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Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Milan spoke at the Economic Club of New York on Monday, dismissing concerns about tariff-induced inflation and calling for two 50-basis-point rate cuts next quarter to prevent the unemployment rate from climbing. He argued that tariff revenue, tax policy, and immigration controls may have lowered the neutral rate, paving the way for rapid easing. Meanwhile, St. Louis Fed President Musalem emphasized that there is limited room for further easing.
The Trump administration announced an additional $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, aiming to curb abuse and protect American workers. Tech industry and human resources leaders face new pressure, with companies like Microsoft requiring visa-holding employees to return to the U.S. The White House press secretary clarified that the fee applies only to new visas and does not affect renewals or current holders.
Rising premiums and cost opacity in traditional group health insurance create uncertainty for CFOs during budget planning. Through a defined contribution model, ICHRA helps companies cap annual healthcare spending, enhance financial predictability, and bring strategic advantages such as talent optimization, flexibility, and compliance. Data shows that ICHRA adoption continues to grow, employee satisfaction is high, and some states offer additional incentives.
Retirement plan management is becoming a key focus for CFOs. Data shows that 40% of U.S. households lack sufficient funds after retirement, and 84% of companies view rising costs as their biggest benefits challenge. Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs), driven by the SECURE Act, now manage $9.4 billion in assets and serve over 1 million participants. Aon's PEP holds more than $5 billion in assets, with participating employers saving an average of 30% on costs, and investment fee ratios are 55% below the peer median. PEPs achieve economies of scale through collective bargaining while retaining plan customization flexibility and shifting day-to-day fiduciary responsibilities to reduce litigation risk. This article provides financial leaders with data and a framework for evaluating PEPs.
Over the past 10 days, employees at ABC, MSNBC, The Washington Post, and several hospitals, airlines, and universities have been successively fired or suspended for commenting on the fatal shooting of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. Experts say this series of events reminds employers of the need to prioritize the development and enforcement of social media policies, while carefully addressing state laws protecting employees' off-duty conduct, collective activity rights under the National Labor Relations Act, and the clarity and consistency of policy language.
A survey released Thursday by the Business Roundtable showed that the CEO Economic Outlook Index rose to 76, with capital expenditure plans rebounding, but hiring plans remained largely unchanged, reflecting continued labor market weakness. Meanwhile, a global survey by EY-Parthenon also showed a rebound in CEO confidence, with most planning to increase capital investment and focus on localization of operations.
Minority staff of the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations this week released a 292-page report sharply criticizing KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms, for issuing "unqualified" clean audit opinions for Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank before their collapse in 2023. The report also disclosed details of behind-the-scenes discussions between auditors and Silicon Valley Bank's chief financial officer and another bank executive during the tense days before the bank run in March 2023, revealing the close relationship between the auditors and the bank.
The Conference Board reported on Thursday that current tariff levels are the highest since the 1930s, significantly dragging on the economy, and it expects GDP growth to slow to 1.6% this year. Its Leading Economic Index fell in August by the most since April, with components such as new manufacturing orders, building permits, average weekly manufacturing hours, and consumer expectations all weakening.
FASB issued long-awaited new guidance on accounting for internal-use software costs on Thursday, with amendments aimed at simplifying existing rules and improving operability. The new rules apply to costs incurred in developing or purchasing software for internal use and are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027.
Spend management platform Extend announced the appointment of former PayPal executive Francois Horikawa as its first CFO, along with $20 million in new funding to accelerate profitability and product expansion. Horikawa will be responsible for driving the transformation of the company's economic model and diversifying revenue streams.