News Archive

What is “Suspension of Benefits”? The purpose of this post is to provide an overview of the rules as they apply to the suspension of benefits and to the adjustment of benefits not received during the suspension period as it relates to defined benefit plans. (To read Part 2, click here.) It is not... READ MORE

One of ACOPA’s responsibilities is to present the views of our membership to regulators and other relevant bodies. Last month I wrote about legislative proposals, and the success we (ASPPA/ACOPA, and now ARA) have had getting Congress to take our proposals seriously. Of course, getting our... READ MORE

It’s the time of year when Santa — and those who work with defined benefit plans — are making their end-of-year lists — and checking them twice. To that end, the lawyers at Snell & Wilmer have prepared the following end-of-year “to do” list for DB plans.Comply with Items on All Qualified Plans... READ MORE

To reach students, prepare materials that will encourage them to choose to want to learn. That principle applies regardless of whether the audience is teenagers sitting in desks or retirement professionals. In “Focus on Teaching First, Then Finance,” an article in the Fall 2015 edition of Plan... READ MORE

The House on Dec. 11, and the Senate on Dec. 10, passed a short-term spending bill that will keep the government funded through Dec. 16. Whether budget legislation ultimately will include provisions affecting the Department of Labor’s (DOL) fiduciary rule remains uncertain.The Hill reports that the... READ MORE

The IRS has updated the frequently asked questions about the Form 5500 series — and did so in a manner that makes them useful for 2015 reporting.The FAQs are as follows.Q. For the question that asks how the 401(k) plan satisfies the nondiscrimination requirements for employee deferrals and... READ MORE

My single memory of venturing out on Black Friday to shop came at the instigation of my “little” sister, who has long undertaken such forays. Nor was this to be a random shopping expedition — armed with circulars and coupons, she directed me and my two brothers with the fervor and furor of General... READ MORE

The U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___, 135 S.Ct. 2584 (2015), the decision that overturned state laws and constitutional amendments that defined marriage as occurring between a man and a woman had many consequences, and retirement plans are among the areas it... READ MORE

The federal budget bill being negotiated on Capitol Hill this week could become the battleship that eventually sinks the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule.Investment News reported Dec. 6 that, according to Rep. Phil Roe (R-Ill.), it is possible that a measure to deny funding for the enforcement... READ MORE