BenefitsLink |   |
| May 24, 2007 |
Sponsored by: ASPPA and WP&BC
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
| The Western Benefits Conference - July 22-25, 2007 |
| Benefits by the Bay, the best of two in one! Jointly sponsored by WP&BC and ASPPA, this conference has been designed with all retirement professionals in mind. Seven industry specific targeted learning tracks, the latest market trends, compliance issues and networking opportunities await. Get early bird registration discounts and learn more at www.asppa.org/wbc or www.westernpension.org |
Annuities: Lifetime Security in a Defined Contribution Plan (PDF)
8 pages. Excerpt: "Sensing a growing interest in guaranteed income, especially from aging baby boomers, annuity providers are exploring new ways to make annuities a viable option for DC plan participants, with promising new approaches like third-party annuity placement services. In this Perspective, we will look at the factors that have spawned renewed interest in annuities and what role they might play in your DC plan." (Mercer Human Resource Consulting LLC and Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc.; free registration required)
Does a 401(k) Support Genocide?
Excerpt: "Groups who are trying to end the fighting in Sudan put pressure on investment managers to divest funds from there. Activists against the bloody conflict in the African nation of Sudan might say your 401(k) plan is contributing not only to an enjoyable retirement, but also to violence that has killed hundreds of thousands of people." (AP via thenewstribune.com)
Overview: Safe Harbor for Distributions from Terminated Individual Account Plans
Excerpt: "The interim final rule modifies the safe harbor in the regulation to reflect a provision in the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) that permits distributions on behalf of nonspouse beneficiaries to be rolled over into individual retirement plans, with favorable tax treatment for the nonspouse beneficiaries." (Hewitt Associates)
Auto Enrollment and Roth IRA Being Considered for the Thrift Savings Plan
Excerpt: "The executive director of the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) said he is floating the idea of adding automatic enrollment and Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) components to the defined contribution plan for federal employees." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
Designing Public-Sector Pensions for the 21 st Century: A Risk-Managed Approach (PDF)
63 pages. Excerpt: "This paper examines many of the sometimes-controversial issues raised in discussions regarding the design and funding of retirement plans for public employees. However, it does so in a different way. By focusing on development of appropriate benefits and funding policies and the use of risk management principles, we hope to provide public sector policy makers a better way to develop sound and sustainable retirement benefit policies . . . ." (TIAA-CREF Institute)
In Argentina, Workers Allowed to Switch Between Retirement Systems
Excerpt: "The pension reform bill which Congress passed in February 2007 is undoing some of the privatization efforts of the 1990s and prompting employers and employees to consider new retirement program options." (Watson Wyatt Worldwide)
WSJ.com/Harris Interactive Survey: Employed U.S. Adults & Retirement/Savings Benefit from Employers
Excerpt: "When asked what factors they consider important when evaluating a potential employer, more than half (53%) of U.S. adults say they consider a comprehensive retirement-plan package to be extremely or very important, followed by the amount of vacation time offered (50%) and the diversity of 401(k) options important (50%)." (PR Newswire via Human Resource Executive Online; free registration required)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated as of May 22, 2007, for Retirement Plans (PDF)
6 pages. This 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 retirement plans. (Hewitt Associates)
Chamber Testimony Submitted for the Record on PPA Technical Corrections, May 17, 2007 (PDF)
5 pages. (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
Working Paper Abstract: Removing the Disincentives in Social Security for Long Careers
Excerpt: "Implicit taxes in Social Security, which measure Social Security contributions net of benefits accrued as a percentage of earnings, tend to increase over the life cycle. In this paper, we examine the effects of three potential policy changes on implicit Social Security tax rates . . . ." (National Bureau of Economic Research; paid subscription or individual purchase required to retrieve full text)
Survey of Changes in Faculty Retirement Policies 2007 (PDF)
37 pages. Excerpt: "This report . . . updates a 2000 study that . . . collected information on retirement polices and practices across U.S. colleges and universities. It examines regular retirement programs for tenured faculty members, the prevalence and characteristics of retirement-incentive and phased-retirement programs, policies applicable to retired faculty, and information about the availability and cost of medical insurance and long-term care options for retiring faculty members." (American Association of University Professors via TIAA-CREF Institute)
OMB Moves to Safeguard Social Security Numbers
Excerpt: "Federal agencies must review their use of Social Security numbers and come up with a plan in 120 days to eliminate their unnecessary collection and use within 18 months, the Office of Management and Budget said in a memo released yesterday." (The Washington Post; free registration required)
Sponsored by: The Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits at The John Marshall Law School
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| Enhance Your Employee Benefits Career |
| The John Marshall Law School Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits invites you to improve your marketability by earning an advanced degree in Employee Benefits in the heart of Chicago. We offer an M.S. degree in Employee Benefits for non-attorney benefits professionals and an LL.M. degree in Employee Benefits for attorneys. Attend an Information Session Monday, June 11 at noon or 5 p.m. Visit www.jmls.edu/employee.html for more information. |
| (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) |
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
U.S. Executive Compensation Practices Are Taking on a European Look
Excerpt: "U.S. executive pay practices are moving in the direction of the kind of long-term incentives used extensively in Europe, according to a new Hay Group executive comp study." (Treasury and Risk)
FWC Response to Rep. Waxman Inquiry Regarding Compensation Consultant Independence (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "Your letter references recent articles in the business press and debate among investor groups implying that revenues received by executive compensation consultants from other services could compromise the independence of their advice on executive compensation. The members of our firm appreciate your Committee's concern and believe the issue is worthy of further attention." (Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.)
New Benefits Bills Introduced Between April 9 and May 8 in Congress
Excerpt: "Included are House and Senate comprehensive health reform bills (H.R. 2034, S. 1218, S. 1221, S. 1169) and a bill to remove the 18 or 36 month limitation on the period of COBRA continuation coverage (H.R.2047)." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business)
Spending Entitlements and Tax Entitlements (PDF)
18 pages. Excerpt: "American social policy is largely the product of two types of federal programs, one type that operates directly through the federal budget, and another type that operates more indirectly through the tax code. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper compares the former (entitlement benefits) with the latter (tax benefits)." (AARP)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide for May 22, 2007, on Human Resources & Employment Law (PDF)
13 pages. This 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 human resources and employment law. (Hewitt Associates)
Newly Posted Events
Fiduciary Training & Tools For Retirement Advisors Offered in Three Free Sessions
in Arizona on September 30, 2007
presented by Financial Service Standards, LLC.
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
(Post a Job | View All Jobs)
Pension Administrator
for Benefit Strategies, Inc.
in CA
Director of Retirement Plans for DC Law Firm
for Global Excellence, LLC
in DC
Retirement Plan Specialist
for Diversified Investment Advisors, Inc.
in AZ, MI
Compliance Consultant
for Hartford Life
in CT
Business Analyst III
for 32BJ Benefit Funds
in NY
Manager of Quality Assurance (Six Sigma)
for United Health Group
in WI
Actuary/Senior Manager
for Pentegra Retirement Services
in NY
Client Services - Account Manager
for ExpertPlan, Inc.
in NJ
Client Relationship Coordinator - Retirement Plans Division
for Bryson Financial Group
in CA
Operations Manager (Insurance/TPA)
for Zenith Administrators
in NV
Retirement Consultant
for Wachovia
in MD
WRS Relationship Manager II
for Wachovia
in NC
Account Manager, Retirement
for Cammack LaRhette Consulting
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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