General Items
Improving the Effectiveness of Investment Committees — Summary: Recent market volatility and uncertainty have put a renewed focus on the role, governance, and fiduciary responsibilities of investment committees. This paper offers insights on how to bring clarity, self-awareness, discipline, and perspective to the investment committee process. Located at: Vanguard (PDF File). Click on headline for full article.
Investment Committee Decision-Maker Study — Summary: How do institutional investment committees make their decisions? How do they manage conflict and dissent? To learn more about the dynamics, Vanguard surveyed committee members and analyzed more than 100 responses. This paper summarizes the results. Located at: Vanguard (PDF File). Click on headline for full article.
Where Investment Committees Spend Their Time — Summary: Investment committees often spend too much time on things they can't control and too little time on things they can. Use this tool to see if there are opportunities for your committee to use time more wisely. Located at: Vanguard (PDF File). Click on headline for full article.
Nearly Half of Employers Now Auto-Enroll Employees in 401k Plans — Summary: In a trend that is likely to continue, nearly half of U.S. companies are automatically enrolling workers into 401k plans to encourage them to save for retirement, according to a survey by Watson Wyatt. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com. Click on headline for full article.
Risk Management: Listen to Your Employees — Summary: Most articles written by lawyers cover technical legal subjects. They educate the reader on the law, but typically give little in the way of guidance about what the client should do . . . or not do. This article goes beyond a discussion of the law and even beyond advice about how to comply with the law. Instead, it discusses practical techniques for avoiding problems. Located at: Reish & Reicher (PDF File). Click on headline for full article.
403(b) Plan Items
403(b) Retirement Plan Mini-Course for Employers — Summary: A presentation for employers and sponsoring organizations operating 403(b) plans. Located at: IRS. Click on headline for full article.
Research
Survey Finds Very Few Workers Understand Their Retirement Plan — Summary: One-third of U.S. workers have little or no understanding of their employer-sponsored defined-contribution plan, according to a new survey. Located at: Workforce.com (free registration may be required). Click on headline for full article.
2009 Retirement Plan Trends Report — Summary: This is one of the most comprehensive reports in the industry on retirement plans. The Total View 2009 includes an annual review, report card and forecast to compare retirement plans with industry benchmarks, and a new analysis section that provides additional insight into the potential meaning of the trends contained in the report. Located at: Principal (PDF File). Click on headline for full article.
Court and Legislative Items
Current Pension Legislative and Regulatory Outlook — Summary: This article covers defined contribution plan issues – where initiatives on 401k fee disclosure and invest. advice remain a priority – and broader issues relevant to both DB and DC plans. Located at: JPMorgan.com. Click on headline for full article.
DOL, IRS and SEC Items
IRS Issues Guidance on 2009 Required Minimum Distribution Waiver — Summary: The Internal Revenue Service has provided guidance for retirement plan administrators, plan participants and retirees regarding recent legislation affecting required minimum distributions. The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 waives required minimum distributions for 2009 from certain retirement plans. Located at: IRS. Click on headline for full article.
IRS Issues New Versions of Section 402(f) Tax Notices for Qualified Plan Distributions — Summary: The Internal Revenue Service has issued two new safe harbor tax notices for qualified plans to provide to participants, which explain their rollover options and tax treatment when receiving an eligible distribution of plan benefits. The new notices are updated to account for changes in the law under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, the Pension Protection Act and other recent legislation. Located at: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Click on headline for full article.
The IRS Retirement Plans Navigator — Summary: A Web guide to help small business owners choose a retirement plan that is right for their business. The guide also contains information and resources on maintaining plans and correcting plan errors. Located at: IRS. Click on headline for full article.
