Interest Rates Temper DB Funded Status Improvements in May
“The pattern of improvement paused last month owing to a dip in discount rates, but aggregate funded status remains near a four-year high as the long bull market...
Administration
Retirement Income Seen as the Next Phase for 401(k)s
Bing Waldert, a managing director with Cerulli Associates, says, "converting the 401(k) plan to an income platform is a step in taking DB [defined benefit] market experience and...
Understanding Roth Conversions
What is an in-plan Roth conversion, and what should plan sponsors consider before implementing the feature?
Penn State Announces New Retirement Program Fee Practices
The plan to adopt a fee-leveling approach and rebate revenue sharing to participants comes as many institutions of higher learning face lawsuits challenging their 403(b) plan fees.
FedEx Transfers Some Pension Obligations to MetLife
According to MetLife, the pension risk transfer (PRT) agreement involves pension obligations of $6 billion.
Increased Interest Rates Boost DB Plans’ Funded Status in April
Firms that track defined benefit (DB) plan funded ratios also noted that slight gains in equity markets improved plans’ funded status during the month.
Plan Distribution Behavior Dictated By Plan Design
New DCIIA research put together in concert with a large group of retirement industry service providers highlights the crucial role plan design plays in terms of participants' decumulation...
State Pension Plans Reverse Two Consecutive Years of Return Declines
“A primary driver of the improvement in the funding ratio was the increase in global equity values for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2017,” notes Ned McGuire,...
Options for Unaffordable Pensions: Funding Waivers and In-Kind Contributions
In Part II of a series, Michael Kreps and Mark Carolan of Groom Law Group discuss funding waivers and in-kind contributions as options for unaffordable pensions.
Key Employee Benefit Plan Internal Controls to Have in Place
“Internal controls should be part of a plan sponsor’s day-to-day operations,” says a partner at CPAs & Advisors, speaking at the Plan Sponsor Council of America National Conference.
Retirement Plan Exchanges for 403(b)s
Speaking at the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) 71st Annual National Conference, Brodie Wood, SVP of healthcare, education and not-for-profit markets at Transamerica Retirement Solutions, discussed the...
Wisconsin Private Colleges Unite Retirement Plans in ‘403(b) MEP’
The Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities announced a partnership with Transamerica to create a 403(b) multiple employer retirement plan specifically for its educational institution members.
Pension Funded Status Jumped in April on Higher Treasury Rates
Data provided by LGIMA suggests the average U.S. pension plan’s funding ratio increased a full 2% during the month of April.
Helping Retirement Savers Feel Confident
The latest Retirement Confidence Survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows confidence in specific factors for retirement readiness is lower, and sources offer suggestions for how retirement...
DB Plans Accelerating Contributions Due to Tax Reform
This enables corporations to expense their contributions at a higher tax rate, according to Cerulli.
Consultants Support Retiree-Focused Investment Options
DC plan consultants surveyed by PIMCO offer suggestions for helping retirees with income, core investment menu design and other DC plan features.
Study Finds Different Paths for Corporate and Public Pensions
Corporate plans are winding down as public plans are strengthening themselves for the long run.
Public-Sector Pension Changes Create Residual Effects
Evidence mounts to show how cuts to public-employee pension benefits have reduced the ability of public-sector employers to compete with private-sector employers for skilled workers.
Pensions Keep Funded Status Increase for the Year So Far
Despite two months in a row of funded status losses, most firms that track pension funding find the average funded status is still up for the year.
Roth Accounts: A Different Type of Retirement Savings Diversification
Just as people diversify their investments, the Roth option is viewed as a way to diversify the tax treatment of savings. Here’s what plan sponsors need to know...