| BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter |   |
September 27, 2005
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Text: Correction to Proposed Regulations Prohibiting Cutback of Accrued Retirement Plan Benefits (PDF)
1 page. Excerpt: "SUMMARY: This document corrects a notice of proposed rulemaking ... published in the Federal Register on Friday, August 12, 2005 (70 FR 47155). The document contains regulations relating to the anti-cutback rules of section 411(d)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, which generally protect accrued benefits, early retirement benefits, retirement-type subsidies, and optional forms of benefit under qualified retirement plans." (Internal Revenue Service)
Opinion: The Hidden Side of Managing Money and Pensions
Excerpt: "[I]t is my belief that: (1) The money management and pension management industries are neither rational, fair nor moral; (2) Much of the behavior in these industries is guided by financial incentives experts hide from their clients; (3) Expert advice is frequently subject to undisclosed conflicts of interest; (4) As a result conventional wisdom, the advice investors hear repeatedly from experts, is frequently wrong ..." (Benchmark Financial Services, Inc.)
Top Ten Failures in the IRS' Voluntary Compliance Program
Excerpt: "Last week at the Mid-Atlantic Pension Liaison Meeting in Philadelphia, Lou Leslie, Tax Law Specia.list with the IRS ... gave the following list of Top Ten Failures in VCP:" (B. Janell Grenier on Benefitsblog.com)
Overview: DOL Provides Relief for Delayed Participant Contributions, Loan Repayments, and Blackout Notices
Excerpt: "[T]he DOL will not enforce [the prompt transfer of participant contributions to a trust fund requirement] solely on the basis of a 'temporary delay' in depositing participant contributions and loan repayments in the trust of an ERISA pension plan if the delay is attributable to Hurricane Katrina and if the affected employers and service providers 'act reasonably, prudently and in the interest of employees to comply as soon as practical under the circumstances.'" (Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA))
Overview: Congress Passes Tax Relief for Katrina Victims That Includes Qualified Plan Provisions
Excerpt: "[Q]ualified Hurricane Katrina distributions may be made only to plan participants who lived in the disaster area-- a narrower group than that covered by IRS relief previously granted for Katrina-related hardship distributions ..." (Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA))
A Commentary on the U.K. Pension Reform Debate (PDF)
15 pages. Excerpt: "In this short document the PPI provides some commentary on the key points that have arisen in the pension reform debate so far." (Pensions Policy Institute)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Overview: Time Frames Extended Under COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA Claims Procedures for Katrina Victims
Excerpt: "For affected individuals, the period from August 29, 2005 through January 3, 2006 must be disregarded when determining (1) the COBRA election period of a qualified beneficiary (a minimum of 60 days); (2) whether a qualified beneficiary's COBRA premium payments are timely; or (3) the date by which individuals must notify a plan of a qualifying event or determination of disability." (Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA))
Newly Posted Events
401(k) Plans
in Colorado on November 8, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
401(k) Plans
in Maryland on November 15, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
A Retirement Plan Compliance Assistance Seminar for Small Business
in Ohio on November 2, 2005
presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
A Retirement Plan Compliance Assistance Seminar for Small Business
in Virginia on December 8, 2005
presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
AWLP 10th Anniversary Conference & Exhibition
in Texas on March 1, 2006
presented by Alliance for Work-Life Progress
Cafeteria Plans
in Colorado on November 9, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in Maryland on November 16, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
Caring For The Elderly: Is There Any Answer to Rising Health Costs?
Nationwide on September 27, 2005
presented by Alliance for Health Reform
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in Colorado on November 11, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in Maryland on November 18, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in Colorado on November 10, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in Maryland on November 17, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability, Privacy & Security
in Colorado on November 11, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability, Privacy & Security
in Maryland on November 18, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
HSAs, HRAs, and Consumer-Driven Health Care
in Colorado on November 10, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
HSAs, HRAs, and Consumer-Driven Health Care
in Maryland on November 17, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
Hurricane Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 Web/Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on October 4, 2005
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
Hurricane Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 Web/Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on October 11, 2005
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
WorldatWork Total Rewards Conference & Exhibition 2006
in California on May 7, 2006
presented by WorldatWork
Newly Posted Press Releases
Segal Announces New CEO
(The Segal Company)
Tax Relief Granted for Hurricane Rita
(Internal Revenue Service (IRS))
The Principal Financial Group Announces 2005 Winners of The Principal 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security
(The Principal Financial Group)
Executive Comp after the New 409A Regs: Trick or Treat, Oct. 11, 2005
(Western Pension & Benefits Conference Los Angeles)
New Report From Conference Board Working Group Recommends Best Practices For Executive Compensation Consulting
(Conference Board, The)
Social Security Retirement Benefit Calculator
(PensionBenefits)
Microsoft, Citigroup, Other Top Companies Creating Independent Lead Director Positions to Share Duties with Board Chairman/CEOs, New Survey Finds
(Frederic W. Cook & Co)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Health & Welfare Consultant
for Towers Perrin
in CA, CT, DC, IL, NJ, NY, PA, TX
Pension Administrator/Consultant/Actuary
for Chambers Benefit Group, APC
in NM
Senior Business Analyst - Compliance
for Fidelity Investments
in KY
Human Resources Benefits Associate
for The D. E. Shaw group
in NY
Communications Consultant
for Merrill Lynch
in NJ
Defined Contribution Conversion Specialist
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Senior Manager, Retirement Plans
for Allergan
in CA
Retirement Sales Consultant
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Pension Administrator
for FBD Consulting, Inc.
in KS
Defined Contribution Plan Administrator
for Niles Lankford Group, Inc
in IN
Senior Conversion Specialist
for BenefitStreet Inc.
in CA
Insurance Markets Financial Analyst
for Great-West Financial Services
in CO
Retirement Plan Administrator
for Qualified Plans, LLC
in GA
Enrollment Specialists
for National Automobile Dealers Association
in VA
Defined Benefit Implementation Analyst
for High Point Consulting & Staffing, LLC.
in MA
Employee Benefits Consulting Champion
for Clifton Gunderson LLP
in WI
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
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