 |
|
|
|
| DoctorGlobe, a U.S. domestic hospital-shopping interactive platform, has released a white paper to assist employee benefit managers and providers, “How Employers Can Inspire Plan Participants to Find Better Care for Less.” Authored by Tibi Zohar, co-founder and CEO of DoctorGlobe, the paper outlines how the company’s proprietary algorithm—ranking more than 120 surgery procedures across more than 2,800 hospitals nationwide—helps self-insured plan sponsors, brokers and benefits consultants, third-party administrators, stop-loss insurance carriers, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) groups and labor unions, curb health care costs.Read more > | |
| Retirement Industry People Moves | |
| Lockton welcomes new chief compliance officer; EPIC Advisors acquires Actuarial Designs & Solutions; and Franklin Templeton adds new VPs of ETFs.Read more > | |
| Economic Events | |
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 255,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, and financial activities. Employment in mining continued to trend down. THE ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD: Tomorrow, the Census Bureau will report about wholesale inventories for June. Thursday the Labor Department will issue its initial claims report. Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will reveal the producer price index for July, and the Census Bureau will report about retail sales for July and business inventories for June. | |
| Market Mirror | |
Friday, the Dow gained 191.48 points (1.04%) to finish at 18,543.53, the NASDAQ closed 54.87 points (1.06%) higher at 5,221.12, and the S&P 500 increased 18.56 points (0.86%) to 2,182.81. The Russell 2000 was up 17.54 points (1.45%) at 1,231.29, and the Wilshire 5000 climbed 194.89 points (0.87%) to 22,634.55. On the NYSE, 3.1 billion shares changed hands, and on the NASDAQ, 2.7 billion shares traded, with advancing issues outnumbering declining issues more than 2 to 1 on both exchanges. The price of the 10-year Treasury note decreased 25/32, bringing its yield up to 1.587%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond fell 1 9/32, increasing its yield to 2.313%. WEEK’S WORTH: For the week ending August 5, the Dow finished 0.60% higher, the NASDAQ climbed 1.14%, and the S&P 500 increased 0.43%. The Russell 2000 gained 0.93%, and the Wilshire 5000 was up 0.38%. | |
| Compliance | |
| Upcoming IRS Employee Plans Compliance Unit Webcast | |
| The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is hosting a free webcast August 25 about the ongoing efforts of its Employee Plans Compliance Unit.Read more > | |
| FASB Asks for Comments About Agenda | |
| The Board identifies pensions and other post-retirement benefits as an area of financial reporting in need of improvement.Read more > | |
| From the Magazine | |
| Equity Compensation Can Fill the Retirement Savings Gap | |
| Although defined contribution (DC) plans are the most popular way for employees to store up money for retirement, savings in these plans is severely limited for high-earning executives, notes Marc McDonough, vice president of Schwab Stock Plan Services in Denver. Corporations use equity compensation plans—granting company stock to employees or giving them the option to purchase company stock—to attract and retain the best talent. Whether it is to fill in the retirement savings gap or increase overall financial well-being, these plans are a big driver for attracting executives.Read more > | |
| Small Talk | |
| ON THIS DATE: In 1876, Thomas Edison received a patent for the mimeograph. The mimeograph was a “method of preparing autographic stencils for printing.” In 1899, the refrigerator was patented by A.T. Marshall. In 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed by U.S. President Truman. In 1953, the U.S. and South Korea initiated a mutual security pact. In 1966, Michael DeBakey became the first surgeon to install an artificial heart pump in a patient. In 1974, U.S. President Nixon announced that he would resign the following day. In 1991, the U.N. Security Council approved North and South Korea for membership. In 1992, the “Dream Team” clinched the gold medal at the Barcelona Summer Olympics. The U.S. basketball team beat Croatia 117-85. | |
| SURVEY SAYS RESPONSES: Last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “How much time on an average day do you spend on leisure activities, and what leisure activity do you spend the most time doing?” From an hour to two hours was selected as the amount of time on an average day spent on leisure activities by most responding readers (44.9%). Nearly one-third (32.6%) reported they spend from two hours to three hours on leisure activities. Also, nearly one-third (32.6%) spend most of their leisure time watching TV, 20.4% spend most of the time engaging in sports or exercise and 18.4% spend most of their time reading for personal interest. Not surprisingly, many of the readers who left general comments about leisure time said there is not enough of it. Several readers multi-task their leisure activities, and one reader encouraged us all to take up square dancing. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said, “If anyone out there has too much leisure time and would like to come over and clean my house, let me know!” Thank you to all who participated in the survey!Read more > | |
| Share the good news with a friend! Pass the NewsDash along—and tell your friends/associates they can sign up for their own copy.Read more > |
|
|
|
Editorial: Alison Cooke Mintzer alison.mintzer@strategic-i.com
Advertising: advertise@strategic-i.com
Subscribe to NEWSDash, click here .
To unsubscribe, click here.
|
BrightScope /
CIO /
FWW /
Investor Economics /
LiquidMetrix /
Market Metrics /
Matrix Solutions /
PLANADVISER /
Plan For Life /
PLANSPONSOR /
Simfund |