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March 10, 2006
Today's sponsor: www.ftwilliam.com

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(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)

Some Workers May Profit from Pension Freezes
Excerpt: "New research shows that not every worker would be worse off when a company freezes pension benefits." (CNNMoney.com)

Older Americans Working Less, Study Finds
Excerpt: "Senior citizens are leaving the labor force sooner than they did 50 years ago, even though they are living longer, healthier lives." (AP via The New York Times; one-time registration required)

Airline Pilots Still Flying, but No Longer Quite So High
Excerpt: "One veteran United Airlines captain, who laments that when he retires in a few years his pension will be about one-fourth what he expected, said he had to shut it out of his mind to prevent the distraction from affecting his work." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)

Defined Benefit Plan on Ice or Soon to Be Frozen? It Is Time for an Investment Strategy Overhaul
Second in a two-part series. Excerpt: "[I]nvestment strategy and performance may be more critical for a frozen DB than an ongoing plan. In this article, we will explain why, and identify investment strategies that sponsors should consider when evaluating the requirements of a frozen plan." (Employee Benefit News)

Pension Reform Has Little Impact on Current Funding
Excerpt: "Defined benefit plan sponsors improved their pension funding status on average last year as stricter rules from Congress seem likely to pass and the accounting standards board considers tougher guidelines." (Employee Benefit News)

Private Companies Are Hopping on ESOPs
Excerpt: "[ESOPs] have remained attractive for privately held companies, .... The owners of such businesses can still meet certain financial, personal and emotional objectives for their companies while avoiding Wall Street's earnings expectations and volatility." (Orlando Sentinel)

Blog: Pregnancy Discrimination Act Not Retroactive for Pension Service Credits
Excerpt: "Pregnancy leave prior to the 1979 effective date of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (PDA) need not be taken into account for crediting service for purposes of current retirement benefit determinations, according to a divided 9th Circuit ruling reversing district court summary judgment. [Hulteen v. AT&T Corporation, No. 04-16087]" (Pensions & Benefits Weblog)

House Conferees on the Pension Reform Bills Named and Approves Motion to Instruct
Excerpt: "The House of Representatives ... appointed ... members as House conferees on the pension reform bills, H.R.2830 and S.1783: .... In addition, the House approved by a 265-158 vote a motion by George Miller (D-CA) to instruct the conferees." (The ERISA Industry Committee)

SIMPLE IRA Plan Document Compliance and Relief
Excerpt: "[The IRS's] Employee Plans has found that many employers have failed to update their SIMPLE IRA plans for EGTRRA. In order to encourage these employers to update their plans for EGTRRA, EP is offering them this relief. Employee Plans is mailing letters to many employers that sponsor SIMPLE IRA plans informing them of this relief." (U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

Trader Forfeits Plan Benefits by Misconduct
Excerpt: "The US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio has ruled that a former energy trader gave up his rights to top-hat plan benefits when he engaged in misconduct for which he was fired." (PLANSPONSOR.com: one-time registration required)


Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Study Says Online Participant Communication Set to Explode
Excerpt: "For those who harbor any doubts about whether participants will ever jump on the online advice bandwagon en masse, a new study said the behavior of Generation Y investors should quiet any such reservations. A news release from Diversified Investment Advisors said that its Prescience 2010: Expert Opinions on the Future of Retirement Plans study found that online advice tools will be used by half of Generation Y consumers - up from 33% of Baby Boomers." (PLANSPONSOR.com: one-time registration required)

Comments on Proposed Amendments to Requirements for Executive Comp and Related Party Disclosure (PDF)
21 pages. Excerpt: "This letter sets forth the comments of Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc., which relate primarily to the proposed rules applicable to the disclosure of executive and director compensation under Item 402 of Regulation S-K." (Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.)

Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated as of March 7, 2006
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 Associates)

Overview: New Department of Labor Guidance Affecting Employer LM-10 Reporting Requirements
Excerpt: "The new guidance describes the reporting requirements and exceptions. The information that must be reported on Form LM-10 includes payments, loans, and gifts that the employer made to a union or union official. It includes payments that an employer made to individuals directly, or to other employees or third parties, to 'persuade' employees regarding union bargaining or representation rights. It also includes payments made to gather information on employee or union activities in ...." (Dinsmore & Shohl LLP)


Newly Posted Events

24th Annual Forum: Beating the Odds: Using Data . . Not Dice for HR Success
in Pennsylvania on April 20, 2006
presented by PEBA --Penjerdel Employee Benefits & Compensation Assn.

401(k) Plan Workshop
in Colorado on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

401(k) Plan Workshop
in Michigan on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

401(k) Plan Workshop
in California on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

401(k) Plan Workshop
in Mississippi on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

401(k) Plan Workshop
in Missouri on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

4th Annual Orlando ERISA Update Seminar
in Florida on April 20, 2006
presented by TRI Pension Services/GrayRobinson, P.A.

4th Annual Tampa ERISA Update Seminar
in Florida on April 19, 2006
presented by TRI Pension Services/GrayRobinson, P.A.

Annual Spring Seminar
in Oregon on April 5, 2006
presented by Western Pension & Benefits Conference - Portland Chapter

Cross-Tested Plans - Basics and Beyond Web Seminar
Nationwide on March 30, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

Form 5500 Workshop
in Colorado on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

Form 5500 Workshop
in Michigan on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

Form 5500 Workshop
in Mississippi on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

Form 5500 Workshop
in California on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

Form 5500 Workshop
in Missouri on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Pennsylvania on March 14, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Wyoming on March 14, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Texas on March 14, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Pennsylvania on March 15, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Texas on March 15, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Colorado on March 15, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Texas on March 16, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Colorado on March 16, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in New York on March 16, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Alabama on March 21, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in South Carolina on March 21, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Florida on March 22, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Georgia on March 22, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Florida on March 23, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Georgia on March 23, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Georgia on March 24, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Teleweb: Disease Management and Wellness: A Foundation for Cost Management
Nationwide on March 23, 2006
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans


Newly Posted Press Releases

QDRO Services Limited to Attorneys
(QDROS, Inc.)


Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Plan Administrator for Retirement Plan & ERISA Specialists
for Small Chicago TPA & law firm
in IL

Program Facilitator
for Merrill Lynch
in NJ

ERISA Tax Associate
for Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
in DE

401K Conversion Implementation Project Manager
for Fidelity Investments
in KY

Defined Contribution Administrative Assistant
for BFP Associates
in MA

Employee Benefits Consultant - Tax
for BDO Seidman, LLP
in NY

Sr. Strategic Planning Consultant
for Transamerica
in CA

401(k) Pension Administrator
for New England Pension Plan Systems, LLC
in RI

Fund Administrator - Taft-Hartley Funds
for Segal on behalf of a client
in NY

Supervisory Pension Law Specialist, GS-958-15
for U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
in DC

Employee Benefits Lawyer
for Venable LLP
in DC




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