Opinions

Opinions | May 2nd, 2011

Public Employee Retirement Plans and the Myth of the Risk-Free Rate

May 2, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - For a few years now, with increasing intensity over the past couple of years, there have been calls for public employee retirement systems...

Opinions | April 29th, 2011

Misconceptions about 403(b) Plan Compliance

April 29, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR (b)lines) - In the aftermath of the IRS 403(b) regulations and Department of Labor guidance, 403(b) plans look more similar to their 401(k) counterparts.

Opinions | April 29th, 2011

Surviving the IRS’ Higher Ed 403(b) Compliance Check

April 29, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR (b)lines) - In 2006, the IRS launched its first 403(b) Compliance Check initiative, focusing on whether public K-12 school districts were extending participation to...

Opinions | April 29th, 2011

Our Coworkers, Our Friends

April 29, 2011 - Many of us spend more time with our coworkers than with our family and other friends, and since we do have lives outside of...

Opinions | April 26th, 2011

What About Dental and Vision Benefits Under PPACA?

April 26, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - There still seems to be confusion about the applicability of the new PPACA amendments to dental and vision plans and when these plans...

Opinions | April 22nd, 2011

Hindsight is Always 20/20

April 22, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR (b)lines) - In 1989 I didn’t know anything about retirement plans. I was hired that fall, straight out of graduate school, as a part-time...

Opinions | April 21st, 2011

IMHO: Expert Opinions

April 21, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - I learned a long time ago that when it comes to things like automobile maintenance, home repair, or gardening, I’m better off...

Opinions | April 19th, 2011

When Do PPACA Claims & Appeals Rules Apply?

April 19, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The effective dates for the new claims and appeals requirements under PPACA have changed more than once (even since we've written about this...

Opinions | April 15th, 2011

The Brave New World of the 403(b) Oversight Committee

April 15, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Three years ago, many people predicted that the 403(b) industry would change overnight as a result of new regulations that had passed.

Opinions | April 12th, 2011

What Kinds of Coverage Must be Reported on Form W-2?

April 12, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – This week we respond to questions on the types of coverage that must be reported and whether both the employer and employee-paid portions...

Opinions | April 12th, 2011

Misconceptions about 403(b) Plan Design

Even though the IRS regulations squarely place 403(b) plans into the realm of employer-sponsored retirement plans, not all retirement plans are created equal.

Opinions | April 6th, 2011

IMHO: Mixed Messages

April 7, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - We had wrapped up a very successful half-day adviser event ahead of our annual Awards for Excellence dinner last month.

Opinions | April 5th, 2011

What About the Form W-2 Reporting Requirement?

April 5, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Do the PPACA Form W-2 reporting requirements apply to employers for 2011? For 2012?

Opinions | March 30th, 2011

IMHO: Comparison “Points”

March 30, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Every year about this time, we get reports from firms that purport to tell us how much time is spent in preparations...

Opinions | March 29th, 2011

IMHO: Court Costs

March 23, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Last week brought to light an aspect of 401(k) litigation that doesn’t generally get a lot of coverage—and the participant-plaintiff...

Opinions | March 22nd, 2011

What About the New Summary of Benefits Notice?

March 22, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - As the anniversary of PPACA approaches (March 23), we have received questions about when plans must start delivering the new Summary of Benefits...

Opinions | March 16th, 2011

IMHO: “Conversation” Starters

March 16, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - There’s been a lot of talk coming from Washington of late about the need to have “an adult conversation” with...

Opinions | March 15th, 2011

What is The Current Status of the CLASS Act Long Term Care Program?

March 15, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - This week a reader asks about the status of the CLASS Act Long Term Care program that was part of the PPACA

Opinions | March 11th, 2011

Plan Termination Guidance Addresses Unanswered Questions

March 11, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The IRS has issued additional guidance (Revenue Ruling 2011-7) to confirm and clarify the application of new 403(b) plan termination provisions in the...