Senior Employee Benefits Communications Consultant
Segal
in CA

Client Manager
TWG Benefits, Inc.
in FL, OH

Senior Relationship Manager
Verisight
in CA

Director, Client Executive
Transamerica Retirement Solutions
in IL, MI, MN, MO

Post Your Job

View All Jobs

RSS Feed: All Jobs

Making Sense of MEPs and Other Fiduciary Delegation Models
RECORDED
(ASPPA [American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries])

Pension Plan De-risking: Legal Challenges and Opportunities
April 16, 2015 WEBCAST
(Winston & Strawn)

Feng Shui of Defined Contribution Menu Construction
May 21, 2015 WEBCAST
(Multnomah Group)

View All Webcasts and Conferences

Actions Can Be Taken to Further Improve the Strategy for Addressing Excess Contributions to IRAs (PDF)
"The overall objective of this audit was to determine whether the IRS has an effective strategy to identify and address excess contributions made to IRAs.... While the IRS has taken action to address prior recommendations, TIGTA determined that additional improvements could be made.... TIGTA recommended that, when evaluating future efforts related to the IRA strategy, the Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should consider: [1] developing education materials for IRA custodians informing them of common mistakes made on information documents and the importance of submitting accurate information documents and [2] identifying a more complete and accurate universe of individuals who potentially made excess contributions from which to select potentially productive cases." (Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration [TIGTA])  

[Advert.]

The hottest trend in pensions made easy with DATAIR!

DOUBLE, even triple, the benefits your clients could receive over new comparability designs! Increase your opportunity for new revenue while also protecting against revenue lost to competitors! Call us at 888-328-2474 with any questions!

Making Your 401(k) Last a Lifetime (PDF)
25 slides from presentation by Towers Watson Chairman and CEO John Haley. Topics: [1] Employer trends around lifetime income; [2] Taking advantage of opportunities with Social Security; and [3] What we know and where we go from here. (Towers Watson)  

Are U.S. Workers Ready for Retirement? Trends in Plan Sponsorship, Participation, and Preparedness (PDF)
"Between 1999 and 2011, the availability of employer-sponsored retirement plans in the United States declined ... from 61 percent to 53 percent.... In 2011, 68 percent of the working age population (25-64) in the U.S. did not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan ... [This report's] findings suggest the decline in employer sponsorship of retirement plans and the shift away from traditional pensions (defined benefit plans) and toward 401(k)-type defined contribution plans are jeopardizing the retirement income security of U.S. residents." (Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at The New School)  

Outsourcing Continues to Gain Popularity Among Institutional Investors
"Every aspect of running a plan has become more complex over the years. Dealing with investment, administrative and professional tasks requires more specialist expertise. Fiduciaries are more sensitive to their legal risk. Resources are constrained, and pensions are today seen as less of a core corporate function than in the past at many plan sponsors. And the trend provides some of its own fuel, because the outsourcing decision is easier to make when it is an established practice." (Russell Investments)  

The Challenge of Lifetime Income in Defined Contribution Retirement Plans
"It's been a big struggle to convince many Americans to participate in a 401(k) and other retirement savings plans. Now, the next great challenge may center on what is known as lifetime income -- ensuring that participants can make their savings last for the rest of their lives. What can plan sponsors and servicers do to help Americans find solutions for their regular income needs in retirement? What policy tweaks can government officials make?" (Bipartisan Policy Center)  

[Advert.]

2015 SPARK National Conference -- June 7-9, Washington DC

The retirement services industry's leading event for top marketing, sales, administration and record keeping professionals. Comprehensive agenda is designed to meet the needs of 401(k) Plan Providers, Financial Advisors and Third Party Administrators.

How to Reduce the Tax Bill on Your IRA to $0 (or Close to It)
"While a totally tax-free IRA may seem like something that only exists in your dreams, there are some circumstances in which it may be possible.... Take distributions in a low-income year.... Diversify your income sources.... Donate part of your IRA to charity.... List your favorite charity as sole beneficiary of your IRA.... Make smart use of life insurance.... Leverage your life insurance." (Slott Report)  

Seeking Contract Clarity for 403(b) Decision-Makers
"If investment experts cannot identify all the actual costs and beneficial relationships in a 403(b) contract, how can decision-makers at school districts ever do so?" (Morningstar Advisor)  

Wall Street Fees Wipe Out $2.5 Billion in New York City Pension Gains
"Most of the funds' money -- more than 80 percent -- is invested in plain vanilla assets like domestic and foreign stocks and bonds. The returns on those investments are generally reported after the fees, which are usually paid as a percent of the assets each firm manages. Over the last 10 years, the return on those 'public asset classes' has surpassed expectations by more than $2 billion, according to the comptroller's analysis. But nearly all of that extra gain -- about 97 percent -- has been eaten up by management fees, leaving just $40 million for the retirees, it found." (The New York Times; subscription may be required)  

Michigan Supreme Court Upholds 2012 Teacher Pension Reform
"The law ... was intended to cut an estimated $45 billion unfunded liability in the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System by more than $15 billion.... [S]chool employees hired before 1990 -- who were paying nothing toward retirement -- must contribute 4% of their pay or have their benefits cut. Those hired from 1990 to June 2010 must pay 7% to keep their pensions intact. Previously, they paid 3% to 6.4%. Those hired since the middle of 2010 are in a 401(k)-type pension plan and aren't affected by the law." (Detroit Free Press)  

[Opinion]

ICI Comment Letter to OMB About Data Used in DOL Re-Proposal of Fiduciary Rule (PDF)
8 pages. "Based on documents available on the [DOL] website and on public statements ... it appears that the Department is relying as justification for the re-proposal, at least in part, on a Council of Economic Advisor's report (the 'CEA Report) ... to establish a 'compelling public need' for purposes of compliance with Executive Order 12866, and as a basis for the re-proposal's required regulatory impact analysis. Several claims made in the CEA Report call the reliability of that report into question, in particular as justification for any regulatory expansion by the Department." (Investment Company Institute [ICI])  

[Opinion]

15,000+ Comment Letters on Multiemployer Pension Reform Act Delivered to IRS
"The comments included personal stories as well recommendations on what information plans must provide when they apply for benefit cuts, how plans should notify workers and retirees about the proposed cuts, who can be appointed as a representative of retirees, input on the process to allow participants the ability to vote on the cuts, and much more. Although the Treasury Department cannot change the law, the comments will help show how important it is that the law is as protective of retirees as possible." (Pension Rights Center)  

[Opinion]

Researchers Claim Many Individuals Aren't Smart Enough to Manage Assets in Retirement
"[A recent] research paper presents the results of a study of individuals who were asked to value a $100 change in their monthly Social Security benefit ... [R]espondents had difficulty in valuing this change and the magnitude of their difficulty was correlated to the respondent's cognitive ability.... For numerous reasons that seem to baffle academics, economists and researchers, many individuals don't value annuities as highly as the life insurance companies that sell them. This fact doesn't by itself mean that these individuals 'may not be making rational well informed decisions.' " (Ken Steiner, FSA Retired)  

[Guidance Overview]

IRS Provides Limited Section 162(m) Transition Relief for RSUs and Similar Equity-Based Awards
"The clarification as to RSUs was a disappointing but not unexpected result. What was surprising, however, is that the final regulations depart from the proposed regulations by stating that the clarification applies only to RSUs granted on or after April 1, 2015. Thus, RSUs granted before April 1, 2015, will still be exempt even if they are paid out after the end of the transition period." (McGuireWoods LLP)  

Discretionary Clawback Policies: Risk of Variable Stock Plan Accounting
"Existing accounting guidance (ASC 718-10-30-24) would seem to suggest that clawback features should not disrupt fixed accounting treatment because of their contingent nature.... Companies adopting or modifying existing clawback policies should evaluate the potential risks of discretionary provisions ... before adopting or revising those policies. This will be particularly true for public companies when it comes time to evaluate compliance with the much-anticipated SEC guidance on clawbacks that will finally implement the Dodd-Frank legislation of 2010." (Benefits Bryan Cave)  

CEO Pay Rises 9% for Early Filers: Incentive Programs Continue to Demonstrate Pay for Performance
"CEO total compensation among 100 early proxy filers grew +9% in 2014 to a median $6.4 million, driven primarily by increases in short- and long-term incentive pay.... Salaries increased +3% to $960,000; Bonuses increased +8% to $1.4 million; Long-term incentives ... increased by +5% to $4.0 million; [and] Total compensation increased +9% to $6.4 million.... The majority of CEO compensation continues to be delivered through incentive-based pay, comprising 82% of total compensation, with long-term awards and short-term bonuses representing 57% and 25%, respectively. Base salaries accounted for only 18% of CEOs' total compensation in 2014." (Steven Hall & Partners)  

Looking at Executive Compensation Through Activist Lenses (Video)
"There are five key areas that activists consider when examining executive compensation plans. Gerard Leider, partner, Meridian Compensation Partners, explains each of the five areas and what compensation committee members should consider as they work to design a pay package that management and shareholders alike will approve." (New York Stock Exchange)  

PSCA Leadership Meets with Key Congressional Staff
PSCA [Plan Sponsor Council of America]

Consumable Science Scores by Hiring Tim Davenport as CEO
Consumable Science

Creekside Financial Advisors Expands to Manage Tremendous Growth
Creekside Financial Advisors

Local Benefits and Consulting Firm Adds Hire to Assist Clients in Health & Welfare Plans
Hill, Chesson & Woody

Farient Advisors Increases Global Reach as Founding Member of Global Governance and Executive Compensation Network
Farient Advisors LLC

Securian’s Retirement GPS Program Helps Keep Dreams on Track
Securian Retirement Services

View All Press Releases