Allen Steinberg : Perspectives

Employee benefit plans—especially retirement and health care—have become an increasingly important part of the employment relationship. For employers, these plans represent an important part of the total compensation package, a tool for retention and recruitment, and a growing financial and compliance burden. For employees, these plans represent a key part of their overall financial security and wellbeing, a financial burden, and a source of complexity and frustration. In effect, it’s complicated. Our firm is dedicated to helping employers manage these complexities and focus on the important things.

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ryanne

30.07.2026 10.38 CDT

The Department of Labor has proposed regulations that would permit group health plans to use a notice-and-access electronic disclosure safe harbor similar to the framework available to retirement plans since 2020. The proposal would significantly expand when electronic delivery may be used, while allowing plans to retain current processes. This blog post explains how the proposed rules work, highlights the principal differences from the retirement plan safe harbor, and discusses the practical implications for employers, insurers, and plan administrators.

DOL Proposes New Electronic Disclosure Option for Group Health Plans

New DOL proposal would extend the notice-and-access framework currently available to retirement plans while recognizing the unique privacy considerations applicable to health benefits.

Disclosure electronic disclosure group health plans Proposed regulations

New DOL proposal would extend the notice-and-access framework currently available to retirement plans while recognizing the unique privacy considerations applicable to health benefits.

Allen Steinberg

07.04.2026 12.32 CDT

The DOL’s proposed rule offers a structured approach to fiduciary decision-making—but key challenges remain.

DOL Offers New Safe Harbor to Fiduciaries

A proposed DOL rule introduces a “safe harbor” framework to guide how fiduciaries evaluate and select investment options.

Alternative Investments Fiduciary Duties prudence Regulations Safe Harbor

The DOL’s new framework provides fiduciaries with clearer guidance and a more defensible decision-making process, but it does not eliminate the underlying tensions between investment innovation and plan realities.

Allen Steinberg

02.02.2026 02.07 CST

H.R. 2988 proposes changes to ERISA fiduciary standards that may affect investment selection, service provider oversight, proxy voting, and brokerage windows.

Overview of H.R. 2988 and Potential Implications for ERISA Fiduciaries

The House’s passage of H.R. 2988 highlights policy proposals that may shape future ERISA legislative and regulatory discussions.

Brokerage windows Fiduciary standards Legislative proposals provider selection Proxy voting

H.R. 2988 proposes changes to ERISA fiduciary standards that may affect investment selection, service provider oversight, proxy voting, and brokerage windows, reflecting broader policy debates that could shape future regulatory and litigation trends.

Allen Steinberg

23.01.2026 02.34 CST

A new wave of ERISA litigation challenges employer oversight of voluntary benefit plans, raising questions about fiduciary duties, broker compensation, and plan governance.

The Next Wave of Fiduciary Challenges

New ERISA lawsuits target voluntary benefit plans, alleging fiduciary breaches by employers and brokers over commissions, fees, and plan oversight.

ERISA fiduciary litigation Fiduciary Duties Prohibited transactions voluntary benefits

Recent ERISA class actions allege failures in oversight of voluntary benefit plans, extending fiduciary and excessive-fee scrutiny beyond retirement programs.

Allen Steinberg

02.12.2025 10.49 CST

The Minnesota paid family and medical leave law introduces major payroll, tax, and retirement plan implications for employers. Learn how taxable payments, premium structures, and compensation definitions affect your benefit plans—and what steps to take before 2026.

Minnesota Paid Leave Law: A Law of Unintended Consequences

Minnesota’s paid family leave law affects payroll, taxes, and retirement plans. Learn key employer responsibilities and compensation impacts for 2026.

family leave Minnesota Paid Leave