Online search engine / research tool

[VincentBocchinfuso CPC]

Hello all-

Does anyone have any recommendations for any online services that my company could sign up for (paid, free or otherwise) to use as a reference tool for researching any kind of retirement plan administration question.

Thanks.

[Guest DKE]

Hello all-

Does anyone have any recommendations for any online services that my company could sign up for (paid, free or otherwise) to use as a reference tool for researching any kind of retirement plan administration question.

Thanks.

Hello,

I am researching this same topic. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

[Jim Chad]

I have hard a lot of good from people who use 3 sources.

Sungard

ERisa Outline

Tag data

[shERPA]

The ERISA Outline Book by Sal Tripodi, distributed by ASPPA, has far and away been the best resource available. However at the moment I cannot recommend it due to the new user interface they rolled out for the 2012 version, it is unusable. They have said they are going to be improving it. I hope so and I hope that I will then be able to recommend it. Otherwise kill some trees and get the hard copy.

[John Feldt ERPA CPC QPA]

The EOB is a must, of course. I would suggest to encourage your employees to study for the ASPPA or NIPA exams to help increase their knowledge - the study manuals can be good sources for beginners.

In addition, you may consider IntelliConnect, which used to be known as CCH, which was purchased by Wolters Kluwer Law & Business (they also purchased TAG, I think).

In this Intelliconnect thing, depending on how much you want to pay, you can have access to ERISA law, committee reports, DOL opinions, EBSA enforcement manual, Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations, pension and welfare court cases, Revenue Rulings, Revenue Procedures, etc., plus you can have access online to all of the pension answer books, some journals, pension plan guide, 5500 preparer's manual, forms and insructions.

[pmacduff]

Since the OP doesn't say what industry - I would caution that "alittle knowledge is a dangerous thing" and would want to know who is researching the "retirement plan administration questions"? Are you a TPA firm or are you a Company looking for retirement plan reference materials for an HR Department or something along those lines? I do agree that Sal's book is invaluable, but think that unless you are in the retirement plan industry you may not know what you really need to ask to get the answer you need.

my cautionary 2 cents!