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June 23, 2004
Today's sponsor: DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.

(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)

DATAIR Pension & Benefits Software Sale
License one DATAIR system and receive another one of equal or lower
price without license fee!*
Regardless if you're just starting out in the business or looking to
expand your services, you can take advantage of this limited time offer.
Choose from:
DC/401(k) System            Retirement Plan Documents
Defined Benefit System      Pension Reporter
Cafeteria Administration    Cafeteria Plan Documents
Client Manager
Contact sales@datair.com or call 1-888-328-2474.
(*Restrictions apply; see website for details.)

(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
More Disclosure for California 403(b) Products
Excerpt: "Perhaps not at the original July 1 deadline but certainly by late summer, the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) will have its 403(b) Web portal up and running. This means that going forward, any vendor that wants to offer its product in a 403(b) plan in the state of California must register with the new portal-- www.403bcompare.com-- and disclose on the site various fees and performance data." (Financial-Planning.com)

American Benefits Council Comments on Proposed Regs for Reduction of Protected Benefits (PDF)
10 pages. Excerpt: "The proposed regulations begin down the path of simplifying administrative burdens, by reducing the need to offer and communicate numerous and rarely elected optional forms of distribution. However, these proposals do not go far enough and we strongly recommend simplifying, and building greater flexibility into, the regulations." (American Benefits Council)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Compensation Committee Structure, Function and Best Practices (PDF)
35 pages. Excerpt: "This article is intended to assist compensation committees in the discharge of their responsibilities by providing (1) an overview of the new NYSE and Nasdaq requirements, (2) a brief summary of the legal duties and responsibilities of compensation committee members and (3) a synthesis of key aspects of the various 'best practice' guidelines for compensation committees." (Richard E. Wood of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP)

Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Backed by Massachusetts Governor
Excerpt: "Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, told the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday that a federal marriage amendment is needed because his state is forcing same-sex 'marriage' on everyone else.... Although supporters and opponents of the measure acknowledge that meeting the 67-vote threshold to pass the amendment is unlikely, pro-amendment forces still hope to muster the 60 votes needed to stop debate and put senators on the record on the amendment's merits." (Washington Times)

Experts Argue Outsourcing Could Hurt Employee Benefit Plans
Excerpt: "The loss of jobs may not be the only impact of offshore outsourcing on the U.S. workforce. It could also hurt the employee benefits of U.S. workers, according to Stephen W. Skonieczny, a partner in the employee benefits and executive compensation group of law firm Dechert LLP." (IndUS Business Journal)

Newly Posted Events

Administering The New COBRA Notice Requirements Webcast
Nationwide on July 15, 2004
presented by HRTrainingCenter.com

Complete COBRA Compliance Under The New Notification Rules
Nationwide on July 14, 2004
presented by Alexander Hamilton Institute

In-Person COBRA seminars
Nationwide on June 23, 2004
presented by HRTrainingCenter.com

The Top Ten Things You Need To Know To Survive Your Next OSHA Inspection
Nationwide on July 15, 2004
presented by HRTrainingCenter.com

Treatment of Same Sex Spouses and Domestic Partners for COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and Cafeteria Plans
Nationwide on July 29, 2004
presented by HRTrainingCenter.com
Newly Posted Press Releases

Patients Rights Legislation Would Create a "Health Litigation Tax" for Working Families
(ERIC (ERISA Industry Committee))

Towers Perrin Launches Stock Option Valuation Service Using Lattice Model Recommended under Proposed FASB Guidance
(Towers Perrin)

ICC Plan Solutions Aggressively Enters the Retirement Plan Enrollment Kit Business
(Metrics Partners)

Supreme Court ruling deals serious blow to patients
(American Medical Association (AMA))

Workplace Financial Education Expands At American Express
(American Express Retirement Services)

Benchmark Financial Forms Center for Investment Management Investigations (CIMI)
(Benchmark Financial Services, Inc.)
Movers and Shakers: Newly Posted Announcements of Promotions and New Personnel
(Post Yours!)

JD Carlson (Plan Design Consultants, Inc.)

Lisa Pickens (CalMed Billing and Collection Services, Inc.)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Retirement Services District Manager
for ADP Retirement Services
in NY

Pension Sales Associate
for American Express Tax & Business Services
in AZ

Actuarial Analyst/Consultant
for The Epler Company
in CA

Defined Contribution Senior Plan Administrator
for Stanley Benefit Services
in NC

Handy Links:
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Editor and Publisher: David Rhett Baker, J.D.

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