Ben Grosz a Featured Panelist at Best of PLANSPONSOR National Conference

IPB partner Benjamin L. Grosz was one of only two practicing attorneys who spoke on panels at the Best of PSNC program held in Houston on November 28, 2018. Ben spoke on a panel entitled Regulation and Litigation Update, along with ERISA litigator Jamie Fleckner. The session addressed recent IRS and DOL regulations and guidance, as well as notable lawsuits against retirement plans, plan sponsors and fiduciaries alleging questionable investment options, high fees, plan administration challenges and conflicts of interest. 

Ben discussed the new proposed IRS regulations concerning hardship withdrawals and provided an overview of the recent favorable IRS private letter ruling issued to an employer that directs an employer contribution into its 401(k) plan to recognize employees’ student loan debt repayments.  He also explained a recent Department of Labor proposed exemption regarding automatic portability, and highlighted some practical lessons that plan sponsors and fiduciaries could take from some of the class-action ERISA lawsuits against, and settlements with, 401(k) and 403(b) plans.