I have a disagreement with an insurance company issuing an ERISA bond as to whether or not an investment in the stock (which is not publicly traded) of a small community bank is a qualifying plan asset.

I would sincerely appreciate the opinions of the other users in this forum. Thanks.

We're an employer considering adding employee paid group term legal, auto, homeowners insurance, long term care, and universal life.

Any other employers out there who have added these programs and any advice in choosing vendors or setting up this program?

I have a client with approximately 9,000 "lost" participants with accrued benefits of less than $10. All have had checks issued via force-out and returned so they are in a "outstanding check" status. Can anyone describe for me the legal requirements for handling these? My client operates in Minnesota - I haven't had a chance to look up their escheatment rules - I'm thinking that is their only option.

Thanks for your input.

Does anyone know any good links to find the average percentage of employees who contribute to a 401(k) plan? I've seen some old surveys but want something up to date. I've noticed plansponsor (as of 11/02) estimates 75%, but I thought that might be a little high. I'd also be curious to see % w/ balances vs. % making current salary deferral elections.

Thanks.

A profit sharing trust holds investments in non-qualified plan assets in excess of $1.3 million. (Approximately 75% of plan assets.) The plan participants consist of the owner of the corporation sponsoring the plan and his three sons. While I doubt it, is there any chance of the plan being entitled to the waiver for the audit without bonding the 1.3 million? Any other ideas?

THIS IS BASIC STUFF BUT MY MEMORY IS STARTING TO FAIL ME AND THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE WORTHLESS.

ARE ITEMS 1©(1) AND 1©(2)(B) ON THE B TO BE INCLUSIVE OR EXCLUSIVE OF NC FOR AN EOY VAL?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

DRAPER

I'm looking for help and your thoughts on the following scenario -- an employee has been on a medical leave for more than one year. She is receiving LTD payments. She is recently divorced and was taken off her former husband's medical policy after the divorce. She talked to the HR dept. of her employer and was told that she could go on the company medical plan. So, in March 2003, that is what she did. She has now heard from the company that allowing her coverage under the company plan was a mistake. It seems that the CBA with her union provides that employees on medical leaves can not go back on the medical plan until after a waiting period. The company said that her coverage has been terminated as of March 2003 and she must repay all the benefits she has used since then. Wondering if she could go back in time (constructively) because of the mistake about coverage and get COBRA coverage from the husband's employer. Or, under HIPAA, might her employer have to give her coverage beause she had credible coverage under the husband's plan notwithstanding the provision in the CBA? Any other ways out of this unfortunate situation? Thank you for your help.

A non-profit organization that has previously made employer contributions to its 403(b) plan has passed a board resolution stopping the employer contributions. Is the plan now a non-ERISA plan? May it stop filing Form 5500? Thanks for any guidance.

Please be careful. In the United States every year, more people are killed by vending machines than by sharks.

Are in-service distributions protected benefits under 411(d)(6) or can that language be removed when restating the plan?

Company ABC participates in a Multiple ER Plan within a PEO arrangement. Employee with Company ABC terminates employment, but continues to work for Company DEF, which happens to be another participating employer within the same arrangement. Is there a distributable event here or would you transfer the assets just as if you would transfer prior credit for service, etc. (in accordance with the plan document of course)?

Thank you!

There was a proposal to remove social security numbers from benefit statements. Did this include removing social security numbers from the valuation reports also?

Is there a minimum Mileage amount for medical treatment traveling expenses that a person can claim for reimbursement?

I have a client who is trying to claim for a trip to the doctor that was only 10 miles away. Is this eligible for reimbursement being so close to his home?

We have a situation where we have adopted a prototype 401(k) plan. We are in the process of establishing a new corporation that will NOT be within our controlled group of corporation, but we want to enable this corporation to participate in the 401(k) plan. We plan on converting the current prototype 401(k) plan into a multiple employer plan to permit the unrelated corporation to adopt it. What must we do to accomplish this? Is there any guidance that might be helpful?

Thank you

What is a reasonable transaction fee for buying and selling employer stock in a retirement plan? Are there typically any other fees associated with maintaining employer stock in a retirement plan?

Does an actuary have a (legal/professional) responsibility to minimize or maximize a DB plan's contribution by exploring the effect of different cost methods etc?

That is, can an actuary be held liable because the client did not get higher deduction which could be been attained by use of "permissible" funding method etc?

Or the contribution was not minimized (and could have been), as a result of which there is a funding deficiency and the client had to file Form 5330 and pay the penalty?

If an actuary does have such a responsibility, what if the client does not want to pay for the extra time & effort involved in doing so!?

Has there been a case where an actuary was held responsible for not computing higher permissible / lower required contribution?

Hi,

Upon a pension plan's investment in a partnership which causes the assets of the partnership to become plan assets (no exemptions apply), if the partnership agreement calls for additional partner contributions, in particular a drawdown of a partner's initial capital contribition, will such transaction be considered a prohibited transaction with a party-in-interest?

Thank you

Hi,

Does the requirement that a 103-12 IE list all of its assets for investment purposes under Part IV subsection i of Schedule H mean that the 103-12 IE has to list all of the partnerships it invests in? What if the 103-12 IE want to keep its investments in the partnerships confidential?

Thank you!

Read an article that says IRS Notice 2003-20 states that employers must report contributions to 457 plans on individual w2's. Has anyone heard of this? would this mean that contributions are now taxable?

How do I change the email address attached to my user name?