Dave Baker

We have a new, free daily emailing to subscribers -- called the "Message Boards Digest," it's a digest of each day's new topics on these message boards. With this daily emailing, you'll never miss a new topic. You'll be able to judge the popularity and hence importance of each new topic, because the digest includes the number of times the topic has been viewed and how many replies have been posted to the topic (as of the time the emailing is sent). To subscribe, just enter your email address on the following page, then click the Subscribe button you'll see there: https://benefitslink.com/message_digest/ Here's a recent, sample issue: https://benefitslink.com/message_digest/2017/2017_11_17_message_digest.html As with all of the emailings sent by us at BenefitsLink, your email address is not shared with any other persons, and is not used for any marketing purposes. Enjoy! Dave Baker Webmaster

Here is the proposed 5500 package for 2017, as submitted in April by DOL to OMB for approval: https://benefitslink.com/news/index.cgi/view/20170414-134442

I have confidence in Carol Calhoun. https://www.venable.com/carol-v-calhoun/ Literally wrote the book: https://benefitsattorney.com/books/governmental-plans-answer-book/

"Employer did not withhold elective deferrals from 2016 Christmas bonus. Deferrals since the 2016 bonus have been correct (as far as we know). I am wondering whether employer can use Rev Proc 2016-51 Appendix, section .05(9) to correct. My concern is the notice requirement that requires notice be given not later than 45 days after the date on which correct deferrals begin. In my case, is 'the date on which correct deferrals begin' the first payroll after the bonus? If so, then we missed the 45 day deadline. Am I reading this correctly?" (This topic was deleted accidentally. Could anybody repost the answers that were added to this topic before it was deleted, or chime in with other answers? Thanks!)

Here are samples of our free daily newsletters: https://benefitslink.com/newsletters/2017/2017_10_03_welfare.html https://benefitslink.com/newsletters/2017/2017_10_03_retirement.html https://benefitslink.com/newsletters/2017/2017_10_03_retirement_bulletin.html

I'm even seeing TV commercials about 'em. For a collection of the best articles BenefitsLink has found to date, click below for the results of a query on our search engine: student loan When viewing the list of results, use the "Show Similar Items" button that appears below any particularly interesting item. Another way to view the results is to change the radio button at the top of the page -- instead of "By date", change it to "By closest match" (then click the Search Again button).

Um, let's just say that IRC section 72(t) will no longer be an impediment for me starting in six months.

Congratulations, Mike Preston, for receiving the Edward E. Burrows Distinguished Achievement Award from the ASPPA College of Pension Actuaries (ACOPA)! From the ASPPA web site: "The Edward E. Burrows Distinguished Achievement Award is presented annually to a pension actuary who has gone above and beyond in forwarding ethics, education, beneficial legislation or regulations that enhance the private pension system or the professionalism of enrolled actuaries within the private pension system." Here's more: http://www.asppa.org/News/Article/ArticleID/8969 Mike is an active and long-time user of the BenefitsLink message boards since 2001, having posted over 4,800 messages! His participation here on BenefitsLink has helped so many people in our industry. On behalf of them, THANKS, Mike!

Very cool! I could have obtained another 50 seconds by driving an hour down the road to Clayton GA, but figured that 1:45 would be enough and that returning traffic would be crazy backed up ... but I think I'd probably go ahead and make the drive if I had it to do over. 1:45 went by so fast! Did you see the Baily's beads? There seemed to be more just before the totality began -- several bright dots -- than there were when it started to end (actually, don't remember any). Another aspect that surprised me was how sharp the outline of the moon appeared once it was completely over the sun. The "resolution" was so much more than a big black dot would appear in the sharpest of monitors. Maybe I've been spending too much time at the keyboard, when that's the reference point that first comes to mind :-)

Greetings from Sylva, NC, where Lois and I experienced totality! Amazing. The sky was a deep blue (not black), which doesn't show up in photographs. We saw at least one planet (or maybe it was a star). The temperature dropped by about 10 degrees. The corona was very prominent. Lasted about a minute and a half, but I'll never forget it.

Take a look at a new, optional, simpler 'theme' for the message boards. A 'theme' basically is a particular arrangement of the content on a web page. To try it: Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and look for "Theme" -- click it. Then select the radio button next to "Responsive." The screen should refresh itself automatically, displaying the Responsive theme. To revert to the default theme, just select the radio button next to "Default." If you've been using a smartphone to read the message boards, you might not notice a difference from what you usually see. But if you use a desktop computer with a typically-sized (or wider) window on your screen, you'll see a difference. Let me know what you think (please post a reply to this message). Thanks!

And yet, as the lawyers say, "God bless those who sue my solvent clients."

I have set the default view to be the tabular view, as before.

You're right about the log-on needed in order to get back to the tabular view -- thanks.

Is this (see attached screenshot) what it looks like to you now? If you click on the icon that's circled in red in the screen shot (the side that's not already black), do you get the view that you prefer?

Fascinating. Could you scan a redacted copy of the letter as a PDF file and post it here as an attachment?

Hi Chaz, I'm so sorry for not returning your private message. I was out of town for most of last week and they literally took my phone and computer away :-) I have just discovered a glitch in the settings for the message boards software, and fixed it. You should see the topics now (about 103). Very weird; it has not happened before. Please let me know, via a post to this topic, or another PM. Dave

The BenefitsLink elves have been busy lately, cobbling together an improved version of our online directory of webcasts and conferences for employee benefits practitioners. The directory shows upcoming webcasts and conferences from many different firms, and shows hundreds of recorded webcasts available for immediate viewing. Find the directory at: https://benefitslink.com/events By choosing various options on that page, you can drill down to view only those webcasts and conferences that match particular criteria. Here's a link to one particularly useful view: 240 free recorded webcasts about health and other welfare benefit plans We now have a total of more than 1,200 webcasts and conferences listed, for all kinds of benefit plans! (That number includes events for which a fee is required by the sponsoring firm, and those that are free.) Enjoy! Dave Baker, Publisher Lois Baker, President BenefitsLink.com

The BenefitsLink elves have been busy lately, cobbling together an improved version of our online directory of webcasts and conferences for employee benefits practitioners. The directory shows upcoming webcasts and conferences from many different firms, and shows hundreds of recorded webcasts available for immediate viewing. Find the directory at: https://benefitslink.com/events By choosing various options on that page, you can drill down to view only those webcasts and conferences that match particular criteria. Here's a link to one particularly useful view: 295 free recorded webcasts on issues affecting retirement plans We now have a total of more than 1,200 webcasts and conferences listed, for all kinds of benefit plans! (That number includes events for which a fee is required by the sponsoring firm, and those that are free.) Enjoy! Dave Baker, Publisher Lois Baker, President BenefitsLink.com

You're referring to a state law? Which state?

This looks like a good article about the technique: What Is a Backdoor Roth IRA?

BenefitsLink invites you to register as a user of the message boards, so that you can help your colleagues and show off your expertise by posting a reply to someone's question, or by posting your own question. Each of your posts can include a hypertext link to your firm in the 'signature' line -- or you can even post a message anonymously by using a 'handle' rather than your real name. Also, as a registered user you'll have the ability to take advantage of certain functionality that will work only if you have "signed in." Only a registered user can sign in. Registration is easy and free! Here are step-by-step instructions, with screen shots. First, look for the "Sign Up" button that's near the top-right corner of the page you're now viewing. (Click on any of these screens to see a larger version.) Once you click on the "Sign Up" button, you'll get this screen: The "Display Name" is what appears as your identity next to any messages you post. Some users choose a "handle" because they can post anonymously, but others prefer to use their real names for various reasons, such as reputation-building, credibility and social interaction. BenefitsLink encourages the use of real names, but feel free to do whichever is most comfortable for you. Next you'll enter your email address (twice). We use this email address to send you a confirmation email. Other users won't be able to see it. Next you'll pick a password and then enter the answer to a security question that prevents many casual spammers from registering: Finally, do the typical Terms and Conditions checkbox jazz (we get a security interest in your first-born child, etc.) and then click the Create My Account button: ... and that's all there is to it! If you have questions about the sign-up process, please send them by email to Dave Baker at davebaker@benefitslink.com

Can anyone help me determine which choices ought to be "on a drop-down search menu" with respect to the kind/category/type of CE that you would want to search for, in order to get a display of matching webcasts and conferences? Continuing Education Credit * ASPPA * ERPA * ______ (?)

We have an extensive online listing of upcoming webcasts and conferences: https://benefitslink.com/cgi-bin/events/index.cgi Maybe I should have the sponsors indicate whether the event provides CE credit!

I admit to having become a little poochy at 58.