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January 14, 2004 - 13,655 subscribers
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S.E.C. Has Found Payoffs in Sales of Mutual Funds
Excerpt: "Federal officials announced a new front in the investigations into the mutual fund industry on Tuesday, saying they had uncovered widespread instances of brokers receiving undisclosed payments for steering investors toward specific funds." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Will New Lifetime Savings Accounts, Retirement Savings Accounts Be Fourth Bush Tax Cut?
Excerpt: "[C]onservatives are pinning their hopes on a savings proposal that could dramatically reduce many workers' long-term tax burdens, while possibly increasing government revenues in the short term, thus deflecting concerns about deficits." (Human Events Online)
Hewitt Recommends Plan Sponsor Action on SEC Regulations
Excerpt: "In response to the surprising discoveries this fall of after-hours and excessive trading by a few mutual funds and investors, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed new rules on December 3, 2003 to curb these trading abuses. The SEC's swift action is meant to protect direct mutual fund investors, but Hewitt believes that the agency has not taken into full account the dramatic and negative effect on 401(k) participants." (Hewitt)
Overview: PBGC Allows Plan Sponsors To Do Recordkeeping Online
Excerpt: "Known as PBGC-14, My Plan Administration Account Authentication Records ... the system will allow plan sponsors to file and pay premiums, file plan terminations, check account histories and perform other recordkeeping tasks." (BenefitNews.com)
Study Disputes View of Costly Surge in Class-Action Suits
Excerpt: "The finding of a new study on the average price of class-action lawsuits contradicts the position held by companies that the suits drive up the cost of doing business." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Overview: Federal Estate Tax Exemption Amounts and Rates are Changing
Excerpt: "The Exemption Amount for Decedents Dying in 2004 Increases to $1,500,000" (Buchanan Ingersoll)
Opinion: Crime Doesn't Pay in Connecticut -- But the State Benefits Are Nice
Excerpt: "But [Rhode Island] is doing what it can to shed its reputation as the Hershey Park of candy-store plundering. One step it took, in particular, is worth emulating. In 1992, Ocean State lawmakers adopted a law that calls for a public official's or public employee's pension benefits to be revoked if he is convicted of, or pleads guilty to, any crime related to his public office or public employment." (The Hartford Courant; one-time registration)
Opinion: Zvi Bodie and the Keynes' Paradox of Thrift
Excerpt: "Academician, raconteur, and all-around good guy Zvi Bodie [has] a noteworthy new publication, Worry Free Investing ... The book combines Bodie's nonpareil grasp of the financial markets with Clowes' prose skill, providing solid advice to anyone seeking guidance on retirement saving. Stocks, he points out, are riskier than they seem ... [Bodie says also that] TIPS should form the core of your portfolio. I do have several quibbles with the core-TIPS concept." (Efficient Frontier)
Teamsters Pension Fund Still Ailing
Excerpt: "The $17.1 billion Central States Pension Fund provides retirement benefits for more than 400,000 Teamsters across the country. Trustees of the fund blame losses on the bear market and increasing numbers of retirees drawing pensions have the fund." ([St. Paul Minn.] Pioneer Press)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Bookmark: Key Indicators
Excerpt: "Applicable Federal Rates; PBGC Interest Rates; Social Security Key Items; Social Security Covered Compensation; Maximum PBGC Guaranteed Benefit; Medicare Amounts; Key IRS Interest Rates; Key Maximums; Consumer Price Index (CPI)" (Mellon's Human Resources & Investor Solutions)
Newspaper Sues Hospital System For Information on Ex-CEO's Retirement Package
Excerpt: "The Charlotte Observer is suing Carolinas HealthCare System in an effort to gain details about the compensation package given chief executive Harry Nurkin when he retired unexpectedly in 2002." (WSOCtv.com)
Newly Posted Events
Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council
in Florida on January 14, 2004
presented by ASPA (American Society of Pension Actuaries)
The Entrepreneur's Workshop on Equity Compensation
Nationwide on January 27, 2004
presented by Beyster Institute
The ESOP Solution for Private Companies
Nationwide on February 18, 2004
presented by Beyster Institute
Critical Issues in Establishing Employee Ownership
Nationwide on March 9, 2004
presented by Beyster Institute
New Visions in Employee Ownership
Nationwide on April 28, 2004
presented by Beyster Institute
IRA Basics Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on October 5, 2004
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
IRAs: Comparing Roth and Traditional IRAs Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on February 5, 2004
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
IRAs: Comparing Roth and Traditional IRAs Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on August 5, 2004
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
IRAs: Conversions Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on April 1, 2004
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
IRAs: Conversions Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on July 8, 2004
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
IRAs: Conversions Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on October 7, 2004
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
IRA Basic Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on April 6, 2004
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
IRA Basics Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on July 6, 2004
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
Institute President, Senior Economist Discuss Comparisons of Mutual Fund, Pension Plan Fee Levels
Nationwide on January 6, 2004
presented by Investment Company Institute
Newly Posted Press Releases
Year-Round Tax/Financial Planning Could Mean More Savings: Use A Calendar To Keep Tabs On Critical Financial And Tax Considerations
(Deloitte)
Technical Answer Group, Inc. -TAG- Launches New Actuarial Division
(Technical Answer Group, Inc. (TAG))
Continued Growth: Alliance Benefit Group Builds On Already Successful 2003
(Alliance Benefit Group)
Benefit Advisors Network Welcomes Corporate Benefit Strategies
(Benefit Advisors Network)
Survey Reveals Only 11.9% Of Plan Sponsors Are Satisfied With Plan Communications
(Metrics Partners)
Metrics Partners Releases Updated Corporate Website
(Metrics Partners)
Educational Programs Offered in February and March 2004
(International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Product Director, Defined Benefits
for Merrill Lynch, Retirement Group
in NJ
Administrative Assistant
for Suburban Philadelphia Pension Firm
in PA
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