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401(k) Rekon Advisor Symposium- Milwaukee
in Wisconsin on September 8, 2011 presented by 401(k) Rekon

Six Ways to Limit Your Chances of a Visit from the DOL
"In 2010, the DOL conducted 3,112 civil investigations, almost 75 percent of which resulted in findings of one or more violations. Here are six ways to avoid a visit from your friendly local DOL investigator . . . ." (Warner Norcross & Judd LLP)

Wolters Kluwer Law & Business brings you ftwPortal Express!   [Advert.]

ftwPortal Express, a new member of the ftwilliam.com suite of products, will streamline the document/form collection/dissemination process and provide a secure means to communicate confidential information with clients. Ask us about a demo.

The ERISA Litigation Newsletter, August 2011
This edition includes the following titles: Seventh Circuit Confirms that Receipt of Benefit Distribution Can Trigger Statute of Limitations; Also Precludes Deference to Plan Administrator Where No Discretion Exercised; Do You Know What It Means To Know? Actual Knowledge and ERISA Section 413; and, Rulings, Filings, and Settlements of Interest. (Proskauer Rose LLP)

Savings Under Tax Reform: What Is the Cost to Retirement Savings?
"Reform and targeted relief proposals that have been proposed will do little to alter the fact that individual savings tends to be very low among lower income individuals. Therefore, although tax reform potentially will increase overall saving, it is likely to come at the cost of retirement savings by lower-income individuals." (Social Science Research Network)

Experts Predict Improved Retirement Plans, According to Survey
"Unless the standard automatic deferral rate is increased dramatically—to 12% or higher—the experts believe that pairing automatic enrollment with automatic escalation is critical to participants' achieving a funded retirement." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

SEC Lifts Registration Threshold for Pension Advisers to $200,000
"In order to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and avoid state registrations, pension consultants must now be advising plans with at least $200 mil.lion in assets, rather than the previous $50 mil.lion in assets previously required." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business / CCH)

Type of Retirement Plan Chosen by New State Employees Not Always a Good Thing
A new report describes the 'Downside of Defaults' and the reasons people who are given a choice of the type of retirement plan in which they will become a participant default to a particular type of plan when they fail to make an affirmative choice. (Employee Benefit News; free registration required)

The Importance of Understanding and Monitoring Retirement Plan Fees and Expenses
"[We] discuss the fiduciary duties under [ERISA] with respect to fees and expenses, describe the more common compensation arrangements in the retirement plan industry today, and provide suggestions for defined contribution plan fiduciaries to monitor and evaluate their plans for compliance with the applicable legal standards." (Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens and Cannada, PLLC)

Pension Funds Should Prep for Long-Term Investment Weakness
"For now, however, the steep decline in the stock markets hasn't shaken the resolve of public pension executives. Those contacted by P&I Daily said they're holding firm with their investment strategies despite the downgrading of the United States' credit rating and the drubbing the markets took as a result." (Pensions & Investments; free registration required)

Discussion About the Redesign of a Company's Defined Contribution Plan
"[Five guiding principles were] established to guide the plan changes. [In addition,] behavioral research influenced modification of their auto-savings programs, loan availability, and investment structure." (Pacific Investment Management Company LLC)

Annuities, the Law, and the Future
"Every retiree's financial situation is unique. Optimizing their finances in retirement requires customizable solutions. It is an enormous step forward that planners and academics now recognize that annuities are part of the financial toolkit available to participants and that 100% annuitization should not be a national priority." (Profit Sharing / 401k Council of America)

Who Is Winning the 'Fiduciary' Definition Debate?
"Unlike all other countries in the world, only the United States allows an employer/plan sponsor to be a fiduciary of a qualified retirement plan. In all other countries, only independent fiduciaries can run a plan. In Europe, for example, employers can't get involved with their retirement plans at all." (Morningstar Advisor)

Say-on-Pay: 2011 Proxy Season De-Brief (PDF)
"For the majority of companies, the experience may not have been stress-free, but 98% of companies passed with average shareholder support over 90%. Shareholders also overwhelmingly supported annual SOP votes. This letter provides detailed SOP voting results for the Russell 3000 as constituted through June 30, and available as of July 29 in the Institutional Shareholder Services ('ISS') Voting Analytics database." (Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.)

New Relocation Mileage Rate Applies to Federal Employees
"The new standard reimbursement rate the IRS set for mileage accumulated on privately owned vehicles for relocation purposes also applies to federal employees' use of their vehicles in employment-related relocations, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced Aug. 9." (Thompson Publishing Group)

Monthly Benefit News & Developments during July and through August 4, 2011 (PDF)
This edition also includes upcoming key dates. (Milliman, Inc.)

Bankruptcy Court Rules Against Harry & David Pensioners
(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC))

"Multiple" Choice - Article on Multiple Employer Plans
(American Pension Services, Inc.)

US Department of Labor’s ERISA Advisory Council to Hold Meeting Aug. 30-Sept. 1
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA))

Finance Expert Added To CEFEX Program
(Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX))

Market Turmoil and Flight to Quality Jolt US Pension Plans
(Mercer)

American General Life Companies Announces Annuity Living Benefit: AG Lifetime Income Builder
(American General Life Companies)