In this episode, Richard and Sarah are joined by Ian Morrison, a Partner in Seyfarth’s ERISA Litigation group to delve into a new line of cases alleging that forfeitures are plan assets, and must be used to benefit plan participants. The plaintiffs in these cases are claiming that using forfeitures to offset employer contributions
Sarah Touzalin
SECURE 2.0: Guidance on Exception to Early Distribution Penalty for Terminally Ill Individuals
Seyfarth Synopsis: As previously reported here, on December 20, 2023, the IRS issued Notice 2024-2 (the “Notice”) providing guidance on several outstanding questions related to provisions under SECURE 2.0. This blog post summarizes the guidance under the Notice for in-service distributions to terminally ill employees that qualify for a waiver from the 10%…
“SECURE-ing” the Answers to Outstanding Questions on the Rothification of Employer Contributions
Seyfarth Synopsis: Under Section 604 of Secure 2.0, sponsors of 401(k), 403(b) and eligible governmental plans may allow employees to designate employer match (including match on student loan repayments) or nonelective contributions as Roth after-tax contributions at the time they are made. This provision was effective for contributions made after December 29, 2022 (i.e., the date Secure 2.0 was enacted). Since the issuance of Secure 2.0, a number of questions relating to this optional provision have been lingering. As previously reported here, on December 20, 2023, the IRS issued Notice 2024-2 (the “Notice”) providing guidance on several provisions under Secure 2.0, including Section 604. A brief overview of the guidance issued relating to designated Roth employer contributions is provided below.
Are plans required to allow employees to elect to make Roth employer contributions?
No. The Notice clarifies – as we expected – that plans may, but are not required to allow participants to designate employer matching and/or nonelective contributions as Roth. This is the case even if the plan allows employees to make Roth employee contributions.Continue Reading “SECURE-ing” the Answers to Outstanding Questions on the Rothification of Employer Contributions
Coffee Talk With Benefits Episode 17: Long-Term Part-Time Employee Guidance
On November 24, 2023, the IRS issued highly anticipated proposed regulations concerning the provisions under SECURE and SECURE 2.0, requiring 401(k) plans to expand deferral eligibility for long-term part-time employees. The proposed rules answer a number of burning questions that have been lingering since 2019 when SECURE was first enacted. In this special episode, Seyfarth…
Coffee Talk With Benefits Episode 16: Junk Insurance
Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris Administration took a firm stance against ‘junk insurance’ by introducing regulations aimed at impacting short-term limited duration insurance policies, independent non-coordinated coverage, and level funded plan arrangements. In this episode, our guests Diane Dygert and Benjamin Conley provide insights on these proposed regulations, addressing employee comprehension gaps, coverage notifications, and…
The Long Wait for the Long-Term Part-Time Guidance is Over
True to form, the IRS released long-awaited proposed regulations during a long holiday weekend. This time they are narrowly focused on the eligibility rules for Long-Term Part-Time employees first introduced under the SECURE Act, and then expanded by SECURE 2.0. But, they did not disappoint, and are chock full of useful and detailed information on…
Two Year Transition Period for Implementation of Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Contributions
This afternoon, the IRS issued Notice 2023-62, providing welcome guidance relating to the mandatory Roth catch-up provision under Section 603 of the SECURE Act 2.0 (“S2”), which is effective for plan years beginning after December 31, 2023. First, the Notice clarifies that catch-up contributions are still allowed after 2023, despite a technical glitch in S2. Second…
Coffee Talk With Benefits Podcast Episode 15: Auto-Enrollment Provisions Under SECURE 2.0
Enacted in December 2022, the SECURE 2.0 Act contains over 90 provisions that impact qualified retirement plans. Notably, SECURE 2.0 mandates the adoption of auto-enrollment features for plans established after its enactment. Grab your cup of coffee and tune in to hear Richard and Sarah chat with Matthew Calloway from Mercer, about the effects that…
Coffee Talk With Benefits Episode 14: Benefit Attorneys in the Wild
On this episode of Coffee Talk With Benefits, Richard and Sarah venture out of the office as part of an Employee Benefits retreat and engage in brief discussions with their colleagues, Diane Dygert, Caroline Pieper, Alisha Sullivan, Ben Conley, Jen Kraft, Sam Schwartz-Fenwick, and Ada Dolph covering a range…
Coffee Talk With Benefits Episode 13: When ERISA Was Young
The 50th anniversary of the enactment of ERISA is next year, so we thought what better way to look back on those 50 years than with Seyfarth Partner, Howard Pianko, who was one of the original ERISA practitioners back in 1974. Listen in as Howard recollects his journey with ERISA these past almost 50…