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SBCA: Bush Proposal Will Cause Millions of Small Business Employees To Lose Plan Contributions

Excerpt: This proposal cutting back the tax incentives inside the retirement plan would gut the small business retirement plan system. About 42 million Americans are covered by 401(k) plans. Anything that would impair them is very, very serious ...

Testimony at Hearing on 'Small Business Pension Plans: How Can We Increase Worker Coverage?'

The hearing was held on June 29, 2006. Panelists: Dr. Craig Copeland, Employee Benefit Research Institute; Steve Bjerke of Edward Jones; Daniel Hall, StanCorp Equities, Inc.; Paula Calimafde, Small Business Council of America; David C. John, The Heritage Foundation; and J. Mark Iwry, The Retirement Security Project and The Brookings Institution.

Hearing: The Challenges Small Businesses Face Funding and Maintaining Retirement Plans in a Struggling Economy

Witnesses giving testimony at the February 25, 2009, hearing were: Stephen Dobrow, Primark Benefits, On Behalf of American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA); Jason Speer, Quality Float Works, Inc., On Behalf of the US Chamber of Commerce; Andrew Keeler, Everhart Financial Group, On Behalf of the Financial Planning Association (FPA); Catherine Collinson, Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies; Edward Ferrigno, Profit Sharing / 401(k) Council of America.

Text of Answers by Barack Obama; 2008 Presidential Candidate Employee Benefit Questionnaire (PDF)

11 pages; 14 questions from the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, the National Small Business Association, the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the National Association for the Self-Employed, the American Academy of Actuaries' Pension Practice Council, the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators, the National Retail Foundation, the National Institute of Pension Administrators, the Profit Sharing/401k Council of America, the Small Business Council of America, Pensions & Investments Magazine, and the Pension Forum.

Text of Answers by John McCain; 2008 Presidential Candidate Employee Benefit Questionnaire (PDF)

12 pages; 14 questions from the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, the National Small Business Association, the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the National Association for the Self-Employed, the American Academy of Actuaries' Pension Practice Council, the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators, the National Retail Foundation, the National Institute of Pension Administrators, the Profit Sharing/401k Council of America, the Small Business Council of America, Pensions & Investments Magazine, and the Pension Forum.

A Small Employer's Guide to Health Reform (PDF)

The 8-page brochure details what small businesses need to know on how health care reform affects their business.

Analysis of Notice 2002-48: IRS OKs New 401(k) Contribution Strategy

Excerpt: The IRS states in Notice 2002-48 that it will not challenge the deductibility of (1) employer contributions to a cash or deferred arrangement, (2) matching contributions to a defined contribution plan, or (3) prepayments combined with a guaranteed minimum contribution, when the contributions are made before the end of the tax year in anticipation of deferrals and matches to occur after the end of the tax year.

A More Sophisticated Look at the Benefits of Roth Contributions

Excerpt: Greg Matthews of Matthews Benefit Group, Inc., (St. Petersburg, Florida), analyzes the question of whether it is better to save in a Roth versus saving in a regular IRA or 401(k).

More Sand(ers) In the Pension Machinery

Excerpt: Not content to rest on his dubious laurels in having initiated last year's Congressional action resulting in the shackling of Treasury's attempt to promulgate its regulation proposed in 2002 to free cash balance plans from vulnerability to charges of age discrimination - by a bill barring Treasury from spending any of it 2004 appropriation to that end -- Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) has renewed his tactics in connection with this year's appropriation bill.

More Sand(ers) In the Pension Machinery

Excerpt: Not content to rest on his dubious laurels in having initiated last year's Congressional action resulting in the shackling of Treasury's attempt to promulgate its regulation proposed in 2002 to free cash balance plans from vulnerability to charges of age discrimination - by a bill barring Treasury from spending any of it 2004 appropriation to that end -- Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) has renewed his tactics in connection with this year's appropriation bill.