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466 Matching News Items

1.  The American Retirement Association: A New Name for an Expanding Mission
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Mar. 12, 2015
"For nearly half a century, the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) and its affiliated organizations have been working for America's retirement. As of today, it does so under a new name as broad and expansive as the members it represents: the American Retirement Association.... [T]he American Retirement Association is a nonprofit professional organization with two major goals: to educate all retirement plan and benefits professionals, and to create a framework of policy that gives every working American the ability to have a comfortable retirement.... The American Retirement Association is composed of four premier retirement industry associations: [1] the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA); [2] the ASPPA College of Pension Actuaries (ACOPA) ; [3] the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA); and [4] the National Tax-deferred Savings Association (NTSA)"
2.  American Retirement Association Asks IRS for More Time on LTPTE Rule
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Nov. 29, 2023
"The ARA focused on three points in particular: [1] The interpretation of the vesting rule creates irreversible administrative complexities if the plan uses the LTPTE service rule; [2] Participants have entered the plan as LTPTEs in 2023, and therefore, the rule has retroactive consequences that cannot be reversed; and [3] Plan sponsors that would have LTPTEs entering for the first time in 2024 do not have sufficient time to respond by adjusting the plan design to avoid the irreversible administrative complexities introduced by the Proposed Regulation."
3.  American Retirement Association Comments to EBSA on Proposed Regs for Savings Arrangements Established by States for Non-Governmental Employees (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Jan. 15, 2016
"The ARA generally agrees with and supports the Department's proposal and the underlying goal of expanding coverage. We are concerned, however, that the proposed rule creates different standards for payroll deduction IRA Programs administered by a state and those administered by private sector providers outside of a state program. Furthermore, we believe the lack of a private sector alternative operating alongside the various state programs would be contrary to the overall objective of increasing access to workplace retirement savings programs. This would be to the detriment of improving retirement security for American workers."
4.  American Retirement Association Comment Letter to EBSA on Proposed Amendment to the QPAM Exemption (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Oct. 12, 2022
"[ARA recommends] that the Department: [1] Modify the exclusive authority condition of the proposed amendment to Section I(c) of the QPAM Exemption so as not to preclude routine business interactions. [2] Modify the conditions of the one-year winding down period of proposed new Section I(j) so as not to preclude new transactions in existing accounts which are required for a prudent winding down process. [3] Provide at least 18 months for QPAMs, plan sponsors, and other parties-in-interest to come into compliance with the conditions of an amended QPAM Exemption."
5.  Comments of American Retirement Association to Treasury and IRS on Guidance Issues Under the SECURE Act (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Feb. 17, 2020
[1] [It] is not clear how the elimination of the safe harbor notice for nonelective 401(k) safe harbor plans impacts the current regulatory requirements that in order to either eliminate or add a safe harbor in the middle of the plan year, certain information must be included in the safe harbor notice and/or follow-up notices provided.... [2] [U]nder current regulations a plan must be using the current year testing method in order to add a safe harbor provision to the plan during the year. It is not clear how this requirement would apply in light of the statutory change permitting a plan to add a safe harbor provision up to 12 months after the end of the plan year.... [3] [U]nder current regulations under IRC section 401(m), a plan that uses safe harbor nonelective contributions, complies with the limitations on matching contributions, and complies with the notice requirement ... satisfies the ACP safe harbor provisions of IRC section 401(m)(11). It is not clear how this ACP safe harbor for matching contributions made to a nonelective 401(k) safe harbor plan is impacted by the elimination of the safe harbor notice for nonelective 401(k) safe harbor plans."
6.  Comments of American Retirement Association to DOL on Guidance Issues Under the SECURE Act (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Feb. 17, 2020
Topics include: [1] Multiple Employer Plans; Pooled Employer Plans; [2] Fiduciary safe harbor for selection of lifetime income provider; [3] Disclosure regarding lifetime income; [4] Combined annual report for Group of Plans; [5] Inclusion of long-term part-time employees.
7.  American Retirement Association Comment Letter to IRS Requesting Meeting Relating to Section 401(k) Hardship Regs (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Oct. 10, 2019
"Sponsors of individually designed plans have two years from the publication of the Required Amendments List to adopt a conforming amendment. Imposing a substantially shorter deadline for adopters of pre-approved plans may undercut IRS' goal of fostering compliance within the retirement industry.... This is extremely problematic for plan document providers who must implement the underlying systems, delivery, and communications of the amendments. This interim amendment cannot simply be adopted by the volume submitter practitioner or prototype sponsoring organization because adopting employers have many options available to them."
8.  American Retirement Association Weighs in on Nevada Fiduciary Law
American Retirement Association Link to more items from this source
Aug. 23, 2017
"The comment letter ... concludes that courts would find that the Nevada statute is preempted by ERISA to the extent it seeks to regulate financial advisers who provide services to a retirement plan governed by ERISA, to the plan's fiduciaries and/or to the plan's participants or beneficiaries."
9.  American Retirement Association Comment Letter to EBSA on Proposed Revisions to Form 5500 (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Sept. 15, 2016
"ARA recommends that the public comment period be extended by 105 days to January 17, 2017.... ARA recommends that additional time be provided to transition into the significant technology changes the Proposal will require and that the effective date should be deferred to allow for consideration of public comment as to ways information can be collected in a less costly and burdensome manner.... ARA recommends that the Agencies hold a public hearing on the Proposal."
10.  American Retirement Association Letter to IRS on Proposed Form 5500 Series Compliance Questions (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
May 31, 2016
"The effective date for mandatory collection of information solicited by the new compliance questions should be delayed to coincide with the proposed Form 5500 revisions expected from the [DOL] ... The request for the EIN of the plan's trust at 1(b) should remain an optional question at least for the next 2 plan years so as to provide time for plan sponsors to determine whether a trust EIN has been deactivated by the IRS or apply for an EIN."
11.  American Retirement Association Letter to IRS Recommending Changes to Pre-Approved Plan Programs (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Feb. 23, 2016
"In an effort to further enhance the effectiveness of the current pre-approved plan programs, the ARA recommends: [1] The establishment of a single, streamlined revenue procedure that covers both 401(a) qualified plans and 403(b) plans ... eliminating distinctions (substantive, procedural and terminology) currently associated with 'M&P' and 'volume submitter' plans. [2] Specific enhancements to improve and expand the availability of pre-approved plans in light of the changes to the determination letter program for individually designed plans. [3] An initial restatement period of three years for employers adopting pre-approved 403(b) plans. [4] The addition of 457(b) plans to the pre-approved plan program."
12.  American Retirement Association Letter to IRS Requesting Meeting on Revised 5500 Compliance Questions/Instructions (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA]
Feb. 22, 2016
"The most recent announcement in which the IRS advised that the questions should not be completed, even on an optional basis, is the latest twist in this saga that has been on going since the draft questions were first released in December of 2014.... Once again, plan sponsors, practitioners and software providers do not know what data should be collected and maintained for a plan year that is underway.... The ARA continues to believe a meeting at which we (and other stakeholders) could explain our concerns would be extremely beneficial to improving the data received and reducing the burdens of collection."
13.  American Retirement Association Comment Letter to IRS on Changes to Determination Letter Program (PDF)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Oct. 2, 2015
12 pages. "ARA understands the resource concerns faced by the IRS and has been actively involved with the IRS in discussions to improve both the [determination letter (DL)] program and the pre-approved plan program. Our comments below are made with the expectation the IRS will continue to work with the practitioner community to improve both of these programs.... This comment letter primarily focuses on the changes made to the DL program for individually designed plans ... This letter first addresses the questions posed by the IRS. The answers to many of these questions are inherently tied to other issues under consideration by the IRS."
14.  Senate Finance Committee Hearing: Investigating Challenges to American Retirement Security
Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate Link to more items from this source
Dec. 9, 2020
Dec. 9, 2020. Testimony from: [1] Scott Barr, Edward Jones; [2] Eric Stevenson, Nationwide; [3] Michael P. Kreps, Groom Law Group; and [4] Joshua Luskin, National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators.
15.  American Academy of Actuaries Comment Letter to National Association of Insurance Commissioners on Accounting for Post-Retirement Benefits Other than Pensions (PDF)
American Academy of Actuaries Link to more items from this source
Dec. 12, 2011
"On behalf of the Joint Committee on Retiree Health and Pension Accounting Committee of the American Academy of Actuaries', we appreciate the opportunity to provide comments to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) on the exposure drafts of Statements of Statutory Accounting Principles (SSAP) No. 92 and No. 102, which are intended to replace existing standards governing accounting for pension benefits and postretirement benefits other than pensions (OPEBs)."
16.  How Trump Is Strengthening American Retirement Security
DOL Secretary Alexander Acosta, Via The News and Observer Link to more items from this source
Aug. 31, 2018
"President Trump's executive order directs his administration to identify policies that would assist small- and mid-sized businesses to sponsor workplace retirement plans by coming together as a group or association of employers. Such retirement plans would leverage economies of scale to give small-business employees access to the same quality 401(k) plans as workers at large companies.... These plans could offer an efficient way to reduce paperwork and administration costs for small businesses. This means small-business owners could focus on running their businesses rather than running retirement plans -- while still creating opportunity for their employees to prepare for a financially secure retirement."
17.  Letter from Employer Organizations to EBSA Re Electronic Delivery of Retirement Plan Information (PDF)
American Bankers Association, American Council of Life Insurers [ACLI], American Retirement Association [ARA], ERISA Industry Committee [ERIC], Investment Company Institute [ICI], Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association [SIFMA], SPARK Instit Link to more items from this source
June 2, 2019
"Electronic delivery empowers retirement plan participants by providing them constant and real-time access to information about their retirement benefits and other online tools that can assist with retirement planning. Retirement savers could more easily retain copies of benefit statements, search for relevant information, and link to relevant information and options, such as increasing their retirement contributions."
18.  Senate Bill Would Expand Retirement Plan Access for Coronavirus Impact(s)
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Mar. 20, 2020
"The CARES Act [S 3548] includes provisions advocated by the American Retirement Association that loosen retirement plan hardship and loan rules to free up funds for individuals impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic."
19.  American Airlines Pilot's 401(k) ESG Suit Clears Motion to Dismiss
American Retirement Association [ARA] Link to more items from this source
Feb. 23, 2024
"[The District Court judge] concluded that the plaintiff 'articulates a plausible story: Defendants' public commitment to ESG initiatives motivated the disloyal decision to invest Plan assets with managers who pursue non-economic ESG objectives through select investments that underperform relative to non-ESG investments, all while failing to faithfully investigate the availability of other investment managers whose exclusive focus would maximize financial benefits for Plan participants.' " [Spence v. Am. Airlines, Inc., No. 23-0552 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 21, 2024)]
20.  American Bankers Association Comments on N.C. Bar's Position on Unlicensed Practice of Law (PDF)
American Bankers Association Link to more items from this source
Dec. 19, 2002
3 pages. Excerpt: [M]aster and prototype plans increase access to qualified plans for smaller employers by creating a more cost-effective alternative to providing retirement benefits for their employees. There is potential great harm to widely accepted practices regarding the qualified plan process if the North Carolina State Bar brushes such a broad stroke against work on retirement plans.
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