John Iekel
By John Iekel 3/1/2021
The world has been upside down for a year now. Life is creeping back to a semblance of normal, but there are challenges in reopening—which affects the manner in which retirement professionals can contact educators. A panel of experts at a session of the NTSA Winter Virtual conference offered their...
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By John Iekel 2/24/2021
“We believe strongly that employers should have choice” regarding retirement saving options, said NTSA Executive Director Mark Luckinbill as he opened the NTSA Winter Virtual Conference on Feb. 23. “We are champions of choice.”
The year 2020 was “incredibly challenging,” Luckinbill said. He noted...
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By John Iekel 2/24/2021
American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff and a panel of industry experts offered their insights on Feb. 23 on the state of things for the industry regarding activity on Capitol Hill, as well as in the federal regulatory agencies. They made their remarks as part of the NTSA Winter Virtual...
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By John Iekel 2/23/2021
Concern about retirement and paying for it cuts across sharp societal divisions and has been heightened by the pandemic; nonetheless, confidence regarding some saving vehicles persists, says a recent report.
In the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) study “Retirement Insecurity 2021...
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By John Iekel 2/22/2021
ESG Investing—that is, investing in a way that is mindful of environmental, social and governance matters and concerns—has been an increasing topic of discussion in recent years. But while it may be a recent development to some, it’s not new to the 403(b) world, reports a recent blog.
How...
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By John Iekel 2/22/2021
Several states have programs up and running to make retirement plan coverage available to those whose employers do not offer it. So where do they stand? A recent report provides a look.
The Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy in a Monthly...
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By John Iekel 2/18/2021
The Oklahoma legislature is considering a measure that would make the Sooner State one of the next states to provide a state-run retirement plan for employees whose employers do not offer one.
The Oklahoma Prosperity Act was introduced in both chambers on Feb. 1. The House of Representatives...
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By John Iekel 2/17/2021
One of the incentives for adopting and participating in an employer-sponsored qualified plan are tax benefits for employees and employers. A Feb. 9 webinar focused on tax credits for small employers that adopt plans and for participants with modest incomes.
In “Working with Qualified Plans Can...
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By John Iekel 2/16/2021
If the recommendations of the Wisconsin Retirement Security Task Force are followed, the Dairy State could join others that have implemented a state-run plan to provide coverage for workers whose employers do not offer a retirement plan.
The task force, headed by Wisconsin State Treasurer Sarah...
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By John Iekel 2/12/2021
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration has confirmed that the Trump administration’s “Improving Investment Advice for Worker & Retirees” Prohibited Transaction Exemption for investment advice fiduciaries will go into effect as scheduled on Feb. 16, 2021.
The...
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By John Iekel 2/11/2021
COVID-19, along with the measures adopted to address the pandemic’s effects and the actions taken under those measures, have had unexpected effects—including an impact on plan audits.
The changes that have taken place, as well as the pandemic itself, have affected both plan sponsors and...
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By John Iekel 2/11/2021
The massive amount of student debt and its effect on saving for retirement are in sharper relief than ever, argues a recent analysis.
Student debt is an even more serious concern today as many of the young adults who are joining the workforce have amassed a considerable debt, writes Kara Melber...
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By John Iekel 2/3/2021
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has updated information concerning the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), both benefit formulas that reduce Social Security benefits for workers and their eligible family members if the worker receives (or is...
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By John Iekel 2/3/2021
CalSavers, the state-run retirement program for employees whose employers do not offer a retirement plan, grew in January while the opt-out rate held steady, according to the CalSavers Retirement Savings Board. This marks a continuation of the trends that the board reported in the 4th quarter of...
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By John Iekel 1/28/2021
Participants benefit if they can choose between multiple 403(b) providers, a recent white paper says.
In “Benefits of Multiple 403(b) Providers: Having a Choice Positively Affects Participant Behaviors,” Edward Kenney and Tali Yarmush of Equitable, with Equitable Research partner Zeldis Research...
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By John Iekel 1/26/2021
As 2020 ended, OregonSaves—the state-run retirement program for private-sector employees whose employers do not offer a retirement plan—had growing assets and an opt-out rate that was roughly steady. These results are similar to those reported by the CalSavers Retirement Savings Board reported and...
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By John Iekel 1/19/2021
The IRS on Jan. 19 in Notice 2021-11 has announced additional relief regarding employment tax deadlines applicable to employers affected by the pandemic.
Notice 2021-11 makes changes to Notice 2020-65, which the IRS issued Aug. 28 to provide guidance implementing President Trump’s Aug. 8...
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By John Iekel 1/15/2021
As 2020 ended, Illinois Secure Choice—the state-run retirement program for private-sector employees whose employers do not offer a retirement plan—had growing assets and an opt-out rate that was roughly steady. These results are similar to those the CalSavers Retirement Savings Board reported...
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By John Iekel 1/15/2021
The IRS has issued the Instructions for Form 8955-SSA, Annual Registration Statement Identifying Separated Participants With Deferred Vested Benefits, to be used for filing concerning the 2020 plan year.
Form 8955-SSA is used to satisfy the reporting requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section...
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By John Iekel 1/12/2021
The challenges facing the Social Security system are well-known and deep-seated. Nonetheless, significant confidence about the future of the system persists among pre-retirees, a new study shows.
Kiplinger and Personal Capital report that they found their 2020 Retirement Survey that nearly two-...
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