Vol.5, November 2025
November Benefits Rundown: Joining EBRI, 2026 IRS limits + more
I saw a t-shirt recently that read “weekend state of mind,” and it got me thinking about the mindset we bring to our work. With Thanksgiving approaching, I’m leaning into a “grateful state of mind”—and not just for the season, but for the long haul.
In benefits, the work is rarely easy. But when we shift our focus to the impact we make, it can change how we show up. There’s real meaning in helping people prepare for life events and build financial security. That’s something to feel good about.
‘Til next time,
Mindy Zatto, FSA, EA, FCA, MAAA, MSPA
Founding Principal, SBA
This Month at SBA
A quick look at what’s new, noteworthy, or just plain useful from our team.
Coming soon to a mailbox near you: 2026 IRS Limits
The IRS has finally released all 2026 limits for retirement and health plans, with most limits increasing from 2025 levels due to cost-of-living adjustments. As always, we’re sending complimentary quick-reference cards to SBA clients and friends like you.
Each laminated postcard contains two snap-out reference cards with retirement plan limits on one side and health plan limits on the reverse—so you can keep one for yourself and share the other with a colleague.
Not sure if you’re on our mailing list? Reply to this email and I’ll confirm. Or, bookmark our online reference guide linked below!
SBA is now a member of EBRI
SBA is proud to join the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), a nonpartisan organization known for its rigorous, data-driven research on retirement, health, and financial well-being. EBRI membership gives our team access to timely research and analysis that help us stay sharp, spot trends early, and deliver more grounded guidance to our clients.
Ask the Principals
Our leadership team tackles tough questions from plan sponsors like you.
A: You get better outcomes when your benefits partner does more than advise—they execute. SBA combines deep technical expertise with hands-on support to help plan sponsors make decisions that improve service, control costs, and reduce internal strain. We don’t stop at recommendations. We stay until the results show up.
The best outcomes start with partnerships built on trust, transparency, and deep subject matter knowledge. SBA’s approach is hands-on and collaborative. We work shoulder-to-shoulder with clients to address the full spectrum of benefits challenges, drawing on decades of experience in consulting, actuarial analysis, outsourcing, and vendor operations.
Every engagement is customized to your goals, and we act as an extension of your internal team—not just outside advisors. Clients choose SBA because we’re independent, responsive, and committed to advocacy. We don’t just hand off a strategy, we help implement it, troubleshoot along the way, and stay accountable for results.
Recommended Reading
Each month, the SBA team curates a selection of standout articles from across the employee benefits landscape. Here’s what caught our attention this month:
Meeting Longevity’s Challenges to Wealth, Health (Plan Adviser)
Vanguard’s Inaugural ‘How America Retires’ Stresses Need for Personalization (National Assoc of Plan Advisors)
401(k) Participation Up as Employers Embrace SECURE 2.0 Flexibility (ASPPA)
How to help employees spend their FSA dollars before the deadline (Employee Benefit News)
‘Trench warfare’ on health care (POLITICO)