Hello ASEA!

Given that we are in the midst of what I tell everyone is an intense deadline, I will keep my introduction to the articles brief so we can get back to Forms 5500.

Our first article is from Robert Mitchell of the Benefit Consulting Group, and concerns disaster delays. Quite a few of us were on the Google group discussion hoping for the possibility of funding deadline extensions. You can find Bob’s article, “Relief for Natural Disasters,” here.  

For clients that don’t want to file electronically, there are limited opportunities to have the requirement waived (editor’s disclaimer: we were looking for a technical article, and—good thing I came across this, because I did not know about the change in Form 8955 filing starting in 2024…it pays to volunteer and learn things). Here is the article from John Iekel, “IRS Issues Guidance on Exceptions from Electronic Filing of Forms 8955 SSA and 5500-EZ,” which you can find here.

Here is another article from John that really means a lot to me. In some ways, this is the most stressful Form 5500 season ever. But in truth, it does not need to be. A lot of the stress is self-created. It is only this year in which I realize I don’t need to be so stressed. So I am working on my breathing, recognizing the ‘triggers,’ and trying to manage the stress better. Here is some therapeutical advice in an article from John, “Be Mindful in Practice Management,” that you can find here. 

I didn’t get to write about the ASEA Symposium in Chicago this past August—but it was a great one. I saw Bruce Springsteen at Wrigley Field, and most of all enjoyed my time with our actuary rock-stars who gave great presentations or otherwise were in the audience. 

Sadly, we lost Tom Finnegan within a week of the ASEA Symposium. I was haunted by his death for a few weeks, seemingly one of the first things I thought of upon waking up. As I write this, I recall an early symposium in which Tom sat next to me at an otherwise empty lunch table and I thought “Wasn’t this guy ASPPA President? Why is he sitting next to me?.” I know you have much better stories—feel free to share some.

Joey Santos-Jones, Director of Editorial Content for the American Retirement Asoociation, provides remembrance of Tom here.

Peace!

Alan