[Guidance Overview]
Deja Vu All Over Again: Remedial Amendment Cycles Recycle
"Although hard to believe, the remedial amendment cycles are starting all over once more. For individually designed plans required to be filed by the original Cycle A deadline of January 31, 2007, the next five-year filing deadline is January 31, 2012." (Warner Norcross & Judd LLP)

DATAIR Defined Contribution Plan Software (advert.)

Software for proposals, compliance testing, statements and periodic administration for "DC" plans. System handles 401(k), Profit Sharing (including Cross Testing), 403(b), ESOP, and NQ plans. Cost-effective PC-based system for TPAs and consultants.

[Guidance Overview]
IRS Opens Second Cycle for Individually Designed Pension Plans and Pre-Approved DC Pension Plans (PDF)
"Cycle A plan sponsors must submit letter requests by January 31, 2012 using the 2010 cumulative list of plan qualification requirements. IRS also opened the second submission period for pre-approved defined contribution plans." (Buck Consultants)

[Guidance Overview]
Participant Disclosure Regulations: Information That Must Be Disclosed to Eligible Participants and Beneficiaries
"[In addition to required disclosures information must include, a] general glossary of terms to assist participants and beneficiaries in understanding the plan's investment options, or a website address that can provide access to a glossary." (McKay Hochman Co., Inc.)

[Guidance Overview]
Correction of the Failure to Suspend Deferrals in the Event of a Hardship Distribution
"The suspension period following a hardship distribution is required for plans subject to the safe harbor hardship requirements rather than the facts and circumstances rules." (McKay Hochman Co., Inc.)

[Guidance Overview]
CIGNA Corp. v. Amara: Supreme Court to Rule on Pension Rights
"The court will decide whether an employee is entitled to benefits described in the summary of benefits when the actual plan language is less favorable." (Yahoo! Inc.)

Facts You Should Know: State and Local Bankrup.tcy, Municipal Bonds, State and Local Pensions (PDF)
"In many municipal bankruptcies, the jurisdictions have not defaulted on their debt/municipal bonds and have protected investors (including the largest in history-Orange County, CA in 1994)." (National Association of State Retirement Administrators)

New York Pension Debate Targets Double-Dippers and Crooks
"There are at least 2,129 New York state public employees, ranging from nurse to investigator, who are double-dippers. Then there are the crooks." (WNFL)

Proposed Changes to PBGC Premiums
"The proposed 2012 federal budget contains [a provision which could dramatically change how PBGC premiums are determined. A main aspect] of the proposal: - Gives the PBGC authority to set and adjust premium rates as it sees fit." (Van Iwaarden Associates)

Roth IRAs and Tax Deferral
"[W]hen it comes to what to do with any after-tax dollars that you have the option to save either in (1) a taxable account, (2) a nondeductible IRA, or (3) a Roth, there are generally clearer answers. There is a broad consensus that the Roth is (pretty obviously) the best option in these circumstances." (The Vanguard Group, Inc.)

Detroit Pension Probe Grows; More Than 150 Investments Eyed
"The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has widened its investigation of Detroit's two public pension plans, requesting as many as 1 mil.lion pages of records on more than 150 investments . . . ." (Detroit Free Press)

Proposed Hybrid Plan Regs Criticized at IRS Hearing
"Speakers accused the IRS and Treasury of failing to implement the relief provided by the [PPA] and for unduly restricting hybrid plan operations." (Wolters Kluwer)

Employer Retirement Plans Comparison Chart for Small Businesses (PDF)
The chart offers a comparison of the features and benefits of retirement plans that are appropriate for small businesses. (Appleby Retirement Consulting)

The Morningstar 401(k) Plan (PDF)
"[D]ue to Morningstar's importance in the financial services industry, its Plan has a great deal of influence on investment decisions made by other retirement plan sponsors. Morningstar knows as much as any one organization can know about mutual funds; might its plan selections hold lessons for investors generally?" (Schultz Collins Lawson Chambers, Inc.)

California State Employees Take Advantage of 'Air Time' Pension Perk
"State allows employees to increase retirement benefits by buying up to five fictitious years -- known as 'air time' -- to add to their public service. Financial advisors call it a great deal for retirees but bad for taxpayers." (Los Angeles Times)

[Opinion]
Towers Watson Comments on Target Date Fund Disclosure Proposed Regulations
"The comments address identifying assumptions in disclosures, the effective date, benchmarking and considerations for plan fiduciaries in choosing target date funds." (Towers Watson)

[Opinion]
Testimony on Behalf of American Benefits Council and CIEBA Addresses the Swap-Related Issues Raised by Dodd-Frank for Private Retirement Plans Governed by ERISA (PDF)
"With respect to the derivatives title of Dodd-Frank, there is one issue, however, that is dwarfing all others: timing. The agencies are attempting to perform a complete restructuring of a nearly $600 tril.lion market with rules developed over a few months. It simply is not possible to do that in a way that takes into account all relevant factors." (American Benefits Council / Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets)

Don’t Miss Pensions & Investments 401(k) Investment Lineup Summit (advert.)

Join P&I and an elite group of your peers for this informative conference that will provide the most up-to-date thinking on how to best design a DC investment lineup and present you with valuable networking opportunities. Plan sponsors attend FREE.

[Guidance Overview]
SEC Makes the Advance Approval of Shareholder Say on Parachute Payments Even Less Attractive
"Question 128B.01 . . . provides that, even if a company's shareholders approve a say-on-parachute payments resolution in the 2011 annual meeting proxy, if the company adds a new CEO one month later, it would need to seek shareholders approval again in any future merger proxy." (Michael S. Melbinger via Winston & Strawn LLP)

[Guidance Overview]
DOL Advisory Opinions Consider Fiduciary Issues (PDF)
"The [DOL] recently issued three advisory opinions considering fiduciary or prohibited transaction issues arising in the management of ERISA plans." (Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP)

11 Things to Know in 2011 on Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
"In some cases immediate action may be necessary; in other cases, there may be planning opportunities." (SNR Denton)

Obama's Budget Does Not Spare Employers
"The 2012 budget signals to the business community that, fiscal difficulties notwithstanding, the Obama administration isn't backing off from its efforts to vigorously enforce the nation's workplace laws . . . ." (Human Resource Executive Online)

New Report Explores Workforce Lessons Learned from 'The Great Recession'
"The new Adecco Staffing US report discusses: The changing profile of the U.S. workforce; Industries that will benefit most from a contingent workforce; How a contingent staffing model can benefit an organization." (Adecco Group)

Text of GAO's Latest 'High Risk' List of Programs at Risk for Waste, Fraud and Abuse (PDF)
Starting on page 147, the section on Modernizing and Safeguarding Insurance and Benefit Programs covers the following: Improving and Modernizing Federal Disability Programs; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Insurance Programs; the Medicare Program, and the Medicaid Program. (U.S. Government Accountability Office)

Financial Engines Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Financial Results
(Financial Engines, Inc.)

Higher Percentage of Older Workers in the Work force in 2010
(Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI))

Great-West Retirement Services Appoints Top Producer To Newly Created Sales Role
(Great-West Retirement Services)

Mutual of Omaha Teams With 401k Coach for Second Year of "Boot Camp"
(Mutual of Omaha)

MetLife Adds Five New Quality Resource Guides to Its Dental Continuing Education Program
(MetLife)

BeneTrac Helps Employers Address Healthcare Reform Requirements
(BeneTrac)

Towers Watson Practice Lead Eric Parmenter Joins HighRoads To Lead Health and Welfare Consulting Group
(HighRoads, Inc.)

The Impact of Pensions On State Borrowing Costs
(Center for State and Local Government Excellence)

Jean-Philippe Provost to Join Mercer as International Consulting Group Leader in the US
(Mercer)

Genworth Financial's New Live+Well Program Aims to Promote Healthy Aging
(Genworth Financial, Inc.)

Consulting Veterans David Harper and Bill Straub Join RPAG
(Retirement Plan Advisory Group)

Premier Healthcare Alliance Launches Next Wave of Comparative Effectiveness Research Program to Determine Safest, Most Efficient Care
(Premier Inc.)

DALBAR and FiduciaryPlanReview.com Announce Joint Venture
(DALBAR)

Fonality Survey Finds Knowledge Workers at Small & Mid-Size Firms Spend Half of Workday on Essential, but Unproductive Tasks
(Fonality)

U.S. Taxi and Limo Drivers Now Eligible for Group Health Benefits
(National Association of Taxi Drivers)

New Report Explores Workforce Lessons Learned From 'The Great Recession'
(Adecco Staffing)

ASPPA

Client Relationship Manager in MI for PensionTrend, Inc.

Compliance Analyst in TX for Alliance Benefit Group of Houston, Inc.

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2011 Roth Conversion and Portability
Nationwide on April 7, 2011 presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

3-Part Defined Benefit Prototype Plan Series
Nationwide on April 13, 2011 presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

Boston Mid-Sized Retirement & Pension Plan Management Conference
in Massachusetts on May 15, 2011 presented by University Conference Services

Chicago Health and Welfare Plan Management for Mid-Sized Employers Conference
in Illinois on June 7, 2011 presented by University Conference Services

Compliance Checkup for Health Reimbursement Arrangements: Latest Rules Including Health Care Reform
Nationwide on March 16, 2011 presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters

Controlled Groups
Nationwide on February 24, 2011 presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

Installation Services Job Fair
in California on February 23, 2011 presented by Transamerica

Texas Total Rewards Conference in Dallas, TX
in Texas on September 19, 2011 presented by Texas Total Rewards Alliance

Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program Workshop
in Kentucky on April 4, 2011 presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)