Practice Management

The NTSA Best Practices Manual has been in use for more than five years to help establish consistency in handling compliance procedures and to help the industry and plan sponsors meet regulatory requirements. In MarketBeat, Ellie Lowder gives us a look at the discussions at the recent NTSA Masters... READ MORE

The IRS on Jan. 29 issued guidance on mid-year changes to a safe harbor plan under Internal Revenue Code Sections 401(k) and 401(m). It provides that a mid-year change either to a safe harbor plan or to a plan's safe harbor notice does not violate the safe harbor rules just because it is a mid-year... READ MORE

The IRS has issued a proposed rule on the determination of whether the normal retirement age under a governmental pension plan under Internal Revenue Code Section 414(d) satisfies the requirements of Code Section 401(a) and whether the payment of definitely determinable benefits that begin at the... READ MORE

A new survey finds an impressive retirement preparations gap among those who use the services of a financial advisor.In fact, according to a new survey by John Hancock Retirement Plan Services, those who work with a financial advisor double their retirement preparedness, and were more than twice as... READ MORE

A client wants to make a withdrawal from her 403(b) to help pay for her daughter’s higher education. In Tech Talk, Ellie Lowder tells us if such a withdrawal would incur a 10% penalty tax. READ MORE

If a plan which sponsors an elective deferral 403(b) adds automatic enrollment to the plan, would ERISA then apply to the plan? In Tech Talk, Ellie Lowder tells us. READ MORE

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has issued guidance and a proposal that would be applicable to state and local pension plans. The guidance clarifies how earlier guidance on accounting and financial reporting rules for pensions apply to state and local plans, and the proposal... READ MORE

Plan sponsors are more likely to work with an advisor who offers a specific value proposition of capabilities and services, something few advisors articulate, according to new research from MassMutual. Research for the firm’s “A Winning Combination” study included presenting plan sponsors with a... READ MORE

The Internal Revenue Service wants to encourage plan sponsors to correct certain plan failures — and they’re offering some financial incentives to do so.To encourage employers that sponsor 401(a) qualified retirement plans and 403(b) plans to correct plan failures through its Voluntary Correction... READ MORE