Retirement Plans Newsletter |
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| August 21, 2009 \ Compliance \ Costs \ Administration \ Design \ Policy | ||
ASPPA (Advert.)
DOL Speaks: The 2009 Employee Benefits Conference – September 14-15,2009 ASPPA and the U.S. Labor Department EBSA co-sponsor this conference, which focuses exclusively on ERISA Title 1 issues. Get the latest information about ERISA regulatory and legislative issues; DOL audit enforcement, retirement plan and group health-plan issues; fiduciary matters, the fundamentals of managing an ERISA plan and more. There also will be information about the Pension Protection Act. Register now. Washington Hilton Hotel /1919 Connecticut Street, NW / Washington, DC. |
Senate Bill Would Revamp Governing Structure of PBGC
Excerpt: "Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, has introduced legislation that seeks to strengthen the governance and oversight structure of the PBGC. The PBGC Governance and Improvement Bill (S. 1544) was introduced on July 30, 2009 . . . ." (Wolters Kluwer)
Target-Date Funds for Government Retirement Markets?
Excerpt: "One of the nation's largest mutual fund companies has pre-announced a new product line that could shake up the governmental 457 and 403(b) deferred compensation markets: a series of 'target-date' index funds. The original TD funds were all actively managed at relatively high fees and carried the risk that portfolio manager would underperform the index, as many have The new funds use index funds only and often have much lower fees and more predictable performance." (Governing.com)
DOL Begins to Approve EFAST2 Software Vendors for 2009 Form 5500
ftwilliam.com is the first vendor to obtain EFAST2 approval, for the 2009 Form 5500. Excerpt: "EBSA will list on this Web site the private sector companies who have developed software that has been approved for use in transmitting and/or completing the Form 5500 and Form 5500-SF under the EFAST2 system. . . . Information on these products and their vendors' is provided for the convenience of filers. The U.S. Department of Labor does not endorse or warrant these companies, their products, or their services." (Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor)
SunGard’s Relius Education – Educational Resources for Employee Benefits Professionals (Advert.)
Fall Trio Workshops – October–December, 2009
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Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
[Guidance Overview]FTC Delays 'Red Flags' Rule on Identity Theft Prevention and Addresses Applicability to Employee Benefits Plans
Excerpt: "The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has delayed enforcement of the 'Red Flags' rule concerning identity theft prevention until November 1, 2009 and has provided guidance on the applicability of the rule to employee benefit sponsors and administrators in a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) posted to its website. The Red Flags rule requires many businesses and organizations to implement a written identity theft prevention program to detect warning signs -- 'red flags' -- of identity theft in their day-to-day operations." (Wolters Kluwer)
Public or Private? How the Distinction May Affect Your Company's Executive Compensation Practices (PDF)
7 pages. Excerpt: "This article takes a look at how these terms are defined in some of the key executive compensation provisions of the Code, including sections 162(m), 280G, and 409A, and how the determination of whether a company is public or private can affect the application of those sections. While this article provides a general overview of Code sections 162(m), 280G, 409A, and the other Code sections discussed herein, it assumes that the reader is somewhat familiar with the general requirements f these Code sections, and thus, does not provide an in-depth discussion of all of the requirements of each Code section discussed." (The Texas Tax Lawyer via Haynes and Boone LLP)
Virginia Offers Small Loans to State Employees
Excerpt: "Hoping to avert the dangers of predatory lending and improve one's financial fitness, Virginia is giving its employees access to small, emergency loans. The Virginia State Employee Loan Program offers non-probationary state employees short-term loans of up to $500 with no credit checks and no late fees. Borrowers must belong to the Virginia Credit Union and have at least $5 in a savings or checking account. To qualify for a loan, participants must complete an online financial course and a 10-question financial literacy exam." (Governing.com)
How the Financial Meltdown is Hastening Innovation in Employee Benefit Strategies and Design (PDF)
Excerpt: "This article examines some of the key findings from Towers Perrin's recent 'Benefits in Crisis' pulse survey of almost 500 HR and benefit executives at midsize and large U.S. organizations, which was conducted in February, 2009. Drawing from these and other data, as well as our day-to-day consulting experience in this difficult climate, we will offer insights and our perspective on how the current economic crisis is reshaping the rewards/benefits landscape and companies' fundamental 'deal' with employees." (Thomson Reuters via Towers Perrin)
Discounts and Offering Periods Key to ESPP Benefit, According to Survey
Excerpt: "Overall, 65% of the over 400 stock plan administrators in U.S. public companies surveyed said that an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) was a beneficial or excellent investment, but if the discount on stock price was 10% or less, only 18% did. . . . The NCEO/CEPI survey, conducted in June and July 2009, includes responses from over 400 companies. With questions written by experts in the field, the resulting data is a unique source for insight into trends in plan design, participation rates, compensation cost, run rates, overall satisfaction with the plan, and more." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
Webcasts and Conferences
A Full Day Seminar with Sal Tripodiin Ohio on September 9, 2009
presented by ASPPA Benefits Council of Cleveland
SEBC Fall Fly-In
in Virginia on October 1, 2009
presented by Southern Employee Benefits Conference
Webcast: The Evolving Fiduciary Landscape: Trends, Reform and Process
Nationwide on September 9, 2009
presented by National Institute of Pension Administrators
(Click to post your webcast or conference)
Press Releases
Online Tool Calculates Health SavingsPrincipal Financial Group
ftwilliam.com Receives Preliminary Certification of its EFAST 2 Transmission Software
ftwilliam.com
ShareOwners.org: 50,000 U.S. Investor Emails To U.S. Senate Is Goal To Boost Prospects For Action On "Say One Pay" Bill Passed By House In Late July
ShareOwners.org
(Click to post your press release)
Employee Benefits Jobs
Institutional Services Communication Specialist Ifor BB&T
in NC
Defined Benefits Professionals--Atlanta & Sarasota
for Progressive HR Consulting Firm
in FL, GA
Investigator, Pension (Senior Investigator)
for US Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
in CA
Senior Account Executive
for Amalgamated Life Insurance
in NY
Senior Conversion Analyst
for Administaff
in TX
(Click to post your job opening | View all jobs |
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EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com (Sponsor)
(Click on banner to learn more.)
| Where the best employers find the best candidates! |
Handy Links:
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- Employee Benefits Library
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