| BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter |   |
May 5, 2006
Today's sponsor: InvestLink
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| InvestLink offers the "Best of Breed" Software for Defined Contribution Recordkeeping, Administration and Trading |
| InvestLink offers "Best in Class" administration and record keeping software on an Application Services Platform (ASP) for 401(k), Profit Sharing and all other Defined Contribution plans. The product was designed by administrators for administrators. This ASP platform requires no hardware investment for clients. It provides secure, disaster recovery, web-based services all at one bundled price. Additionally, InvestLink converts your old data on to our new platform at NO cost to you, with NO installation for the standard platform. Training and support included in the bundled price. Also, if you are a distributor contact us and learn more about working with us to distribute your investment products. For a free demo and pricing, contact tim@invlink.com or call Tim Slavin-CEO at 1-888-507-LINK. |
| (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) |
Sponsors Report Mixed Feelings about 403(b) Changes
Excerpt: "A survey from Fidelity Investments reveals that 85% of plan sponsors are somewhat or very concerned about the effects of the new regulations for 403(b) plans." (PLANSPONSOR.com: one-time registration required)
The Roth 401(k) Option from an Employer's Perspective and an Employee's Perspective (PDF)
14 pages. Excerpt: "Through three calculations, [this article] analyzes the Roth 401(k) option and compares it to a traditional 401(k) election, from the employee's perspective.... [A] comparison of the anticipated retirement incremental tax bracket to the working years incremental tax bracket, alone, may not be a valid basis for a comparison. Rather, aspects of the income tax system necessitate a thorough analysis of tax implications of the two options." (Allen Buckley, Esq. of Smith Moore LLP)
Analysis of Tax Bill Finds More Benefits for the Rich and Expanded Roth IRA Opportunities
Excerpt: "The bill would ... expand opportunities to invest money that will never again be taxed, a significant goal of President Bush. The bill would let anyone put $5,000 a year into a Roth IRA. Under current law, married taxpayers who make more than $160,000 and single people who make more than $110,000 cannot contribute to a Roth." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)
Congressman: OK of Northwest Pilots' Deal May Save Pensions
Excerpt: "A new contract ratified by pilots at Northwest Airlines Corp. will increase the prospects of legislation to help save the carrier's pension plans, according to U.S. Rep. John Kline." (AP via Akron Beacon Journal)
Pensions: Opportunities Exist to Further Improve the Transparency of PBGC's Financial Disclosures
36 pages. Excerpt: "[Report # GAO-06-429, of March 27, 2006, was reposted to correct an error on page 6.] On May 1, 2006, page 6, in line 1 of the second paragraph, the 'standards promulgated by' was revised to read 'FASB standards, as permitted by.'" (U.S. Government Accountability Office)
Text of Small Correction to Final Treasury Regulation on Disclosure of Optional Forms of Benefit (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "On page 14801, in the preamble, column 3, under the paragraph heading, 'Explanation of Provisions', first paragraph of the column, line 2 from the bottom of the paragraph, the language '75% survivor annuity, and joint and' is corrected to read '75% survivor annuity, and the joint and'." (Internal Revenue Service)
Americans Concerned about Stretching Savings during Retirement
Excerpt: "Americans are more concerned about stretching their savings than actually saving for retirement, according to a recent poll. According to the poll of working Americans aged 50-70, half are concerned about making their retirement savings last a lifetime, while 38% are worried about saving enough for retirement, according to a poll of 500 registered voters conducted by Washington,DC-based consultant, Mellman Group and sponsored by Americans for Secure Retirement." (PLANSPONSOR.com: one-time registration required)
Overview: DOL Finalizes Abandoned Plan Rules
Excerpt: "The new rules go into effect May 22, 2006." (SunGard Corbel)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
The Trucker Huss Benefits Report of April 2006 (PDF)
8 pages. This edition covers: Severance Plans: The New Nonqualified Deferred Compensation; The Internal Revenue Service Issues a Second Set of Final Regulations Regarding the Disclosure of Relative Values of Optional Forms of Benefit; and, Updated Guidance and Notices (Including a New Notice Obligation) for Medicare Part D. (Trucker Huss)
How New Accounting Rules Are Changing the Way CEOs Get Paid
Excerpt: "When a well-known compensation consulting firm predicted in early April that new accounting rules wouldn't have any impact on the use of options as compensation for corporate executives, Wharton accounting professor Mary Ellen Carter was ready to disagree. 'That's just not true,' she says. 'Options will be cut and directors will be switching to restricted stock for executive compensation.'" (Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania)
Living to 100: Survival to Advanced Ages--Call for Papers
Excerpt: "Encouraged by the success of the 2002 and 2005 symposia on Living to 100 and taking into consideration a growing awareness of the long term effects of increasing numbers of persons surviving to very high ages, the Society of Actuaries Committee on Living to 100 Research Symposia is now organizing its third triennial international symposium on high age mortality and related issues to be held in January, 2008." (Society of Actuaries)
Update on the Aged 55+ Worker in 2005 (PDF)
4 pages. Excerpt: "Continuing the slow and fairly steady increase first observed in the mid- to late-1980s, the labor force participation rate for those aged 55-64 rose from 62.3% to 62.9% between 2004 and 2005 .... The rate for the under-55 population remained unchanged at 77.8% ...." (AARP)
G.ay Pension Ruling Could Impact All of New York State
Excerpt: "A Long Island court was told on Thursday that the New York State Department of Civil Service and the Uniondale Union Free School District are ignoring 'well-settled law in New York that honors [same-sex] marriages validly performed in foreign jurisdictions.' The case involves a retired Nassau County teacher who was denied spousal benefits for his same-sex spouse." (365G.ay.com)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated as of May 2, 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: Revised Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program Covers More Transactions
Excerpt: "[T]he Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has revised the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFC Program) to include more eligible transactions and relief from civil penalties for transactions involving health and welfare plans, among other changes." (CCH Pension & Benefits)
Newly Posted Events
6th Annual Educational Exchange
in Massachusetts on May 16, 2006
presented by Sentinel Benefits
Newly Posted Press Releases
Trade Groups Defend Corporations' Right to Provide Legal Fees For Employees
(Securities Industry Association)
Zogby Survey Shows Most Small Business Employees Oppose Enzi Health Insurance Reform Legislation
(Zogby)
New Poll Shows Americans More Worried About Making Retirement Savings Last Than Saving in General
(Americans for Secure Retirement (ASR))
Retail Industry Leaders Association Testifies Against State and Local Health Care Mandates
(Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA))
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Pension Administrator
for Moran & Associates, Inc.
in HI, WA
Employee Benefits Lawyer
for Venable LLP
in DC
Defined Contribution Client Account Manager
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Back Office Operations Manager
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Defined Contribution Plan Administrator
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Institutional Trust Consultant III
for BB&T (Branch Banking and Trust Company)
in DC, VA
Qualified Plans Manager
for Ralcorp Holdings, Inc.
in MO
Wachovia Retirement Solutions Relationship Manager II
for Wachovia
in VA
Wachovia Retirement Solutions Relationship Manager II
for Wachovia
in VA
Executive Comp Consultant
for Hewitt Associates
in CA
Account Executive
for Transamerica
in MI
Retirement Plan Consulting
for Charles W. Cammack Associates, Inc.
in NY
Actuarial Assistant/Retirement Plans
for Charles W. Cammack Associates, Inc.
in NY
Sr. Sales Rep - Mgr Public Safety
for ICMA-RC
in GA
Managing Actuary
for Charles W. Cammack Associates, Inc.
in NY
Health and Welfare Consultants
for Charles W. Cammack Associates, Inc.
in NY
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
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