<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Boutwell Fay LLP ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Boutwell Fay LLP is a women-owned law firm specializing in employee benefits and ERISA.  ]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/news-resources</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:59:39 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.boutwellfay.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[And They All Said Rollover: IRS Updates Special Tax Notice for Retirement Plan Distributions to Reflect Recent Law Changes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Plan administrators of qualified plans, 403(b) plans, and governmental 457(b) plans are required under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §402(f) to provide a written explanation regarding eligible rollover distributions (sometimes called a “special tax notice”) to participants 30-180 days before making an eligible rollover distribution.  The IRS issued Notice 2026-13 on January 15, 2026 to update the information required to be in the special tax notice for recent law changes, including the SECURE 2.0 ]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/irs-updates-special-tax-notice-for-retirement-plan-distributions-to-reflect-recent-law-changes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a8d17335249c8a7a8fb0ae</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:40:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1edb7_a3be54ad1bf94eefa9aeb0fe1016dc32~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Milton Heber</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Joining the Party or Sitting on the Sidelines? What Employers Need to Know About Trump Accounts]]></title><description><![CDATA[On Sunday, February 8, 2026, over 100 million people watched the Super Bowl—and many may have been introduced to Trump Accounts (“Accounts”) for the first time. A 30-second commercial stated, “this year every American child gets an investment account” with millions of dollars being pre-funded. The promise of giving kids “free money” surely piqued the interest of children and parents alike. Employers, however, are not all rushing to incorporate Accounts into the suite of benefits offered.]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/joining-the-party-or-sitting-on-the-sidelines-what-employers-need-to-know-about-trump-accounts</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a0b89daac6e7cda914a769</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:41:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1edb7_bbf3c690408b486cb4532efe7b3d1c98~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Allison Martinez, née De Tal</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Buried Treasure or Buried Trouble? New Mandatory Disclosure Requirements Just Enacted for ERISA Health Plan Fiduciaries Under CAA 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[Buried in the new federal law governing Pharmacy Benefit Managers, (which is generally effective beginning in 2028) is a broad expansion of the group of “covered service providers” who are required to provide written fee disclosures to health plan fiduciaries and a mandate that health plan fiduciaries collect such disclosures.  Although the effective date of the new provision is not clear, it could be effective as early as the date the new law went into effect— February 3, 2026. ]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/new-mandatory-disclosure-requirements-just-enacted-for-erisa-health-plan-fiduciaries</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699ccc383633f91285ee2c87</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:06:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1edb7_b0d65525dc0e4340b0d8a7654965403e~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sherrie Boutwell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2026 NBOA Annual Meeting &#38; Business Solutions Showcase]]></title><description><![CDATA[Join Sherrie Boutwell and Evan Giller of Boutwell Fay, LLP as they discuss "How to Fix Your Retirement Plan When Something Breaks” at the 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting &#38; Business Solutions Showcase in Orlando, FL. Where: 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting &#38; Business Solutions Showcase. When: March 3rd, 2:30-4 PM EST. Topics: IRS &#38; DOL correction programs to fix retirement plan errors. What can be corrected without involving any agencies? Tips and practical techniques from experienced insiders! For NBOA ]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/2026-nboa-annual-meeting-business-solutions-showcase</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6994ea00159d7fac96459e25</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><category><![CDATA[Upcoming Events]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:14:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1edb7_821b961050254ead89e9ba889e375729~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Riding the Latest Wave of ERISA Voluntary Benefits Class Actions: Tips for Staying on Your Surfboard]]></title><description><![CDATA[On December 23, 2025, four class action lawsuits were filed in the Northern District of Illinois and the Southern District of New York.  These suits allege employers who sponsored voluntary employee benefits plans, and their insurance brokers, violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).  This article explores the allegations in these complaints and offers suggestions as to what employers can do to avoid—or at least be best positioned to defend—similar lawsuits. ]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/riding-the-latest-wave-of-erisa-voluntary-benefits-class-actions-tips-for-staying-on-your-surfboard</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698e5ba68879a928a5a8e6da</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:37:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1edb7_64a9d96869434fc99d9fe1c21a8a1ab1~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Allison Martinez, née De Tal</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2026 Joint TE/GE Council Employee Plans Annual Meeting]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are pleased to share that Evan Giller of Boutwell Fay, LLP, will be on the Practitioner's Panel at the 2026 TE/GE Joint Council Meeting in Washington, DC. The panel will discuss current, practical issues and suggested solutions to inform EBSA and provide feedback on February 26, from 9:50-10:50 am EST.
Event Dates: February 25-27
Location: 
975 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
&#38; Virtual Option
2026 TE/GE Joint Council Meeting information &#38; registration:]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/2026-joint-te-ge-council-employee-plans-annual-meeting</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698e2debe8f2edcb77042dae</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><category><![CDATA[Upcoming Events]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:08:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1edb7_7a51e55caacc4fcc87ae0f5e9637da8e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are Employers Ready to Stomach Employees’ Growing Appetite for GLP-1s?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Some GLP-1s, like Ozempic, are injectable drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) to help adults with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar levels. The FDA has approved other GLP-1s for weight management, with Wegovy becoming the first FDA approved daily pill in December 2025. As the popularity and accessibility of GLP-1s for weight loss has grown dramatically over recent years, employers continue to grapple with questions related to their cost and coverage. ]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/are-employers-ready-to-stomach-employees-growing-appetite-for-glp-1s</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6984e1204ef7940ceef21ea5</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1edb7_fb9e0e0aa4914d55a02e4f7c9799a112~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Allison Martinez, née De Tal</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sparks Are Still Flying:  An Update on Tobacco Cessation Litigation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tobacco cessation program litigation is a hot topic with more than a dozen cases currently pending in federal courts.  To date, the total settlements reached in tobacco program cessation cases exceed $10 million. As this area of law continues to develop and avoid costly litigation, it’s worth reviewing your plan’s surcharges related to tobacco use and its related tobacco cessation programs.Sherrie Boutwell and Allison Martinez’s article, Does Your Wellness Program Need a Tobacco “Check-Up”?]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/sparks-are-still-flying-an-update-on-tobacco-cessation-litigation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697a72ddb3cf8ba2384663b3</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:13:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1edb7_7da5bc7ed3f04b7dab87c54789716b6f~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Department of Labor Expands its Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) to Include Form M-1: What Employers Need to Know]]></title><description><![CDATA[The U.S. Department of Labor announced important updates to its Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance (DFVCP) Program, which for the first time now offers relief to Form M-1 filers such as Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs”)]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/delinquent-filer-voluntary-compliance-m-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6972b0dc9f5bcea2285041bc</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:53:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a626c9_62ea2a3b6d434466b71206c60e3c2a6e~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_893,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Year, New Fees: VCP and Determination Letter Fees Increase in 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[IRS fees have increased in 2026, for VCP and Determination Letters. Be prepared!]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/new-year-new-irs-fees-vcp-determination-letter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69682ec3801fea0f8809f973</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Newsletters ]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:48:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a626c9_544a1f33a4db4a24824dc785b803e194~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Allison Martinez, née De Tal &amp; Milton Heber</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ERISA Reporting and Disclosure Requirements: Zavislak v. Netflix Inc.; Statutory Exclusions, Exemptions]]></title><description><![CDATA[Join Sherrie Boutwell online for an analysis of the impact of Zavislak v. Netflix Inc on ERISA reporting and other requirements. Hosted by BARBRI.]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/erisa-zavislak-v-netflix</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6968052f0d9b34c9e2929e3b</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletters ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Upcoming Events]]></category><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Webinars ]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:56:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a626c9_24a6fe8204164ea696f8b4a890768509~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Now is the Time to Start Planning for Upcoming 2026 Plan Amendment Deadlines]]></title><description><![CDATA[Plan sponsors of most types of retirement plans must amend their plan documents by the end of 2026.]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/planning-2026-plan-amendment-deadlines</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696018f57def53602303d208</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Newsletters ]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 22:19:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a626c9_e79dcabc5e7d4b239c7077f117055680~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_701,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katrina Veldkamp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[INTRODUCTION TO RETIREMENT PLAN COMMITTEE CHARTERS]]></title><description><![CDATA[This memo is intended to provide basic guidance on these issues but is not intended to provide legal advice as to any particular matter. Of course, we would be happy provide advice with respect to the issues discussed below. Why is there so much concern about fiduciary duties under ERISA ? The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) imposes a very high standard of conduct on the persons responsible for administering retirement plans. Failure to meet those obligations can...]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/introduction-to-retirement-plan-committee-charters</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6080651a5e66b900570974b9</guid><category><![CDATA[FAQ]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:00:00 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Boutwell Fay LLP Welcomes Jeffrey Penn to the Firm]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are pleased to welcome Jeffrey Penn as the newest attorney to join Boutwell Fay LLP!]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/boutwell-fay-welcomes-jeffrey-penn-to-the-firm</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6945e5fd278ff96e54e6fe5f</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:10:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2be1ce_34ae2290ad764aff9584e89875d2ecc9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Happy Holidays from Boutwell Fay!]]></title><description><![CDATA[The holiday season is here! Please notice our office hours have changed to celebrate the holidays!]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/happy-holidays-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6940539a24d4646829c9def9</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:45:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a626c9_d0a818528fb54cd784457b851e38dc58~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bonus Plan or Deferred Compensation?  DOL Reaffirms Bonus Plan Exception to ERISA]]></title><description><![CDATA[On September 9, 2025, the DOL issued Advisory Opinion 2025-03A which concluded that the bonus program in which the former employees participated was not a pension plan designed to provide retirement income (as contemplated by ERISA Section 3(2)(A)) but instead a “bonus program” under 29 C.F.R. § 25120.3-2(c) and, consequently, that the programs were also not required to satisfy ERISA’s reporting, claims, vesting timing and funding provisions. ]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/bonus-plan-or-deferred-compensation-dol-reaffirms-bonus-plan-exception-to-erisa</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6945b7b566bb3987f68b4734</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 21:23:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9a25a_cc3dfeeee5ec4d2ca8b5473b637ea895~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_993,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Our Gift to You this Holiday Season!]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are continuing our holiday tradition with all new recipes in our 2025 cookbook! This year we focused on the ever-popular cookie, the most portable and tasty holiday treat!]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/our-gift-to-you-this-holiday-season</link><guid isPermaLink="false">694063e124d4646829ca12c8</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:45:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a626c9_838ac53c0bf143929c519bbd3ba16bf2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How California’s New Stay-Or-Pay Law Affects Tuition Reimbursement and Retention Bonus Programs]]></title><description><![CDATA[California’s AB 692, effective January 1, 2026, will significantly change how employers structure tuition assistance programs and bonus arrangements]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/californias-stay-or-pay-ab692-affects-tuition-reimbursement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">693b22b33aa9eb11ebb1315a</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Newsletters ]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:29:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a626c9_499c10d2354845a08648aa7b35908557~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_617,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[No Longer an Exception to the Rule:  Fertility Benefits Can Be Offered as an Excepted Benefit]]></title><description><![CDATA[New FAQs clarify how employers can offer fertility benefits as an excepted benefit.]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/fertility-benefits-as-an-excepted-benefit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6930394e644b95bce4b2dc63</guid><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Articles ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Newsletters ]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:16:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a626c9_4fc950143842461192d05d4d57a5a386~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_970,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Allison Martinez, née De Tal</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Presentation for IFEBP: Introduction to Employee Benefits in Mergers and Acquisitions]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attendees will learn the basics about different types of M&#38;A transactions and their impact on employee benefits, key issues to look out for and potential pitfalls to avoid.]]></description><link>https://www.boutwellfay.com/post/presentation-introduction-to-employee-benefits-in-mergers-and-acquisitions</link><guid isPermaLink="false">693053cbee21510c2ee8404f</guid><category><![CDATA[Upcoming Events]]></category><category><![CDATA[Webinars ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category><category><![CDATA[Newsletters ]]></category><category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:02:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a626c9_be9b171cb0a54fc895f08fbdd22a312c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Boutwell Fay LLP</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>