Learn more about employer topics.
The 'Kumbaya Moment' May Be Over
Last Modified:
4/16/2012
Since the 403(b) regulations were put in place in 2009, the IRS has been lending a hand to plan sponsors by promoting education and compliance and taking a kinder, gentler approach to minor plan errors. However, it’s been reported recently that the federal government’s focus will soon be shifting from education to enforcement. The following is a checklist you may use as a guide to keep your plan in compliance. . . .
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Prepare to be audited
Last Modified:
1/10/2012
IRS officials have been auditing 403(b) plans more than ever, so it is probably more a matter of when than if your plan will be selected for an audit. Having a process for documenting policies and procedures and performing self-audits will prove useful in the event of a plan audit or simply as a means of archiving important plan history for your potential successors. . . .
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Providing financial education to employees: It’s a Win Win
Last Modified:
1/10/2012
Changes to the salary and benefits of Wisconsin public school employees are challenging their personal finances. We know because we talk to hundreds every day. Reduced paychecks have many looking to cut back on their retirement savings contributions. However, it’s more important than ever that employees find a way to continue saving. Financial education can help them adjust to their new economic reality without putting their future security at risk. . . .
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A word about diversification
Last Modified:
1/6/2012
Many workers are looking for an easier way to get started in their workplace retirement plans. Varying investment choices and paperwork can be overwhelming obstacles, often preventing participation in offered retirement plans. Automatic enrollment make it easy for employees to . . .
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You and your service provider(s): Q&A
Last Modified:
10/17/2011
In 403(b) plans, plan sponsors are responsible for operating their plan according to the plan’s terms. Do the plan’s service providers have any responsibility?The plan sponsor employer is ultimately responsible for ensuring the plan complies with the law in both . . .
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Best Practice – Communicating Plan Features
Last Modified:
5/4/2011
While employers have adopted 403(b) plan documents, many have not shared those documents with the product providers, the financial representatives servicing plan participants, and or the plan participants. This creates problems because many types of transactions require information to be . . .
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New Funds Coming Soon!
Last Modified:
5/18/2011
As part of our ongoing due diligence regarding the investment options offered in our 403(b) and IRA programs, we are making a few changes in our fund lineup. The new funds will be available October 1, 2011. As of December . . .
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Economic Impact of the Japan Earthquake
Last Modified:
1/16/2012
With uncertainty surrounding the global economy after the tragedy in Japan, we reached out to Fidelity Investments, who manages our International mutual fund offering, for information regarding their economic perspective surrounding this tragedy. Read this article from Fidelity Investments discussing . . .
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Roth IRA vs. Roth 403(b): They’re different. No joke.
Last Modified:
8/18/2010
An employee walks into your office and says “I’d like to open a Roth account. What do I need to do?” Watch out. It’s a trick question. You don’t have enough information to give an answer. Do not assume that . . .
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Understanding Target-Date Funds
Last Modified:
8/18/2010
Target date funds (TDFs) were introduced to the investment market in the early 1990s with the goal of simplifying an investor’s decision making process. As of March 2010, total assets invested were $270 billion with projections seeing assets exceeding $1 . . .
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Post-Employment Elective Contributions
Last Modified:
8/18/2010
Post employment elective deferrals should not be confused with nonelective (employer) post employment contributions. Post employment elective deferrals are based on amounts that represents pay an employee would have received or leave that could have been taken when he or . . .
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Universal Availability
Last Modified:
11/1/2010
Beginning in the calendar year with the effective date of the plan, each plan sponsor must distribute a Universal Availability Notice to each eligible employee on an annual basis to remain compliant with the new 403(b) regulations. Failure to meet . . .
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Contribution Timing
Last Modified:
5/6/2010
New IRS regulations institute timing guidelines for making employee salary reduction contributions to your 403(b) plan. . . .
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2009 Year in Review
Last Modified:
1/14/2012
Last year saw equity markets recover considerably from their lows early in the year however there is still a long way before the markets get back to the levels we enjoyed in 2007. The Wilshire 5000 Index, which is widely . . .
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