Retirement Plan Administrator
for Matthews Benefit Group, Inc in FL

Client Relationship Manager - Western Region
for Transamerica in AZ, CA, NV, OR, WA

Client Services Manager (Health & Welfare)
for TRI-AD in CA

Pension Administrator
for Cornerstone Group in RI

Fixed Income Business Analyst
for Prudential in NJ

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"The New Form 8955-SSA: Who, What, When, and How" Web Seminar
Nationwide on December 6, 2011 presented by SunGard Relius

NTSAA 403(b) Advisor Summit
in Nevada on February 8, 2012 presented by American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA)

Participant Fee Disclosure - Ready or Not, Here It Comes! Webcast
Nationwide on December 1, 2011 presented by American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA)

Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program Webinar
Nationwide on November 29, 2011 presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program Workshop
in California on November 16, 2011 presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Which Benefits Are Exempt From Which Health Care Reform Rules? Answering Your Questions About “Excepted Benefits”
Nationwide on December 1, 2011 presented by Thomson Reuters / EBIA

PBGC: Clarification of 5500 Reporting of PBGC Premium Payments on Schedule H for 2009, 2010 (PDF)
"For the 2009 and 2010 plan years, filers may report information on premium payments from plan assets on either Line 2i(4) or 2l of the Schedule H. The 2011 instructions for Schedule H will require reporting of information on premium payments from plan assets on Line 2i(4)." (PBGC via American Academy of Actuaries)

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18 workshops to advance your career, "Washington Update" with Brian Graff, exciting networking opportunities, post-summit access to recordings and handouts, more affordable pricing and outstanding accommodations!

Text of IRS Notice 2011-91: PTIN Not Necessary for Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent in Certain Circumstances (PDF)
"[E]ffective immediately, enrolled retirement plan agents and applicants to become enrolled retirement plan agents are not required to have a PTIN to apply for enrollment or renew enrollment as an enrolled retirement plan agent. Enrolled retirement plan agents must, however, obtain a PTIN if, for compensation, they prepare, or assist in the preparation of, all or substantially all of any tax return or claim for refund that is not on the list of forms exempt from the PTIN requirement as provided in section 1.03 of Notice 2011-6 or any future guidance." (U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

The IRS 2011-2012 Priority Guidance Plan: A Long List for Employee Benefits
"The 2011-2012 Plan contains 66 projects in the context of 'Employee Benefits' with 37 projects specifically focused on 'Retirement Benefits.' . . . . [W]e review a number of significant Retirement Benefits items from the 2011-2012 Plan and attempt to review where these pieces of guidance may be heading." (Groom Law Group)

Two Classes of Annuity Providers Do Not Violate § 403(b) Universal Availability Requirement (PDF)
"In Private Letter Ruling 201142033 (July 25, 2011), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that the IRC § 403(b) universal availability requirement was not violated merely because (i) a university system made available two classes of annuity providers and (ii) some employees could access both classes of providers, and other employees could access only one class." (Sutherland)

Massachusetts Court Denies Former Lawmaker's Suit Over Definition of 'Compensation' in Pension Formula
"Marie Parente had appealed a 2007 decision by the state Retirement Board that denied her request to include a parking spot, travel costs and other reimbursements as part of her compensation." (Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.)

ERPAs and the PTIN Requirement: As Clear As Mud
"Whether Form 5300 or the entire Form 5300 series has been exempted from the PTIN requirements is a non-issue until you need to file a determination letter application for a type of plan which includes a form from the Form 5300 series which was not excluded by Notice 2011-6. For example, Form 5309 is required as part of a determination letter application for ESOPs/KSOPs." (Pension Protection Act Blog)

Milwaukee to Defy State Law Requiring Higher Pension Contributions by Employees
"[Wisconsin state] officials must decide whether to enforce the law, either through legal action or by punishing the city with aid cuts. Adopted earlier this year, Act 10 requires all state and local government employees — except firefighters and most law enforcement officers — to contribute half the cost of their pensions." (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Census Bureau Discovers US Pension Assets Got Steady Decline in 2009
"After a $176.7 bil.lion debit in 2008, the United States Census Bureau's latest report illustrates that state and local public employee retirement systems had $2.5 tril.lion in total cash and investment holdings in 2009. This resulted to a 22.7% decline from $3.2 tril.lion in the past year." (Retirement Planning)

Retirement Crisis Closes in on Baby Boomers
"In a recent Gallup poll, 66 percent of Americans ranked not having enough money for retirement as their top financial concern. That was up from 53 percent a decade ago . . . ." (New York Times; free registration required)

Pension Tension in California Might Mean Headway Being Made
"Jerry Brown has rolled out his long-awaited proposal to reform publicly financed pensions for government workers, drawing protests from Republicans and Democrats alike. Which means he must be doing something right." (The Santa Barbara Independent)

80 Employers, Groups Object to Proposed PBGC Premium Hike
"Hiking premiums 'is targeted at those employers suffering the most in the current economic downturn and it would divert business resources — tens of millions of dollars annually in some cases — away from job retention and creation,' according to the letter sent Wednesday. . . . In addition, boosting premiums would accelerate the move away from defined benefit plans . . ." (Business Insurance)

5 Ways to Improve The U.S. Retirement System
"[T]he U.S. didn't get such high marks. In fact, the U.S. earned a 'C' grade for its pension-plan system according to the 2011 Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, the same grade awarded to Poland and Brazil." (MarketWatch)

Funded Status of US Pensions Rises to 74.8% in October
"Strong asset returns and no change in liabilities in October drove a 4.7 percentage-point increase in the funded status of the typical U.S. corporate pension plan, according to BNY Mellon Asset Management." (PLANSPONSOR.com)

Variety of Motives Cited Why Participants Are Reluctant to Trade
"Communication campaigns that focus on long-term goals and offer reassurance and an explanation for volatility can help calm those who are worried, while reinforcing positive attitudes about those who are taking a long-term view or who are inattentive . . . ." (Vanguard)

New York City Comptroller, Mayor Propose Pension Investments Overhaul
"According to [Comptroller John] Liu's office, the city's pension board currently has 58 trustees who each have a different weighted vote. The five funds also utilize different investment strategies, which result in inefficiency and waste. The proposal would consolidate funds and their trustees . . . ." (Glendale Register)

List of 'World's Most Influential Players' Includes IRS' Mark Iwry
"Who are the individuals (or groups of people) who will figure prominently in the financial pages in the coming year — the folks who will, in a sense, shape the economy around the world and here at home? . . . When we think about the power elite, the phrase 'easy to get along with' doesn't usually pop to mind. But that, in part, is why this 61-year-old policy wonk carries so much weight on Capitol Hill — and why he's likely to be an influential player in any future debates on legislation affecting retirement savers." (SmartMoney)

California Throws Down The Gauntlet for Pension Reform
"Having been the nation's first industry commentator to call for mandatory equal employee contributions for retirement plans, hybrid plan structures and an age-67 civilian retirement provision, I am delighted to see these concepts finally get traction in a gubernatorial proposal." (Girard Miller on Governing.com)

Considerations for Employers in Light of Evolving Same-S.ex Partner Rights and Prohibitions Against Se.xual Orientation Discrimination (PDF)
Includes Consideration for Employment Law Policies, Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act, Bereavement and Funeral Leave, Health & Welfare Benefits, Retirement Benefits, and Considerations in the Collective Bargaining Process. (Epstein Becker Green via Employee Benefit Plan Review)

Milliman's Monthly Benefit News and Developments, November 2011 (PDF)
Highlights of recent legislative activity; regulatory round-up. (Milliman)

Michigan State House Approves Changes to Retirement Plans for State Employees
"[T]he Republican-controlled State House approved sweeping changes to retirement plans for state employees Thursday, including, effective Jan. 1, an end to guaranteed retiree health care for new employees." (Detroit Free Press)

ERIC Urges Simplified Process in Administering and Determining Exchange Eligibility
(ERIC (ERISA Industry Committee))

Smart401k Introduces À La Carte Service Options
(Smart401k)

US Pension Plan Funding Recovers Somewhat in October After Record Lows
(Mercer)