Podcast: Discussing and Demystifying the IRS News Release on ESOPs
Investment Management Update – Exit Strategies
At least four lawsuits have recently been filed against employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) fiduciaries alleging a failure to prudently invest cash held in the ESOP trust. While scrutiny of investments in company stock has...more
On January 16, the Department of Labor released long-awaited guidance on how to determine the value of employer stock in purchase and sale transactions involving an ESOP. Unfortunately for those in the ESOP community hoping...more
When business owners consider their business succession options, they often determine their objectives, analyze company resources and capabilities, and review strategic alternatives. Among these strategic alternatives are...more
ESOPs can pay fair market value for the stock: Stock purchased by an ESOP must be appraised by an independent third party expert working with a trustee for the ESOP who must also be independent from the seller. The ESOP is...more
As is tradition, we are happy to present our End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” Lists. We are publishing our “To Do” Lists in four separate Employee Benefits Updates. Part 1 covered year-end health and welfare plan issues, Part...more
Before 2020, the IRS had long taken the position that an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), and any other retirement plan for that matter, must be adopted no later than the end of the first tax year in which the employer...more
ERISA litigation tends to spike when economic uncertainty or turmoil rises. Although many things contribute to this historically verifiable trend, it is easiest for employers to think about just two of them. First, an...more
In January, the Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated opinion in Retirement Plans Committee of IBM v. Jander, No. 18-1165, a case that promised to clarify the pleading standard applicable to ERISA stock-drop cases. But...more
On November 6, 2019, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument for Retirement Plans Committee of IBM v. Jander to expand on its “more harm than good” pleading standard articulated in Fifth Third Bancorp v. Dudenhoeffer. Both...more
The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), Fidelity and McDermott invite you to join your peers and colleagues for breakfast and an interactive discussion around hot topics in benefits and compensation. Areas of focus will include:...more
• The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published its Final Rule clarifying the circumstances under which an employer group or association or a professional employer organization (PEO) could sponsor a multiple-employer...more
In my practice, I always talk about how plan fiduciaries can be held personally liable for any issues regarding their retirement plan. Many plan sponsors just don’t pay any attention to that threat until they see it happen to...more
Many companies have recently modified their 401(k) plans to add a “brokerage window,” sometimes also known as a “self-directed account” or “self-directed brokerage account.” Rather than limiting participants to specified...more