Category: DOL

2026

Alternative Assets (3)—DOL Proposal and Selection of Plan Investment Menu

In my first post in this series, Alternative Assets (1), I said that a surprise in the DOL’s proposed regulation on selecting investments for participant-directed plans (2026-06178.pdf) was that it went beyond the alternative assets mentioned in last August’s Executive Order and instead applied to all investments in participant-directed plans—both

Read More >>
2026

Alternative Assets (1)—the Executive Order and Proposed Regulation

The Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA) of the US Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a proposed regulation on the selection of investments for participant-directed plans, such as 401(k) plans. 2026-06178.pdf The Beginning: An Executive Order The proposal is the direct result of an August 7, 2025 White House Executive

Read More >>

Things I Worry About (27): Pooled Employer Plans and DOL RFI (8)

Key Takeaways The DOL has issued guidance about PEPs—pooled employer plans—that includes questions designed to assist the DOL in developing future guidance about PEPs. Some of those questions suggest that the DOL is concerned about conflicts of interest in the organization and management of PEPs. This article continues a discussion

Read More >>

Things I Worry About (26): Pooled Employer Plans and DOL RFI (7)

Key Takeaways The DOL has issued guidance about PEPs—pooled employer plans—that includes questions designed to assist the DOL in developing future guidance about PEPs. Some of those questions suggest a possible fiduciary safe harbor for small employers who adopt PEPs. This article continues a discussion of the questions asked by

Read More >>

Things I Worry About (25): Pooled Employer Plans and DOL RFI (6)

Key Takeaways The DOL has issued guidance about PEPs—pooled employer plans—that includes questions designed to assist the DOL in developing future guidance about PEPs. Some of those questions suggest a possible fiduciary safe harbor for small employers who adopt PEPs. This article begins a discussion of the questions asked by

Read More >>

Things I Worry About (24): Pooled Employer Plans and DOL RFI (5)

Key Takeaways The DOL has issued guidance about PEPs—pooled employer plans—that provides tips for adopting employers and questions about PEPs and that suggests a possible fiduciary safe harbor for small employers who adopt PEPs. This article continues a discussion of the questions that the DOL says that employers should ask

Read More >>

Things I Worry About (23): Pooled Employer Plans and DOL RFI (4)

Key Takeaways The DOL has issued guidance about PEPs—pooled employer plans—that provides tips for adopting employers and questions about PEPs and that suggests a possible fiduciary safe harbor for small employers who adopt PEPs. This article continues a discussion of the questions that the DOL says that employers should ask

Read More >>

Things I Worry About (22): Pooled Employer Plans and DOL RFI (3)

Key Takeaways The DOL has issued guidance about PEPs—pooled employer plans—that provides tips for adopting employers and questions about PEPs and a possible fiduciary safe harbor for small employers who adopt PEPs. This article begins a discussion of the questions that the DOL says that employers should ask when considering

Read More >>

Things I Worry About (21): Pooled Employer Plans and DOL RFI (2)

Key Takeaways The DOL has issued guidance about PEPs—pooled employer plans—that provides tips for adopting employers and questions about PEPs and a possible fiduciary safe harbor for small employers who adopt PEPs. In addition, the preamble to the guidance includes some interesting information about the development of PEPs. That information

Read More >>

You're All Set

Thanks for subscribing to Fred Reish’s industry updates.

New articles and insights will be delivered directly to your inbox.