As of the date of this report, we are nearing the halfway point of 2025 which means that the employee benefit plan (EBP) practices for most firms are starting to ramp up. In this report, we highlight key regulatory developments, discuss changes to the EBP Audit Guide, provide an update on the most recent changes to the peer review checklist, and discuss current hot topics in the EBP world.
As mentioned in our report last year (2024 EBP Report), for an audit performed in accordance with ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(c), a best practice is to include the name of the certifying institution either in the auditors’ report or in the notes to the financial statements, as the Department of Labor (DOL) has been requesting this information from plan sponsors if not included.
To address this issue, a new note has been added to the 2024 EBP Audit Guide which contains the recommended language noted above.