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March 12 - 15, 2004 -- 13,655 subscribers
Today's sponsor: DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Software for 401(k), DB and Flexible Benefits DATAIR BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION SOFTWARE for Pension, Profit Sharing, 401(k) and Cafeteria/Flexible Benefits plans. Designed for administrators and consultants. Modules include proposals, IRS-approved documents, enrollment, administration, government reporting, distribution, tax planning, and client and task management. Training and support included. For free demo versions and pricing, contact sales@datair.com or call 1-888-328-2474.
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
SEC Votes to Require Data on Fund Managers
Excerpt: "Investors in mutual funds would get detailed information on the managers of fund portfolios under new rules proposed by federal regulators Thursday as they target fund industry abuses." (AP via New York Times; one-time registration required)
Assessment of Regulatory Reforms to Improve the Management and Sale of Mutual Funds
32 pages; March 10, 2004 testimony of David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Executive summary at http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d04533thigh.pdf (U.S. General Accounting Office)
Election-Year Debate Expected to Focus on Personal Retirement Accounts
Excerpt: "Most analysts believe President Bush, who made Social Security individual accounts a central issue in his 2000 campaign, will do so again as he seeks re-election." (AARP Bulletin)
Ford Resumes Bonuses for Managers
Excerpt: "Ford Motor Co., coming off its first profitable year since 2000, will pay bonuses to middle and upper-level managers worldwide for 2003 and reinstate partial contributions to U.S. salaried workers' 401(k) accounts, the automaker said Thursday." (AP via New York Times; one-time registration required)
Fundamentals of Current Pension Funding and Accounting for Private Sector Pension Plans (PDF)
12 pages; Feb. 23, 2004. 'An Analysis by the Pension Committee of the American Academy of Actuaries." (American Academy of Actuaries)
Overview: DOL Issues New Guidance on Modified QDROs (PDF)
Excerpt: "The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued Advisory Opinion 2004-02A, providing guidance to retirement plan administrators handling qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) that are modified. The guidance states that plan administrators must review modifications made by a court to an existing QDRO in determining whether the revisions satisfy the statutory requirements for a QDRO, and if so determined, apply the modifications prospectively." (Milliman USA)
Overview: IRS Publishes Final Rules on Disclosure of Relative Values of Optional Forms of Benefit (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "These rules apply to defined benefit plans (including cash balance plans), money purchase plans (including target benefit plans), and other defined contribution plans that are subject to the spousal consent rules. Governmental plans and plans sponsored by churches that elect not to be covered under ERISA ('non-electing church plans') are not subject to these rules." (CIGNA's Pension Analyst)
Overview: IRS Private Letter Rulings on Restorative Payments to Plans for Surrender Charges
Excerpt: "In two private letter rulings involving pension plan assets invested in annuity contracts, the IRS addressed the effect of restorative employer payments intended to compensate the plans for surrender charges deducted from plan assets by the annuity issuer." (CCH News & Information Library)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
GE to Seek Stockholder OK on Severance
Excerpt: "General Electric Corp. now requires shareholder approval for large severance packages. The adopted changes are a limited version of those proposed by the Teamsters Affiliates Pension Plan at the annual shareholders meeting in April, the company said." (AP via Washington Post; one-time registration required)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guides Updated to March 9, 2004
Excerpt: "Hewitt's Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law, regarding health and welfare benefit plans, retirement plans, and human resources and employment law." (Hewitt)
Newly Posted Events
2003 Form 5500 Webcast
Nationwide on March 17, 2004
presented by ASPA (American Society of Pension Actuaries)
Fundamentals of 401(k) Plan Workshop
Nationwide on May 6, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Utilizing Evidenced - Based Wellness Programming to Manage the Financial Burden of Employee Healthcare
in Florida on March 17, 2004
presented by Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council
412i New Regulations -what to do next!
Nationwide on March 12, 2004
presented by The 412(i) Company
Aggressive Practices in Employee Benefits: The IRS Crackdown on Schemes too Good to be True -- 90-Minute Interactive Audio Conference
Nationwide on March 26, 2004
presented by Thompson Interactive
HIPAA Final Privacy Compliance Deadline for Small Group Healthplans: What You Need to Know to Comply - 90-Minute Interactive Audio Conference
Nationwide on April 2, 2004
presented by Thompson Interactive
The Changing Horizon of Retirement Benefits: Counseling Pension Plan Participants (CLE for Non-ERISA attorneys)
in Minnesota on March 23, 2004
presented by Minnesota Senior Federation - Metropolitan Region
IRS/DOL Enforcement Activities
in Pennsylvania on March 31, 2004
presented by Central Pennsylvania Chapter - ISCEBS
Newly Posted Press Releases
Enrollment in Consumer-Directed Health Plans Growing Rapidly
(Watson Wyatt)
Benefit Software Inc. Helps O'Reilly Auto Parts Communicate the Value of Health Insurance and Other Employee Benefits
(Benefit Software Inc.)
John Masters Promoted to eePulse, Inc. Director of Technology
(eePulse, Inc.)
2004 PBGC Forms Released – Pension Reporter System from DATAIR
(DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.)
New Authoria Solution Supports Managers, Helps Drive Business Value And Facilitates Corporate Compliance
(Authoria, Inc.)
California State Automobile Association Chooses New Authoria Manager Advisor To Support Managers And Supervisors
(Authoria, Inc.)
Senior, Consumer and Labor Groups Launch Campaign to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
(Consumers Union)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Health & Welfare Associate
for Towers Perrin
in CT, NJ, OH
Director of Compensation and Benefits
for We have been hired as the recruiter of choice for an Atlanta firm
in GA
Plan Manager- Pension & Welfare
for General Board of Pension & Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church
in IL
Employee Benefits Sales Consultant: 04-0006205
for Wachovia Corporation
in MD
IRA Manager
for Polycomp Administrative Services, Inc.
in CA
Senior Plan Service Team Specialist
for ICMA Retirement Corporation
in DC
401(k) / Employee Benefits Sales Person
for Large Payroll provider with recurring sales leads and current client base
in AZ, FL, NY, WA
Director, Benefits Administration
for Mount Carmel Health
in OH
Defined Contribution Administrator / Compliance
for MK Consulting, Inc.
in ANY STATE
Administrative Assistant-Retirement Planning
for Atlantic Pension Planning Corp.
in NJ
Daily Valuation Specialist
for Daily Valuation Specialist
in OR
Senior Employee Benefit Trust Administrator
for The Bank of New York
in CA
ERISA/Executive Benefits Attorney
for Retirement Capital Group, Inc (RCG)
in CA
Writer/Editor -- Retirement Plans
for Forefield Incorporated
in MA
Supply Chain Services Consultant
for VitalSpring Technologies
in DC
Employee Benefits Attorney
for Quarles & Brady LLP
in WI
Senior Contract Analyst
for Large National Insurance and Financial Services Company
in FL, NY
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- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research
- Employee Benefits Library
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