| BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter |   |
August 27, 2003 - 13,314 subscribers
Today's sponsor: Thompson Publishing Group, Inc.
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“Preventing Workplace Violence” Audio Conference for Employers A 90-Minute Interactive Audio Conference – Monday, September 15, 2003 * 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time During this 90-minute interactive presentation, clinical psychologist James N. Madero, Ph.D. and Michael Lotito, a partner at the law firm of Jackson Lewis, will describe best practices to prevent workplace violence, and doing so in the most efficient and non-intrusive means to the employee. Prepare your organization and register today!
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Overview: IRS Issues Final Catch-Up Contribution Rules (PDF)
10 pages. Excerpt: "This information applies to sponsors of 401(k) plans, 403(b) programs and governmental section 457 plans that allow participants age 50 and older to make catch-up contributions." (CIGNA's Pension Analyst)
An Analysis of the Administration's Retirement Savings Proposals (PDF)
7 pages; August 13, 2003. Excerpt: "While several aspects of the Administration's proposal have merit, including the simplification of the definitions of highly compensated employees and compensation, ... there are advantages and disadvantages to each. We have outlined several aspects of the proposals that concern us." (American Academy of Actuaries)
Another Question is Answered in the Distributions: Taxation and Planning Q&A Column
A participant in a defined contribution plan terminates employment, is entitled to a distribution from the plan, and the plan is ready to make a lump-sum distribution. The participant's account includes a life insurance policy. How is the 20% withholding applied? (BenefitsLink.com)
Decision Time for 137,000 FedEx Employees: Which Pension Plan?
Excerpt: "The portable plan will save FedEx money because it will free it from financial projections it has to make tied to employee retirement. Pension plans, particularly the cash balance variety - a close cousin to the plan FedEx is offering - got a black eye when IBM was sued for forcing its employees to switch. FedEx avoided the fire by letting employees choose, said Robert Burleigh of Burleigh Consulting Group here." (GoMemphis.com)
Oregon Legislature Passes Bill Providing Stricter Retirement Plan for Future State Employee Hires
Excerpt: "Under the law, future public employees will earn a pension that is 45 percent of their final salary after 30 years of service. Pension members are currently guaranteed 50 percent of final salary, but have a matching funds option that often makes their retirement more lucrative. The new plan raises the retirement age to 65 for general workers and 60 for police and firemen. That's up from 60 and 55, respectively." (OregonLive.com)
IRS Publishes Corrections to Final 457 Regulations (PDF)
2 pages; from the Federal Register for August 27, 2003. (Internal Revenue Service)
Pension Plan Sponsors Facing Large Buildup in Deferred Costs (PDF)
4 pages. Excerpt: "Even with recent months' gains in the stock market, pension plans have regained little, if any, financial ground." (Towers Perrin)
Opinion: Variable Annuities Have Both Fans and Failings
Excerpt: "A recent column on variable annuities provoked the predictable torrent of hate mail from those who sell the product. I was, they declared, wrong, misinformed, prejudiced, dumb, ignorant or some combination of all those qualities. The sales force is still long on bombast and short on analysis." (Scott Burns in the Dallas Morning News; one-time registration required)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Overview: IRS Issues Long-Awaited ISO Guidance-- It's Tardy But Reliable
Excerpt: "On June 6, 2003, the IRS released a new set of proposed regulations intended to govern the treatment of incentive stock options (ISOs). The ISO provisions (which effectively permit compensation income to be taxed at capital gains rates) were added to the Internal Revenue Code over 20 years ago and have been amended several times." (Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP)
Another Question is Answered in the Stock Options, Restricted Stock and Other Long-Term Employment Incentives Q&A Column
I agreed to help a small start-up bank. I became chairman, invested in common stock, and have an agreement that I will receive stock once the bank becomes profitable. The agreement is somewhat vague, so now I'm interested in making sure we follow the best path with regards to this stock grant. Can you help? (BenefitsLink.com)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Retirement Plan Administrator
for Benefit Consultants Group
in NJ
Retirement Plan Specialist
for Diversified Investment Advisors
in OH
Retirement Plan Administrator
for Turning Point Associates, Inc.
in NJ
Newly Posted Conferences
(Post Yours!)
401(k) Plans
in TX
November 18, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
401(k) Plans
in CA
December 9, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in MD
November 5, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in MN
November 12, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in TX
November 19, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in CA
December 10, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in MD
November 6, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in MN
November 13, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in TX
November 20, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in CA
December 11, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability & Privacy
in MD
November 7, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability & Privacy
in MN
November 14, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability & Privacy
in TX
November 21, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability & Privacy
in CA
December 12, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in MD
November 6, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in MN
November 13, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in TX
November 20, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in CA
December 11, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
Newly Posted Press Releases
(Post Yours!)
McCallen Named President and CEO of ICMA Retirement Corporation
(ICMA Retirement Corporation)
Pyramid Enables ReservePlus Loan Program Integration for BPA
(Pyramid Digital Solutions)
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research
- Employee Benefits Library
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Editor and Publisher: David Rhett Baker, J.D.
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