Fiduciary INSIGHTS on retirement plans
Welcome to Fiduciary Insights, the monthly newsletter that keeps you in touch with issues, trends, events, and insights of significance to individuals connected with the retirement plan industry. The articles have been carefully selected from a variety of high quality sources.
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The retirement planning landscape continues to evolve. Recent regulatory developments have renewed focus on the role that alternative investments may play within defined contribution (DC) plans.
A newly proposed rule from the US Department of Labor (DOL), issued in response to Executive Order 14330, seeks to clarify how fiduciaries may evaluate and select investment options, including those that incorporate alternative assets, within participant-directed plans.
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With health care costs expected to balloon in 2026, plan sponsors are keen on minimizing the burden their businesses and their employees will bear.
According to the Business Group on Health’s 2026 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey, employers predicted last year that health care cost increases for 2026 would come at a median of 9% above 2025 levels.
While the ultimate cost increases remain to be determined, employers renewing fully insured health plans for 2026 faced average premium increases of 18% to 25%, with some groups seeing hikes exceeding 60%, according to the USI 2026 Employee Benefits Market Outlook. At the same time, pharmacy costs continue to surge, with specialty drugs now accounting for more than half of all prescription drug spending, the USI report found.
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The DOL clarified that faith-based organizations must meet specific structural and tax criteria, not just religious identity, to qualify for certain retirement plans, while highlighting key options for consideration.
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A new survey finds that 28% of “first Wave” Gen Xers said they are extremely or very concerned about having enough income to last their lifetime.
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Please consult a financial, tax or legal professional for further information related to any of these articles.
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