Tax Treatment on the Payment of IRA Fees Gets a New (but Familiar) Private Letter Ruling (PDF)
"The recent guidance issued in this area -- LTR 2011040611 -- reaffirms the IRS's favorable position regarding the IRA owners' payment of wrapfees with non-IRA funds, but continues to leave a number of guidance gaps." (CCH via Groom Law Group)

Here’s Your Chance to Reshape the Industry! May 9-11- Dallas, TX [Advert.]

Participate in a collaborative effort to develop best practices for procedures, information-sharing, problem-solving, client service and compliance in the 403(b) marketplace. Today’s the last day to get the early bird discount so register now!

Federal Court Relieves IRA Trustees of Liability for Madoff Investments (PDF)
"The IRA Agreements (excerpts from which are included in an Appendix to the court's decision) contained explicit provisions that indemnified the defendants from liability resulting from any claims arising from the accounts." (Groom Law Group)

Court Denies Mother's Claim to Deceased Son's Benefits
"A federal court has upheld an employer's decision to grant death benefits to the beneficiary designated by a former employee, though his mother claimed he was unduly influenced." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

PBGC Intends to Develop New Version of Proposed Rule on Reportable Events
"PBGC staff members said informally that the agency is assessing how it can revise the reportable events regulation to make it less burdensome and considering whether small plans should be subject to separate reportable events requirements. [Click on the link under 'Items of Interest' on the target page.]" (Keightley & Ashner LLP)

Retirement Payout Program Education Important for Plan Participants
"Insurance companies and investment advisers are offering newly created income products that are 'quite different concepts,' . . . ." (Human Resource Executive Online)

Cash Balance DB/DC Plan Proposals –Fully Tested and Priced Right [Advert.]

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Arbitration Ruling Allows Detroit to Reduce Pensions to Police Sergeants and Lieutenants
"Among the changes: The city can reduce the multiplier the city uses to calculate pensions for sergeants and lieutenants from 2.5 percent to 2.1 percent; suspend for two years longevity pay awarded after five, 11, 16 and 25 years; and make modifications to health care." (The Detroit News)

Santa Cruz, California, Police Officers Will Pay More for Pension and Health Care
"Santa Cruz police have agreed to contribute 20 percent of their salaries toward the cost of their pensions and move to a two-tier retirement system as part of a two-year contract extension . . . ." (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Can I Opt Out of Paying Social Security and Invest on My Own?
"The first way to get out of paying into Social Security is by being a member of the clergy . . . . [and some state workers in Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada and Ohio] can opt out of Social Security . . . ." (USA TODAY)

Pension Plan Participant Sues over Alternative Investments
"A recently filed lawsuit claims that Weyerhaeuser Company, its investment managers, and other fiduciaries to its pension plans breached their fiduciary duties by over investing the plans assets in alternative investments." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

Firms Should Offer More Help to Retiring Employees
"Benefits directors in the U.S. report that their organizations do not do enough to help employees make critical decisions at the point of retirement, according to a national survey commissioned by Transamerica Retirement Management." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

Low Interest Rates Hold Back Pension Funding Levels
"Pension funding levels at large U.S. companies improved modestly at the end of last year, largely due to the moderate stock market gains and employer contributions. However, lower interest rates increased pension liabilities and continued to suppress funding levels to well below those in 2007, when the average pension plan was fully funded, according to new analysis by Towers Watson." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

2011 NCPERS Public Fund Study Preliminary Results (PDF)
"Despite weak short-term investment experience in 2008 and 2009, the long-term investment discipline of fund managers has produced an average 1-year return of 13.5 percent based on most recently reported data." (National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems)

Public Hospital President's Retirement Pay Spotlights Issue of California's 'Supplemental' Pensions
"The president and CEO of a Salinas, Calif.-area public hospital district will receive nearly $4 mil.lion in retirement pay on top of his $150,000 annual pension. Such 'supplemental' pensions are one focus of criticism over the way public officials are compensated in retirement." (Los Angeles Times)

DOD Considering Changes to the Military's 20-Year-Plan Retirement System
"Longer life expectancy has created a $20 bil.lion hole in the Defense Department's retirement pension fund and is driving officials to once again re-examine the traditional system of 20-year 'cliff vesting' and lifetime checks . . . ." (Gannett Government Media Corporation)

Many in New Hampshire Have Left State Employment Since January Because of Proposed Legislation
"Under both Senate- and House-passed bills, workers would have to work longer, contribute more and have their pensions capped at 50 percent of the average pay over the last five years of work." (Union Leader Corporation)

Planning for Stock Compensation After Tax Season
"Fluctuations of income, including sudden increases from stock compensation, can be a red flag triggering a dreaded audit by the IRS -- especially now." (myStockPlan.com, Inc.)

Fringe Benefits Top List of IRS Intermediate Sanctions for Exempt Organizations
"If an organization does not treat fringe benefits to its chief executives as income, it will be considered an automatic excess benefit . . . ." (Tax Management Inc.)

IRS Official's Advice to Plan Sponsors on How to Respond to an EPCU Letter
"The plan sponsor can always provide more information, including documents to help resolve any issue that the EPCU raises. Failure to answer the correspondence could result in further action, including examination of the plan." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business)

US Labor Department Sues Defunct Grove City, Ohio-based Alliance Excavating and Owner to Distribute Assets from Company's Retirement Plan
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA))

Recession Caused Record Drop in Workers With Employment-Based Health Coverage
(Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI))

Mutual of Omaha Offers Plan-Level Fiduciary Service Option
(Mutual of Omaha)

Former Senate Finance Committee Tax & Benefits Counsel Christopher Condeluci Joins Venable
(Venable LLP)

Insurance Leader Launches "Worksite Academy" to Support Employers With Long-Term Care Education
(LTC Financial Partners)

Center for Health Value Innovation Unveils New Tool to Help Employers Reduce Health Care Costs and Realize Healthier, Engaged Employees
(Center for Health Value Innovation)

Pet Health Insurance Experiences Record Growth as Employee Benefit in 2010
(Veterinary Pet Insurance)

Lockton Adds Employee Benefits Consultants in San Jose
(Lockton)

Evive Health Offers Employers Four Tips to Increase Employee Engagement in Health and Wellness Programs During Employee Health and Fitness Month in May
(Evive Health)

NIPA

Plan Administrator for Retirement Plan & ERISA Specialists
for Dana Consulting Group, Ltd. in IL

Attorney, ERISA Litigation
for Alston & Bird LLP in DC

Director, Institutional Product Marketing - Retirement Plan Services
for TIAA-CREF in ANY STATE, MA

Sales Professional
for Worksite Academy in ME

Defined Contribution (401(k)) Plan Administrator
for Dallas, Texas TPA in TX

Regional Sales Consultant
for Northern California Third Party Administration Firm in CA

Strategic Communications Consultant
for New York Life Retirement Plan Services in MA

Sales Associate
for Holtz Rubenstein Benefits Consulting in NY

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NY CLE Program: Form 5500: Lessons Learned, New Issues and Best Practices for the 2010 Filing Season
in New York on May 19, 2011 presented by WEB (Worldwide Employee Benefits Network ), New York Chapter

PPACA- Looking Back at Healthcare Reform
in Georgia on May 19, 2011 presented by WEB (Worldwide Employee Benefit Network) Atlanta Chapter

The Global Phenomenon - How International Issues Impact Employee Plans Webinar
Nationwide on May 26, 2011 presented by Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

TRI-AD Web Seminar: Raise the Impact of Your 401(k) Through Effective Communications
Nationwide on May 19, 2011 presented by TRI-AD