The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is urging a federal appeals court to uphold the dismissal of a lawsuit claiming that an employer misused retirement plan forfeitures.

The ultimate proof of retirement plan participant success is in the results: whether the participant achieves a financially secure retirement. In the meantime, plan sponsors can look at a variety of metrics to help evaluate and track plan outcomes.

In many ways, saving through your employer-sponsored retirement plan has never been more convenient. Automatic enrollment, auto-escalating contributions, and target date funds can make saving feel almost effortless by quietly adjusting your contributions and investments over time.

New data suggests individuals’ decisions to take 401(k) loans are driven less by discretionary spending needs and more by day-to-day cash-flow constraints. A December 2025 study conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and J.P. Morgan Asset Management sheds light on what drives participants to take out 401(k) loans and how those funds are used.

The regulatory follow-through on SECURE 2.0’s paper-statement mandate is now entering its next stage. The 2022 law includes provisions affecting how benefit statements must be delivered. In general, defined contribution (DC) plans will be required to furnish participants with at least one paper benefit statement each year, unless they affirmatively elect electronic delivery, for plan years beginning after December 31, 2025.

When you think of the benefits of your retirement plan, tax-deferred savings and matching contributions are probably top of mind. But there’s more to your workplace retirement plan than meets the eye. Beyond the basics, retirement plans can come with a number of lesser-known advantages that can help you protect, grow, and pass on your savings more efficiently. Here are six perks you might not even realize you have.