BenefitsLink
Retirement Plans
Newsletter
To BenefitsLink home page Fill your job openings fast by advertising on BenefitsLink

April 20, 2007
Search Earlier Newsletters:



Sponsored by: DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.

(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Banner ad for DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.

Software for 401(k), Pension and Flex Administration

Now...through June 30, 2007, License any two DATAIR systems and we will cut one license fee by 50%. License more and get even more savings.

Pick and choose the software modules you need: DC/401(k) Proposals & Administration – DB Proposals & Administration – Retirement Plan Documents (Prototype and Volume Submitters) – Government Forms (5500s, 1099-Rs, 5300s) – Cafeteria Plan Administration & Documents – Participant Termination Calculations – FAS 132 Reporting

Contact sales@datair.com or call 1-888-328-2474.


Survey by IRS Advisory Group: Improving Compliance for Governmental 401(a) Qualified Plans
Are an attorney, accountant, actuary, consultant, third-party administrator, financial services provider, or other kind of retirement plan practitioner? Are a governmental employer that sponsors a section 401 tax-qualified retirement plan? Please help an official IRS advisory group supply the IRS with cost-effective ideas for increasing compliance (for plan documents or in operation) by governmental employers sponsoring section 401 tax-qualified retirement plans, by completing this online survey. (IRS Advisory Committee (ACT) on Tax Exempt and Government Entities)

GM and Delphi 401(k) Changes Mean Fewer, But Cheaper Investment Options
Excerpt: "GM and Delphi confirmed [yesterday] they will add and subtract but ultimately reduce the number of investment options available to 401(k) plan participants effective June 29. The changes will affect both salaried and hourly employees as well as current retirees at both companies." (DOW JONES NEWSWIRES via BOOM B.V.)

Trimmed-Down Defined Benefit Plans Are Displaying Fewer Funding Woes
Excerpt: "In 2006 corporate pension funds rode the wave of surging stock-market returns and higher interest rates to nearly reach full funding for the first time this decade, according to a recent study by Milliman, an actuarial consultancy." (CFO.com)

Comments by Actuary on Proposed Phased Retirement Distribution IRS Rules (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "Notice 2007-8 asks whether an in-service distribution of a benefit to a participant who has attained age 62 but who has not attained normal retirement age be limited to no greater than the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which the participant would be entitled at Normal Retirement Age or should subsidies be included. I would say that lump sum subsidies should be included but not early retirement type subsidies in any 'Code section 401(a)(36)' benefits." (Kurt F. Piper of Piper Pension & Profit Sharing)

Watson Wyatt Says Confusing Technology Hampers Retirement and Health Care Planning
Excerpt: "Efforts to encourage employees to take more responsibility for health care and retirement planning are at risk of being undermined by the lack of a unified technology and content strategy, according to experts at Watson Wyatt Worldwide." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business)


Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Relief for Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements Needing Modification to Comply with 409A
Excerpt: "IRS . . . published Notice 2007-34, dealing with the application of Section 409A to split-dollar life insurance arrangements. In this article, we'll discuss that Notice and its impact. Note that this Notice does not relate to split-dollar arrangements entered into after September 17, 2003 . . . ." (CCA Strategies)

Final Nonqualified Deferred Compensation, 409A, Regulations -- Focus on Separation Pay Plans
Excerpt: "In this article, we'll focus on the rules as they pertain to separation pay plans (many readers will think of them as severance plans, but the term separation pay as used in the regulations has a slightly broader context as it also picks up other post-termination benefits)." (CCA Strategies)

Executive Bonuses Irk Airline Workers
Excerpt: "American says the executive bonuses, part of a stock-based performance share plan, are necessary to retain managers. And, the airline says, it's a logical way to reward managers for turning American around. The carrier was one of the few to avoid bankrup.tcy." (The Baltimore Sun; free registration required)

Overview of Salary Continuation Arrangements: Under Final Code §§ 409A and 415 Regulations (PDF)
4 pages. Excerpt: "Many larger employers that maintain traditional qualified defined benefit plans provide 'salary continuation' or 'payroll continuation' arrangements that allow separating employees to qualify for subsidized early (or 'full') retirement benefits even after they have stopped providing services to the employer." (Ivins, Phillips & Barker)

A Review of Employee Benefits Developments as of April 2007
The newsletter reviews recent rulings, opinions, and cases. (Hodgson Russ LLP)


Newly Posted Events

Current Issues with 401(k) Plans
Nationwide on May 2, 2007
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

Health Benefits and Consumer Driven Health Plans: Trends and Evidence; Also A Wrap-up on Wellness Incentives: HIPAA Regulations and Tax Consequences for Employees
in Maryland on May 3, 2007
presented by Worldwide Employee Benefits Network -- Baltimore chapter

HIPAA and Health Laws Compliance Assistance Seminar - Free
in Washington on May 16, 2007
presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Introduction to Retirement Plans - Module 15
Nationwide on October 17, 2007
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

Introduction to Retirement Plans - Module 8
Nationwide on October 10, 2007
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

Introduction to Retirement Plans-Module 1
Nationwide on October 3, 2007
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

Second Quarter 2007 Update
Nationwide on May 14, 2007
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.


Newly Posted Press Releases

The Online 401(k) Hires Industry Veteran Greg Munson to Run Business Development
The Online 401(k)

Humana Launches SmartResults -- a Unique, Integrated, Multi-Year Approach That Assures Employers Will Save on Health Care Costs by Helping Employees Get Healthier
Humana


We're one of the top 350 employment sites on the web!Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Defined Contribution Client Account Manager
for New York Life Investment Management - Retirement Plans Services
in MA

401(k) Plan Specialist
for Retirement Plan Services, L.L.C.
in MO

Benefit Calculation Developer
for Vanguard
in PA

Retirement Compliance Testing Manager
for Vanguard
in PA

ERISA Attorney
for Houston Boutique Employee Benefits Law Firm
in TX

Trust Counsel
for The Northern Trust Company
in IL

Retirement Plan Marketing Specialist
for Edward Jones Investments
in MO




Handy Links:


Subscribe to the BenefitsLink Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter, Too!

Sign-up form is at https://benefitslink.com/newsletter (free).


This newsletter is sent to you each workday except federal holidays.

This email has been published by:
BenefitsLink.com, Inc.
1298 Minnesota Avenue, Suite H
Winter Park FL 32789
(407) 644-4146
Fax: (407) 644-2151

David Rhett Baker, J.D., Editor

Copyright 2007 BenefitsLink.com, Inc.; except that you can forward this email in full (including this boilerplate part) or otherwise reprint this email in full (including this boilerplate part) without obtaining our permission.

Anyone can receive these emails; just have them sign up at this web page: https://benefitslink.com/newsletter/

Other useful links: