[Official Guidance]
Disaster Relief Announcement 10-16 Relating to PBGC Deadlines in Response to Severe Storms and Flooding in Illinois
Excerpt: "Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation . . . is waiving certain penalties and extending certain deadlines in response to the severe storms and flooding that occurred beginning July 22, 2010, in Illinois."
(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)

[Official Guidance]
Disaster Relief Announcement 10-15 Relating to PBGC Deadlines in Response to Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes in Iowa
Excerpt: "Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ('PBGC') is waiving certain penalties and extending certain deadlines in response to the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes that occurred on June 1, 2010, in Iowa."
(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)

[Guidance Overview]
Service Provider Fee Disclosure Regulations: Initial Disclosures re Compensation
Excerpt: "This Technical Update discusses compensation, and the disclosures which a covered service provider (CSP) must make to a responsible plan fiduciary of a covered plan with regard to compensation."
(SunGard Relius)

Retirement Health Among Hospital Workers: The 2010 Hospital Retirement Confidence Survey
Excerpt: "Confidence levels among the hospital sector workforce regarding their prospects for a financially secure retirement generally mirror those of the U.S. workforce. Affording health care in retirement is a particular area of concern for hospital workers, as it is for all U.S. workers, and appears to be a key driver of overall retirement confidence levels."
(TIAA-CREF Institute)

Reclaiming the Future: Baby Boomers' Expectations of and Preparations for Retirement
The report reflects the results of a survey of 3,257 U.S. adults ages 44-75 on their attitudes about retirement; a white paper and the executive summary can be downloaded at the site.
(Allianz Life)

Live Webcasts: Joint Hearing on Lifetime Income Options for Retirement Plans, September 14-15, 2010
Excerpt: "The U. S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will host this joint hearing with the Department of the Treasury on lifetime income options for retirement plans. The hearing begins at 9:00 a.m. (EST) on September 14 and 15, 2010."
(U.S. Department of Labor)

The Role of Roth 401k in Retirement Savings (PDF)
7 pages. Excerpt: "Since the Pension Protection Act of 2006 established it as a viable, long-term savings option, participant use has been significant, especially among newly enrolled employees. Because of this demand, more plan sponsors are adopting the Roth feature."
(Hewitt Associates)

Pension Freezes Continue Among Fortune 1000 Companies in 2010
Excerpt: "From 2009 to 2010, the number of Fortune 1000 companies sponsoring a frozen pension plan increased by 4%. After peaking in 2006, the overall freeze rate has remained relatively constant over the last three years, as the economic climate has remained uncertain."
(Towers Watson)

Government Workers Also Feeling Retirement Pressure
Excerpt: "Sixty-one percent of state and local government employees in a recent poll said they are unsure or uncomfortable about their ability to set aside enough for retirement, according to ING."
(PLANSPONSOR.com)

A Study on the Economic Outlook of America's Government Workforce (PDF)
28 pages.
(ING Institute for Retirement Research)

Economy Takes a Toll on Retirement Planning Process
Excerpt: "Ameriprise Financial's second New Retirement Mindscape study finds significant changes compared to 2005 among those three to five years away from retirement."
(PLANSPONSOR.com)

Leaders of ESOP Companies Still Support Employee Ownership
Excerpt: "Even though ESOPs were not immune to impacts of the recent recession, leaders of ESOP companies still feel strongly that their company is better off than their non-ESOP counterparts, according to a new survey."
(PLANSPONSOR.com)

Percentage of Fortune 1000 Companies with Frozen Defined Benefit Plans Has Fallen Significantly
Excerpt: "A Towers Watson news release said 39% of Fortune 1000 companies with DB plans had none frozen in 2010, down markedly from the 59% seen six years earlier."
(PLANSPONSOR.com)

[Opinion]
A Hidden Fiduciary Liability for Plan Sponsors: The Five Most Critical Problems with Target Date Funds
Excerpt: "This lack of comprehension and lack of choice can cause the 401k plan fiduciary to fail to ask the right questions. And that lurking liability can spell trouble."
(Fiduciary News)

[Opinion]
Testimony on Behalf of ASPPA at Hearing on Lifetime Income Distribution Options for Participants and Beneficiaries
5 pages. The testimony is to be given September 15, 2010, before a joint hearing held by the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Labor on issues relating to Lifetime Income Distribution Options for Participants and Beneficiaries.
(American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries)

[Opinion]
'Buyer Beware' Is No Basis for a Fiduciary Rule
Excerpt: "Opponents of the fiduciary standard in the insurance and broker-dealer industries are attempting to get the Securities and Exchange Commission to accept a non-fiduciary form of disclosure for advice to retail investors under the new rules required by regulatory reform."
(Investment News; free registration required)

Executive Stock Ownership Policies: Trends and Developments (PDF)
6 pages.
(Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.)

Moving from a DB Executive Retirement Plan to a DC Executive Retirement Plan (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "[The paper presents an] analysis of the tax, accounting, regulatory and design factors unique to nonqualified plans."
(Aon Consulting)

Spotlight on Worker Classification and Deferred Compensation Arrangements
Excerpt: "The Internal Revenue Service's employment tax National Research Project is currently underway . . . . While the audits will be comprehensive in scope, the IRS has identified the following issues for particular focus: worker classification, fringe benefits, payroll tax reporting and executive compensation."
(Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP)

"EFAST2: Amendments, Late Filing, and Short Plan Years" Web Seminar - An Encore Presentation
Nationwide on October 7, 2010
presented by SunGard Relius

401(k) Rekon Advisor Symposium Washington
in District of Columbia on September 28, 2010
presented by 401(k) Rekon

Cafeteria Plans
in Oregon on October 5, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

Cafeteria Plans
in Illinois on October 19, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

Cafeteria Plans
in Georgia on October 26, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

Cafeteria Plans
in California on November 9, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in Oregon on October 7, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in Illinois on October 21, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in Georgia on October 28, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in California on November 11, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in Oregon on October 6, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in Illinois on October 20, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in Georgia on October 27, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in California on November 10, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

Health Care Reform
in Oregon on October 8, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

Health Care Reform
in Illinois on October 22, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

Health Care Reform
in Georgia on October 29, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

Health Care Reform
in California on November 12, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

HIPAA Privacy & Security
in Oregon on October 7, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

HIPAA Privacy & Security
in Illinois on October 21, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

HIPAA Privacy & Security
in Georgia on October 28, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

HIPAA Privacy & Security
in California on November 11, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

HSAs, HRAs, and Consumer-Driven Health Care
in Oregon on October 6, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

HSAs, HRAs, and Consumer-Driven Health Care
in Illinois on October 20, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

HSAs, HRAs, and Consumer-Driven Health Care
in Georgia on October 27, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

HSAs, HRAs, and Consumer-Driven Health Care
in California on November 10, 2010
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

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PBGC Moves to Protect Pensions at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)

Great-West Retirement Services Adds Regional Sales Director for Rocky Mountain Market
Great-West Retirement Services

ERIC Urges Agencies to Focus Lifetime Income Effort on Education, Genuine Safe Harbor, and Avoid Mandate of Annuities
ERIC (ERISA Industry Committee)

Double-Digit Health Care Cost Increases Continue in 2011, Says Aon Consulting
Aon Consulting

ASPPA to Testify on Lifetime Income Options for Retirement Plans
American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA)

Financial Research Corporation to Provide Variable Annuity Tools
Financial Research Corporation

ING Study: Majority of Government Workers Unprepared for Retirement...and Looking to Save More
ING Retirement Services

SPS/GZ to Provide IRC 6039 Compliance Services
Stock Plan Solutions/Green Zapato (SPS/GZ)

SPS/GZ to Host IRC Section 6039 Services Booth at NASPP Conference 2010 in Chicago
Stock Plan Solutions/Green Zapato (SPS/GZ)

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in ANY STATE

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for SunGard Financial Systems
in NJ

ERISA Attorney
for Tax Sheltered Compensation, Inc.
in MN

Compliance Consultant/ERISA Attorney
for Corporate Synergies Group
in NJ

Senior ERISA Trust Attorney
for M&I Wealth Management
in MO, WI

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