Benefit Strategies

Are these scary names for 3 new genetically engineered carnivores replacing the traditional “lions and tigers and bears?” Read More.

Participants may be eligible to receive a tax break from the government when they save for retirement.  Making contributions to their retirement plan or IRA may earn them a saver’s credit. Read More.

‘Saving for retirement is not getting any easier. Yet the people charged with steering many of the nation’s 401(k) plans often have little investing experience and no formal education’[1]. SmartMoney Magazine recently published a three part article profiling three different plan sponsors, detailing how they were coping with their fiduciary challenges.

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As the great mass of baby boomers approach retirement, a new book titled Wealth Management In The New Economy by Mindel and Sleight, share the six most important things you need to know about retirement planning. Read More.

Roth IRA conversions are about to become a big deal for those saving and investing for retirement. Under the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA), all taxpayers will be able to convert all or some of their traditional IRAs into a Roth IRA, regardless of income. Read the following highlights of the biggest game-changer since the introduction of Roth IRAs. Read More.

Liability-driven investing, a popular strategy in the world of pension-fund management, could be the next big trend in retirement planning for individuals. Read More.

We are still waiting for the Department Of Labor to issue final regulations on ERISA section 408(b)(2) concerning disclosure of services, compensation and conflicts of interest for service providers to retirement  plan sponsors. In the meantime, should plan sponsors retain their current contract and disclosure practices that do not meet the DOL’s proposed requirements?

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A Bundled Plan Can Cost Plenty!

The hidden charges in most bundled 401(k) plans can create a substantial drag on plan assets over time. Read More.

Overview

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) created the concept of a Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) to meet the needs of workers who fail to elect investment options for contributions into defined contribution retirement plans that allow participant investment direction. On Oct. 24, 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor issued final regulations regarding QDIAs.

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The National Retirement Risk Index (NRRI) has shown that even if households work to age 65 and annuitize all their financial assets, including the receipts from reverse mortgages on their homes, nearly 45 percent will be “at risk” of being unable to maintain their standard of living in retirement. Read More.