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The BenefitsLink Newsletter -
Retirement Plans Edition


May 12, 2000

Japanese Are Concerned About Their Retirement Plans
Excerpt: "Japanese people are increasingly anxious about how they will manage in their later years, suggests a survey released yesterday by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications." (Asia Pulse)

NY Corp's Employees Alarmed Over Notice of Intent to Terminate DB Plan With Sufficient Assets
Excerpt: "A four-page notice from Ozalid Corp. has alerted former employees that their pension benefits may be terminated. But the company said ... paperwork only serves notice that the company is transferring the plan's assets to an insurance company to streamline administration ... Employees, remaining skeptical of the company's purpose, are now organizing a letter-writing campaign to the U.S. Department of Labor." (Binghamton [NY] Press & Sun-Bulletin)

Federal Bill Would Toughen Bankruptcy Rules Applicable to Retirement Plans
Excerpt: "But the most potentially painful amendment to the bill being negotiated is a proposal to make retirement plan accounts--currently mostly off-limits to creditors--partly available to settle old debts." (Chicago Tribune)

Company-Provided Computers Are Often Perks with A Price: More Work
Excerpt: "Advances in technology are expanding those possibilities by giving millions of people the ability to file reports from home, collaborate with co-workers around the world and provide clients and supervisors the instant access they've come to expect." (Knight-Ridder / Tribune Business News)

Pension Distribution Options Take Care and Planning
Excerpt: "[M]arried couples faced with pension-payout decisions should look at several factors before choosing, says Ethan E. Kra, actuary for retirement matters at the benefit consulting firm of William M. Mercer Inc. in New York. Questions to consider: ..." (Mercury Center)

State of Florida Employees Might Get Choice of 401(k)-Type Retirement Program in Lieu of DB Formula
Excerpt: "Florida will offer its 600,000 state employees and public school teachers a new and very different option for financing their retirements if Gov. Jeb Bush signs a bill approved by the Legislature last week." (St. Petersburg Times)

Evaluating the Archer-Shaw Social Security Reform Proposal (PDF)
Excerpt: "At least one significant proposed bill expected to be introduced later this year in the House of Representatives is currently being drafted by Reps. Bill Archer (R-TX), chairman of the full Ways and Means Committee, and Clay Shaw (R-FL), chairman of its Subcommittee on Social Security. This legislation will be based on the Social Security proposal they released in 1999." (Employee Benefit Research Institute)

Mutual Fund Factbook (2000 Edition) (PDF)
Includes chapters on mutual fund expenses; mutual funds and the retirement market; and mutual funds and taxes. (Investment Company Institute)

Portfolio Choice, Trading, and Returns in a Large 401(K) Plan
Working paper - excerpt: "This paper examines portfolio choice, trading behavior, and realized rates of return of more than seven thousand 401(k) retirement accounts during the April 1994-August 1998 time period." (Center for Retirement Research at Boston College)


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