation bill that would provide approximately $72 billion in funding for ICE and CBP to fund the agencies through 2029.”
Groom Law Group
Regulatory Action and Guidance
Trump Accounts; Hearing
“This document provides a notice of public hearing on the notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-117270-25) published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2026. The proposed regulations provide guidance on making an election to open a Trump account and reserve additional sections for further guidance on Trump accounts.”
Federal Register
DOL Provides Interim Relief on SECURE 2.0 Paper Statement Rules While Final Regulations Remain Pending
“On May 12, 2026, the DOL issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2026-02”
Trucker Huss
Exemption for Certain Prohibited Transactions Involving the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Goldman) Located in New York, New York
“This exemption allows current and future Goldman-related asset managers to continue to rely on Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 (PTE 84-14), notwithstanding the GS Malaysia FCPA Conviction, if certain conditions are met.”
Federal Register
IRA Nonbank Trustees – Alternative Way to Meet Net Worth Requirement
“Now, with the guidance set forth in Notice 2026-32, effective May 21, 2026, broker-dealers have an”
Groom Law Group
Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative and Quantitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery
“This site displays a prototype of a “Web 2.0” version of the daily Federal Register. It is not an official legal edition of the Federal Register, and does not replace the official print version or the official electronic version on GPO’s govinfo.”
Federal Register
ERISA Litigation
Employer Groups Urge 8th Circuit to Review ERISA Case Class Certification
“The case, brought by employees, alleges Compass violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by charging tobacco users higher health insurance premiums without properly providing or disclosing alternatives that would allow participants to avoid the surcharge. ... The employer groups warned that allowing the class certification order in the Compass case to stand could encourage similar rulings across the country and increase settlement pressure on companies defending ERISA cases.”
PLANSPONSOR
$23M Settlement Ends MetLife’s Mortality Table Case
“Plaintiffs alleged that MetLife had given them fewer benefits after using actuarial tables dating back to the disco era.”
PLANADVISER