PLANSPONSOR Weekend Newsdash
Week ending October 20th, 2017
Hello, PLANSPONSOR readers! This week’s focus is on health care and other benefits. We covered studies that show employees need more education about their health care benefits and about health savings accounts (HSAs). The Social Security Administration recently announced a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for payees. We revisit an interview between PLANSPONSOR and Gary Dorton, vice president of the Principal Financial Group in charge of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation, about key employees’ attitudes toward retirement, and what it takes to create a best-in-class total retirement benefits program. And, Fidelity found employees are using employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs) to pay down debt or increase retirement savings. Enjoy this edition of PLANSPONSOR Weekend!
Editor's choice
Benefits
Employees Need More Health Benefits Education
The youngest employees especially feel unprepared to decide what plan they should choose, according to a survey from Aflac.Read more >
Benefits
Participant Knowledge of HSAs Reveals Some Gaps
A large number of individuals who consider themselves well-versed on health savings accounts (HSAs) are in for a surprise, as a recent LIMRA report found a disconnect between consumers’ subjective and actual knowledge about the plans.Read more >
Benefits
The Social Security Administration Announces COLA for 2018
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients will see a 2% increase next year—the largest increase since 2012.Read more >
Interview
Why Nonqualified Plans Matter More Than Ever
Key employees now think very differently about retirement.Read more >
Investing
ESPPs a Useful Stopgap for 401(k) Loans, Fidelity Says
Workers are using the profits from their employee stock purchase programs wisely, such as paying down debt or reinvesting the money in their retirement plan.Read more >
MOST POPULAR STORIES
IRS Announces 2020 Contribution and Benefit Limits

The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans is increased from $19,000 to $19,500.

The Odds Are Split for Senate SECURE Act Passage This Year

“Overall, it is an uncertain picture, but the SECURE Act is not dead in the water,” says Bradford Campbell, former EBSA head from 2006 to 2009. “I would say it is a little less than 50-50 that it happens this year.”

Pension Risk Transfer Appetite Is Unabated
They are trying other strategies, but DB plan sponsors are concluding that they and their employees would be better served by shifting risks to life insurers.
Congressional Leaders Want SECURE Act Passage in 2019

Based on the conversations industry advocates are having in Washington, none of the leadership in the Senate or the House opposes passage of the SECURE Act.

Why Americans Need the SECURE Act

The president and chief operating officer of Nationwide Financial makes a case for how passage of the SECURE Act will improve Americans’ retirement security.

Editorial: Alison Cooke Mintzer alison.mintzer@strategic-i.com

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