Voices
(b)lines Ask the Experts – Changing Withdrawal Provisions When Transferring to a 403(b)(1) Annuity Contract
“I work with a 403(b)(7) plan with employer matching and employer non-elective contributions in addition to elective deferral contributions. The plan doesn’t permit age 59-1/2 and hardship withdrawals....
(b)lines Ask the Experts – When the Individual Who Signed Form 5500 Retired
“We are starting preparations for our retirement plan’s Form 5500 annual return filing; however, the individual who signs our returns as employer and plan administrator retired, and the...
SURVEY SAYS: Fears About Taking Vacation
We recently covered a survey in which respondents express fears about taking vacation—from projects not moving along to coming back to a ridiculous workload.
Opinions |
Barry’s Pickings Online: The End of PAYGO?
Michael Barry, president of the Plan Advisory Services Group, contemplates what will happen to the pay-as-you-go retirement systems as demographics change.
(b)lines Ask the Experts – Which Rules for 457(b)s Must Church Plans Follow?
“I read with great interest a recent Ask the Experts column in which you discussed the differences between governmental 457(b) plans and those sponsored by private tax-exempt entities.
SURVEY SAYS: Summer Office Perks
We recently covered a survey which found fewer companies are offering summer perks such as flexible schedules, shorter hours on Fridays and a relaxed dress code.
Opinions |
Taking Your Plan (and Participants) to the Next Level
More employers are starting to enhance financial benefits, through automatic enrollment, health savings programs, or other financial wellness initiatives, notes Rick Irace, chief operating officer, Ascensus Retirement.
(b)lines Ask the Experts – Using Distributions for Ministers’ Housing Allowance in Church Plans
“I know participants can apply part of their distributions as ministers’ housing allowance (granted they meet the requirements) in a 403(b)(9) church retirement income account. But can they...
SURVEY SAYS: Keeping Up to Date in the Industry
Our PLANSPONSOR National Conference is coming soon.
Opinions |
A Forgotten Part of Participant Financial Wellness: Loan Defaults
Loan defaults are a preventable form of plan leakage, and stopping them can improve retirement plan participants’ financial wellness.
(b)lines Ask the Experts – Differences in 457(b) Plans for Different Entities
“What are the primary differences between a 457(b) plan of a private tax-exempt organization and a governmental 457(b) plan?”
Opinions |
The Next Evolution in Indexing: DC Plans and Smart Beta
Smart beta seeks additional outperformance and is a flexible enhancement to traditional index. Here’s what you should consider as a defined contribution plan sponsor.
(b)lines Ask the Experts – Adding Roth to All 403(b) Plans in a Controlled Group
“I work for a large private 501(c)(3) health care system that sponsors several 403(b) plans for different operating entities that are all part of the same controlled group...
SURVEY SAYS: Messy Workstations
We covered a survey that found more than half of senior managers find the most distracting or annoying aspect of employee workspaces to be sloppiness or disorganization.
Opinions |
Barry’s Pickings Online: A Default Payout Solution
Michael Barry, president of the Plan Advisory Services Group, discusses the fundamental principles of the 401(k) system, defaults and plan leakage.
(b)lines Ask the Experts – Why the Fiduciary Rule Applies to IRAs but Not Non-ERISA 403(b)s
“I know that the applicability date of the Department of Labor’s (DOL)'s final fiduciary rule is on hold, but presuming it becomes effective, why does it apply to...
SURVEY SAYS: Feeling Appreciated at Work
We covered a survey that found two-thirds of workers said they'd likely leave their job if they didn't feel appreciated.
(b)lines Ask the Experts – Differing ‘Year of Service’ Definitions for Different Plan Provisions
“Our recordkeeper for our Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) 403(b) plan recently informed me that our plan document year of service definition is different for satisfying our...