On August 7, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) directing the Department of Labor (DOL), working with other agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Treasury, “to facilitate” inclusion of alternative investments in 401(k) plans.
NAIFA
Recent posts by NAIFA
2 min read
President’s EO Directs DOL to Facilitate Inclusion of Alternate Investments in DC Retirement Plans
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 10:02 AM
Topics: Retirement Planning Investing Retirement Plans
2 min read
Congress Considers Tax-Free Employer-Provided Benefits for Independent Contractors
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 9:58 AM
Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are looking at legislation that would allow employers to provide tax-free benefits to their independent contractors. A House Committee approved legislation that would create a safe harbor that would insulate employers and workers from workers being characterized as employees due to the provision of these “portable” benefits. Separately, a Senate committee held a hearing on similar proposals.
Topics: Group & Employee Benefits Taxes Congress
1 min read
Senate HELP Committee Approves ESOP Bills
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 9:55 AM
On July 30, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved two largely administrative ESOP bills. However, the committee’s chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), withdrew from consideration his larger ESOP bill that would substantially increase the amount of employer stock that can be contributed to ESOP participants’ accounts.
Topics: Retirement Planning Legislation & Regulations Federal Advocacy
1 min read
DOL/HHS/Treasury Announce New Position on STLD Health Insurance
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 9:52 AM
On August 7, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health & Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (the tri-agencies) announced the agencies’ intention to initiate a notice-and-comment rulemaking initiative to consider needed amendments to the regulations governing the definition of short-term limited duration (STLD) health insurance.
Topics: Health Care Limited Care Short-Term Insurance
2 min read
Extension of Enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credits Could Drive New Tax Package
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 9:49 AM
The enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits that were enacted during the COVID epidemic lock-down expire at the end of 2025. Efforts to extend them, and other expiring health insurance rules, could drive a new tax bill this fall.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Affordable Care Act Tax Reform
2 min read
Bipartisan Senate Duo Float Social Security Investment Fund
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 9:46 AM
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have floated a proposal to create a $1.5 trillion investment fund aimed at extending the solvency of Social Security. The five-year fund would grow until it holds enough money to keep Social Security from running out of money by the projected 2033 date, the Senators say.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Social Security
2 min read
EBSA Releases New PEP Guidance
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 9:43 AM
On July 28, Acting Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) head Janet Dhillon released new interpretive guidance (RIN 1210–AC10), along with a request for information (RFI) on how to lower pooled employer plan (PEP) fees and other administrative costs. The RFI focuses on “market practices associated with PEPs.”
Topics: Retirement Plans
1 min read
IRS Announces Inflation-Adjusted Affordability Standard for ACA Health Insurance
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 9:40 AM
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the 2026 inflation adjustment for determining the affordability of employer-provided Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance. For 2026, the affordability standard will be 9.96 percent of a worker’s compensation. Failure to adhere to the affordability standard results in a “shared responsibility” penalty imposed on employers.
Topics: Health Care Affordable Care Act IRS
2 min read
Ways & Means Subcommittees Hold Hearing on Medicare Advantage; NAIFA Comments
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 9:37 AM
The House Ways & Means Committee’s Subcommittees on Health and Oversight held a hearing on July 22 to look into the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. NAIFA submitted comments on the issue.
Topics: Medicare Congress
1 min read
NCOIL Group Focuses on Long-Term Care
By NAIFA on 8/15/25 9:35 AM
The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), at their July 17-18 summer meeting, held a general session on “trends and innovations” in the long-term care insurance marketplace. The session emphasized the urgency for planning ahead for long-term care needs, and highlighted the need for both public and private solutions to the problem of financing the care of aging individuals who need help to remain in their own homes.
Topics: Long-Term Care Interstate Advocacy NCOIL
3 min read
H.R.1 Signed into Law
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 11:00 AM
On July 4, President Trump signed into law H.R.1, the $3.3 trillion budget reconciliation spending and tax cuts bill. The Senate passed the measure on July 1, by a 50-50 vote with the tie broken by Vice President JD Vance. The Senate made a raft of changes to the version the House passed on May 22. The House approved the Senate-passed measure, without changes, on July 3, by a 218 to 214 vote. Enactment came after multiple all-night, high-drama, tension-filled days as Congress raced to meet their target July 4 date for signing the measure into law.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Tax Reform
1 min read
Section 199A Deduction for Noncorporate Business Income Now Permanent
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 10:56 AM
H.R.1, which is now the law of the land, permanently extends the 20 percent deduction for qualifying noncorporate business income (QBI).
The end result came after a rollercoaster of a journey through the legislative process. The House version increased the deduction to 23 percent and added restrictions on eligibility for the deduction. The Senate version dropped the deduction back to 20 percent and ultimately dropped new restrictions on eligibility for the deduction.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Small Business Tax Reform
1 min read
New Law Makes Permanent Enhanced Business Loan Interest, Depreciation Rules
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 10:53 AM
The new law makes permanent enhanced business loan interest and depreciation rules. The Senate version, which was enacted into law, changed the House version of the bill that enhanced interest deductibility and depreciation rules for only five years.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Tax Reform
Tax Package Increases Estate Tax Exemption
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 10:51 AM
H.R.1, the budget reconciliation bill enacted into law on July 3, includes a provision that permanently increases the estate tax exemption to $15 million ($30 million for married couples). The base year for indexing the $15 million exemption amount was changed to 2025.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Estate Planning Tax Reform
1 min read
Income-Limited Tax Break for Some Seniors Approved
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 10:49 AM
Now law is a new five-year $6,000 deduction for some seniors. The Senate version of H.R.1, which has been enacted into law, creates a $6,000 special deduction from income, but not Social Security, for taxpayers over age 65 with incomes of $75,000 ($150,000/married) or less. The deduction phases down (but not below zero), at the rate of six percent of the amount by which a single taxpayer’s income exceeds $75,000 ($150,000/married filing jointly). The deduction is good for 2025 through 2028.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Tax Reform
1 min read
Reconciliation Bill Restricts Itemized Deduction Values for Wealthy
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 10:47 AM
A “tax-the-rich” provision in the new law reduces the value of itemized deductions for 37 percent taxpayers. The provision would replace current law’s Pease limitation on the value of itemized deductions.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Tax Reform Charity
1 min read
Health Savings Accounts Expansion Scaled Back in New Tax Package
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 10:44 AM
The new law excludes a number of enhancements to the rules governing health savings accounts (HSAs) that had been in the House-passed version of H.R.1. Two expansion provisions did make it into the new law, though: qualification of Affordable Care Act (ACA) bronze and catastrophic plans as a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) that allows a person to have an HSA and a provision that permits telehealth without triggering higher copayments or deductibles.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Health Savings Accounts
1 min read
New Law Exempts Some Overtime Pay from Income Tax
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 10:42 AM
The new law provides that individuals earning up to $150,000/year ($300,000/married) will not pay income tax on up to $12,500 ($25,000 married) in overtime (OT) pay. This tax break takes effect this year (2025) and expires at the end of 2028.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Tax Reform
1 min read
Employer Paid Leave Tax Credit Included in New Law
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 10:40 AM
H.R.1 as enacted into law extends the tax credit for employer-provided paid leave. Plus, the new law expands the tax credit by allowing employers to choose whether to take the deduction based on leave taken, or on the premiums paid for insurance that provides paid leave benefits.
Topics: Legislation & Regulations Taxes
1 min read
H.R.1 Would Create New Tax-Favored Savings Accounts for Children
By NAIFA on 7/15/25 10:38 AM
Included in H.R.1 as enacted into law are provisions that would create new tax-favored savings accounts (Trump accounts) for children. It also includes creation of a pilot program under which there would be a one-time government contribution to Trump accounts.
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