Can the IQPA report be issued as "qualified" or "with reservation" or must it be unqualified. The law and regs only require conformity with generally accepted auditing standards. Nothing more, does this mean a qualified report will be rejected by the DOL?

Can an EAP under Code Section 127 provide that the employer will establish a cap on total reimbursements each year, and that once the cap is reached, no one else will receive reimbursements under the plan for the remainder of that year?

Gary, thanks for the information regarding the LRMs in response to my question of terminating a SIMPLE IRA during the year. The SIMPLE plan that we offer is the IRS model which doesn't contain this language. So does the model have this additional flexibility compared to the prototype??-- I would think not but I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks again.

BenefitsLink reprint:

Official versions, from the Federal Register:

Can an employer offer LTC insurance to a select group of employees only? i.e., can you discriminate? I've done some research and it appears that you can but would like to know if anyone else has researched this issue and come to the same conclusion.

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[This message has been edited by georgia Irwin (edited 02-03-2000).]

I have written and am currently editing a book which will be published this Fall by CDG MacMillan Canada. I am trying to locate information on the extent to which the private sector provides extended leave benefits to its employees. These might include self-funded leave, such as the deferred salary leave plans offered by much of the public sector, paid leave or simply extended leave without pay. Would anyone have any information on this topic or any advice on other possible sources? I very much appreciate any assistance and will, of course, acknowledge assistance received in the book.

"Mary" had an IRA and died prior to reaching age 70 1/2. She named her sister "Sally" as beneficiary. Sally began receiving proceeds from the IRA and is now in her 90's. Her health is failing and she wants to give the remainder of the IRA balance to her son upon her death instead of having it become part of her estate. Her cpa was told that because Sally is the beneficiary of the IRA, she can't name another beneficiary. Can anyone confirm this or give me an alternative to pursue? Thanks in advance!

Participant received a 59 1/2 in-service distribution in January 99, unfortunatly the plan does not allow 59 1/2 in-service withdrawals.

Assuming the check has been cashed, what are the possible remedies?

Have any of you heard of a "rule" that allows an employer to terminate an employee after three days if she/he refuses to provide a Social Security Number? I seriously doubt this is enforcable, but am seeking any information out there on this concept.

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Lets say we decide to offer COBRA like benefits to Domestic Partners and lets say we figured out how to calculate the imputed income of domestic partner coverage.

The question is how do companys report the imputed income for COBRA participants(example retiree's) who no longer have a paycheck? Is it just giving out a 1099?

We are dealing with a local govt. that wants to establish a money purchase plan containing 2 vesting schedules, one for regular ee's and one for what they call "at will" ee's (4 or 5 ee's who are usually replaced when there is a change in the governing board). The regular ee's would be subject to a 5 year cliff vesting schedule and the "at will" ee's would be subject to a 3 year cliff. Has anyone had any experience with a similar situation? Are ther any legal limitations? practical/design problems?

Princeton, NJ area TPA seeks to acquire small to mid-size pension administration firms in the Northeast U.S. Interested parties should contact us at 215-493-7073 or email: sales@princetonplan.com. Strict confidentiality is assured.

Richard J. Walls, President

What is the latest on the ability to roll 403 b money into 401 k plans. Non profit organizations can establish 401 k plans as of 1/1/98 but cannot combine 403 b plans in successor k's

We are an independent agency that does business with several small non-profit and for-profit firms that provide social services funded partly by Medicaid and other public funding. One of our client companies has informed us that a member of their board of directors who is an insurance agent wants to become agent of record on the medical, dental, life, std, and ltd plans. Granted this doesn't pass a smell test, but can anyone cite specific prohibitions in Texas code or Federal code or regs?

I need to initiate employee education on our company's 401(k) Plan. Past methods have been bringing in the banking institute that administers the plan to do overview in group meetings. I viewed a video of the meetings and they were boring. Does anyone have any innovative ideas on educating employees that are interesting?

I have the opportunity to buy into an IPO and I was wondering if it is against any government rules to buy the shares through my existing Roth IRA? I have asked multiple people at the firm handling the IPO as well as my own IRA custodian but seem to get different answers depending on who I talk to. Obviously I am hoping that the IPO does well and any gains would be tax-free because of the Roth.

I appreciate anyones insight into the question. - JC

Hi.....Can any other group professional tell me if they know of any chat rooms dedicated to the employee benefit/group industry?

Any place to discuss the industry, closing, ect......... Thanks!!!

Can a plan freeze a participant's account from making distributions, loans or hardship withdrawals when it is simply informed (either orally or in writing) that a participant is going through a divorce without a court order?

Obviously, a freeze is intended to protect the proposed alternate payee from the participant's use (or misuse) of account funds that will be ultimately granted to the alternate payee pursuant to a QDRO. It seems to me, however, from reading ERISA section 206 and Code section 414(p) that alternate payee is not entitled to segregation or this protection until a "domestic relations order" has been delivered to the plan administrator for approval as a QDRO.

An alternate payee's protection seems to stem from a DRO, nothing else. Without a DRO that is a judgment, decree or order, the alternate payee has no protection. If the plan administrator provides the alternate payee protection without a DRO, isn't the plan administrator alienating the participant from his or her account? I've seen plan's put freezes where there is no DRO and that seems wrong.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Can anyone direct me to a website with resourceful information on administering a self-funded short term disability plan? If no website available, would appreciate speaking to someone knowledgable in this area. Thanks!

I have a MPPP in which a participant had a loan deemed in 1993 and reported on 1099R. Accrued interest amounts to present were also reported on 1099R. The participant has now terminated. How does the amounts reported on 1099R for accrued interest affect his balance which he wants to rollover to an IRA? Is the sum of the interest amounts reported considered as taxed and therefore not eligible for rollover? Or is his entire vested balance still taxable and therefor eligible to be rolled over?