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Retirement Plans
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March 30, 2004 - 13,655 subscribers
Today's sponsor: DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.

(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)

Software for 401(k), DB and Flexible Benefits
DATAIR BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION SOFTWARE for Pension,
Profit Sharing, 401(k) and Cafeteria/Flexible Benefits plans.
Designed for administrators and consultants. Modules include
proposals, IRS-approved documents, enrollment, administration,
government reporting, distribution, tax planning, and
client and task management. Training and support included.
For free demo versions and pricing, contact sales@datair.com
or call 1-888-328-2474.

(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Do Annuities Make Sense in a 403(b) or 457(b)? A Consultant Responds
Excerpt: "This is a copy of the recent article Do Annuities Make Sense in a 403(b) or 457(b)? with interspersed rebuttals and thoughts from Ellie Lowder, MCRS. Ellie is an independent consultant in the 403(b) market segment; author of a number of books (and compliance guides) about 403(b) and 457(b) plans; and an Advisor to the National Tax Sheltered Accounts Association. She has over 40 years of experience in the 403(b) market segment. Her comments speak only to 403(b) arrangements." (403bWise.com)

Could a Bull Market Be a Panacea for Defined Benefit Pension Plans?
Excerpt: "This report describes the serious challenges and outlook facing the PBGC and corporate defined benefit pension plans, and examines the effects on financial institutions insured by the FDIC. Defined benefit pension problems can affect the competitiveness and cash flow of sponsoring companies, some of which borrow from FDIC-insured institutions." (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Rejection of Pension 'Opt-Out' Urged In Houston
Excerpt: "Houston does not need to exempt itself from new statewide benefit protections in order to fix its $2 billion pension funding crisis, leaders of two employee funds said Monday." (Houston Chronicle)

San Diego County Pension Deficit Swells
Excerpt: "San Diego County's pension fund deficit has grown to $1.4 billion because of poor stock market performance, higher retirement benefits given to public employees and other factors, according to a new report." (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Opinion: Rhode Island Pension Forfeiture Law Shouldn't Have Gaping Loophole
Excerpt: "Might not citizens wish to make it clear to public officials that they will suffer serious consequences if they exploit their power to hurt the public, so that they will be stopped by concerns of self-interest even if they lack a moral compass? Funneling pensions to corrupt pols through their spouses hardly seems to send that message." (Providence Journal; one-time registration required)

Creating a Corporate Conscience
Excerpt: "Shareholder resolutions on social issues are breaking new ground, although they've been around for more than three decades and were a major tool for anti-apartheid activists in the 1970s and 1980s." (San Francisco Chronicle)

Controlled Groups: Implications for Qualified Plans (PDF)
At pp. 9-12 of 12-page document. Nice overview. (Milliman USA)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

House Opposition to Expensing of Stock Options Increases
Excerpt: "The high-tech lobby, which turned to Congress a decade ago to help block a requirement to count stock options as expenses, is finding friends in high places on Capitol Hill again." (Washington Post; one-time registration required)

Tougher Accounting Rule Expected for Stock Options
Excerpt: "In a ruling that could change the way many Americans are paid, the nation's top accounting authority is expected to decree as early as today that companies must treat employee stock options as business expenses when they are issued." (Los Angeles Times; one-time registration required)

Massachusetts OKs Marriage Amendment
Excerpt: "Massachusetts lawmakers yesterday passed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman and to make their state the second in U.S. history to create civil unions for homose.xuals." (Washington Times)

D.C.-Area Grocery Chains, Workers Reach Tentative Agreement
Excerpt: "Negotiators for the two largest supermarket chains and unions representing their 18,000 Washington area workers have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, sources said [Monday]." (Washington Post; one-time registration required)

Newly Posted Events

Not Just a Technology Issue: The Critical Role of Attorneys in HIPAA Security
Nationwide on April 21, 2004
presented by American Health Lawyers Association

125 Plan Administrator
in Pennsylvania on July 14, 2004
presented by MHM Resources Inc.

125 Plan Administrator Training
in Missouri on May 19, 2004
presented by MHM Resources Inc.

125 Plan Administrator Training
in Georgia on October 6, 2004
presented by MHM Resources Inc.

125 Plan Administrator Training
in Missouri on November 17, 2004
presented by MHM Resources Inc.
Newly Posted Press Releases

Hewitt Associates to Launch New Advertising Program
(Hewitt Associates LLC)

Cottage Health System Refines HR Administrative Processes with Open Enrollment Provided by Benefit Software’s Fringe Facts® Online
(Benefit Software Inc.)

The Honorable John W. Snow Prepared Remarks: Health Savings Accounts Event at the Department of the Treasury
(U.S. Department of Treasury)

Treasury Issues Additional Guidance on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
(U.S. Department of Treasury)

Merrill Lynch And McCamish Systems Form Alliance To Serve Non-Qualified/Deferred Compensation Plans
(Merrill Lynch and McCamish Systems)

The Boomers Will Be Slow to Retire, Says Economist Richard Hokenson, but When They Do, They'll Hit the Beach in Large Numbers
(Hokenson & Company)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Employee Benefits Sales Representative
for Great-West Healthcare
in CT, NY, WA

Client Services Representative
for PAi
in NV, WI

401k Client Service Representative
for BISYS Retirement Services
in PA

401(k) Administrator
for Alliance Benefit Group of New England
in NH

Project Manager-CCI
for Transamerica
in CA

Retirement Plan Consultant
for Invesmart
in OH

Controller
for MassMutual
in MA

Fund Administrator
for SEIU Local 74 Benefit Funds
in NY

Daily 401(k) Plan Administrator
for Newport Group of North Carolina, Inc.
in NC

Client Relations Manager
for ING U.S. Financial Services
in CA

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