| The BenefitsLink Newsletter - Retirement Plans Edition |  |
July 13, 2001
Today's sponsor: The International Quality & Productivity Center (click)
The International Quality & Productivity Center presents a powerful conference on "Winning Strategies for Measuring & Improving Work/Life Initiatives," July 30-August 1, 2001 at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, CA. By attending, you will from over 12 leading organizations on how to improve your workforce and become an "employer of choice," including: Texas Instruments, Inc., Fannie Mae, Eddie Bauer, Inc., DuPont, Wachovia Bank, WFD Consulting, Boston College Center for Work & Family and many more! For more information, please call 1-800-882-8684 or visit: http://www.iqpc.com/G067worklife160701
The Impact of Inordinately Low 30-Year Treasury Rates on Defined Benefit Plans (PDF)
'Public Statement' issued July 11, 2001. Excerpt: "The Pension Practice Council of the American Academy of Actuaries asserts that the inordinately low 30-year Treasury rates distort the contribution requirements for the proper funding of defined benefit pension plans, create added liabilities when lump sum distributions are provided to participants, and unnecessarily increase the PBGC premiums for plans that are adequately funded." (American Academy of Actuaries)
Changes Made by Recent Tax Law That Take Effect after 2002
Excerpt: "To help you keep track of what takes effect when, the following paragraphs summarize the major provisions of the [Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001] that take effect after 2002." (Practitioners Publishing Company)
Changes Made by Recent Tax Law That Take Effect in 2001 or 2002
Excerpt: "To help you keep track of what takes effect when, the following paragraphs summarize the major provisions of the [Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001] that take effect in 2001 and 2002." (Practitioners Publishing Company)
Some Investing Basics In Light of 401(k) News
Excerpt: "For the first time in the 20-year history of 40l(k) retirement savings plans, the average account lost money last year--even after thousands of dollars in new contributions. But why are people surprised? Is it possible that a whole generation of investors really didn't understand that stocks go down as well as up?" (Chicago Sun-Times)
Opinion: Disregard Validity of 401(k) Report
Excerpt: "A study ... reported an overall decline last year in the value of assets held in 401(k) accounts... The explosive growth in the 401(k) market is leveling off ... the stock market stank.... But these modest facts don't add up to 'trends exposing years of mistakes by employees, raising some questions about proposals to permit Americans to manage part of their Social Security accounts and clouding the future of many employees' nest eggs for retirement,' as the Times wants us to believe." (The Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Implementing a Defined Contribution Philosophy in Europe
Excerpt: "In this article, we explore some of the problems associated with trying to create a consistent defined contribution design [for multinational corporations having operations] in Europe. However, before we address this issue, it is helpful to look at how defined contribution plans have developed in a sophisticated market like the UK." (Watson Wyatt)
Are Some Federal Employees Contributing Too Much to the Thrift Savings Plan?
Excerpt: "A Boston University professor and two researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland offered a heaping plate full of retirement-savings heresy in a recent paper.... [T]he authors say that because of the way the government taxes Social Security benefits, many people should consider limiting the amount of money they stow in tax-deferred programs." (GovExec.com)
Five Bear Market Strategies for Retirement Investors
Excerpt: "There are many articles about whether we are technically in a bear market. Our analysis is: stocks are down a lot and investors are worried-therefore, we are in a bear market. Investors have been asking us what they should do. So, here are tactics to not just survive this bear market, but to use it for long-term success." (ICMA Retirement Corporation)
Opinion: Are We Capable of Wise Investment?
Excerpt: "The idea of converting some or all of Social Security from a government pension to individual accounts touches deep chords in the culture. A people with an individualist bent, Americans like choice and being in control. But the question is rarely asked: How well are we up to it?" (Beaufort Gazette Online)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
| Retirement Sales District Manager | for ADP, Inc. in CA, CT, KS, MI |
| Retirement Plan Administrator | for Donohue Feiman Retirement Plan Services in CO |
| Health and Welfare Consultant/Manager | for Ernst & Young LLP in TX |
| Account Executive | for Lockton Companies in MO |
| Benefit Health Analyst (Senior) | for The Segal Company in CO |
Newly Posted Webcasts (Post Yours!)
| Wall Street Comes to Washington | on July 12, 2001 presented by Center for Studying Health System Change |
Newly Posted Press Releases
| STRATEGIC FINANCIAL CONCEPTS AND ICM ASSET MANAGEMENT FORM PROMANAGE, INC. (ProManage, Inc.) |
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