Employee Benefits / Employment Law / HR
Showing 1–16 of 638 results
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COMPLIANCE ALERT
Year End 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 196
Abstract: This feature lists a few key year-end tax reporting deadlines for December and early February.
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Are you ready to track part-timers’ hours?
Year End 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 422
Abstract: Retirement plan years beginning in 2021 have a new recordkeeping requirement, thanks to the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019. This article highlights what plan sponsors who have part-time employees need to know.
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Divided Supreme Court distinguishes between plan types
Year End 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 468
Abstract: In the recent class action case of Thole v. U.S. Bank N.A., participants sued their employer on grounds of steep investment losses caused by mismanagement of the company’s defined benefit (DB) pension fund. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the plaintiffs, however, finding they lacked standing (authority) under ERISA to sue. This article looks at the court’s reasoning. Citation: Thole v. U.S. Bank N.A., 140 S. Ct. 1615 (2020).
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Coming soon: Pooled employer plans – A look at how small employers can benefit
Year End 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 771
Abstract: Employers and retirement plan services providers have had a year to mull their options since the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 paved the way for the launch, in 2021, of pooled employer plans (PEPs). For small businesses, these new plans may fundamentally change the quality of and access to retirement plans. This article looks at how PEP providers may benefit, PEP specifics, and liability issues for those plans that decide to take advantage of a PEP.
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Department of Labor lays out rules for lifetime income illustrations
Year End 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 863
Abstract: The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 requires the Department of Labor (DOL) to provide defined contribution plan sponsors with rules for a “lifetime income illustration” to help participants track their progress toward accumulating retirement savings. This article summarizes recently released interim final regulations that provide this guidance, though they’re still subject to fine-tuning before their ultimate effective date in mid-2021. A brief sidebar covers the regulations’ “liability relief” for plans that follow the rules.
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COMPLIANCE ALERT
October / November 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 146
Abstract: This feature lists a few key tax reporting deadlines for October and November.
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IRS issues additional CARES Act guidance
October / November 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 434
Abstract: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act eliminates penalties and provides opportunities for tax minimization for participants who take preretirement distributions and plan loans to alleviate financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This brief article reviews some of the guidance issued by the IRS to help plan sponsors properly handle these plan distributions and loans. Source: IRS Notice 2020-50
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Understanding private equity investments in defined-contribution plans
October / November 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 602
Abstract: A recent “information letter” from the Department of Labor (DOL) is likely to open the doors to private equity investments by 401(k) plan participants. The DOL was responding to an inquiry from a law firm on behalf of a pair of private equity management companies exploring potential new sources of investment dollars. This article examines the letter and its implications.
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New electronic plan document disclosure rules in effect
October / November 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 651
Abstract: Long-awaited updated Department of Labor (DOL) regulations governing electronic delivery of plan documents took effect on July 27, 2020. They supplement safe harbor e-disclosure regulations issued in 2002, and expand plan sponsors’ options for streamlining the dissemination of required documents to plan participants. This article looks at how the rules should help participants stay up to date on their qualified retirement plans.
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Should you establish a retirement plan governance committee?
October / November 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 954
Abstract: Retirement plan governance is the system through which key decisions are made about strategy and operations — including plan design, administration and investment choices. Typically, at the core of plan governance is an official plan committee. Although the Department of Labor (DOL) and IRS don’t require a plan governance committee, it’s widely considered a best practice. This article reviews what plan sponsors should know about setting up and maintaining a plan committee, while a short sidebar highlights ERISA’s “procedural prudence” standard.
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COMPLIANCE ALERT
August / September 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 55
Abstract: This feature lists a few key tax reporting deadlines for September.
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Don’t let employee tip income trip you up
August / September 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 408
Abstract: While 2020 hasn’t been kind to tipped employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, employees with substantial tip income can pose an accounting challenge for retirement plan sponsors if those employees take retirement saving seriously. This brief article discusses how tips figure into retirement plan requirements.
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CARES Act balancing act – Helping employees recoup retirement savings
August / September 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 709
Abstract: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act’s retirement plan provisions are designed to throw a financial lifeline to people suffering adverse economic consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they leave plan sponsors largely in the driver’s seat. For plan sponsors who amended their plan to allow employees to take advantage of the CARES Act, this article reviews what they can do now to help participants avoid the penalties of not meeting the repayment schedule and possibly recoup their retirement savings.
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Should you suspend matching or nondiscretionary contributions?
August / September 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 660
Abstract: Employer contributions to participant 401(k) plan accounts are typically high on the list of expense-cutting options when times are tough. Plan sponsors facing dire straits may have little choice but to suspend contributions. In the wake of the economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plan sponsors need to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision, in the context of other cost-cutting alternatives they might have. This article presents some considerations to take into account.
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How to handle laid off employees’ 401(k) accounts still in your plan
August / September 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 882
Abstract: When employee head count is growing, a little turnover now and then usually doesn’t create a lot of concerns about “orphan” 401(k) accounts. However, employers forced to downsize during the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic might have a larger proportion of accounts left behind by former employees than they did previously. Why might that be a problem? And if it is, what should employers do about it? This article takes a closer look, while a sidebar describes two other areas worth reviewing when dealing with orphan accounts.
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COMPLIANCE ALERT
June / July 2020
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 209
Abstract: This feature lists a few key tax reporting deadlines for June and July.