Client Service

They have until mid-September to deduct pension plan contributions at the rate of 35%; after that, the lower 21% rate kicks in.

“If a plan sponsor can invest in an adviser or other person to provide direction for terminating or retiring employees, that would be extremely helpful,” Terry Dunne, from Millennium Trust Company, told 2018 PLANSPONSOR National Conference attendees.

Sources at the 2018 PLANSPONSOR National Conference discussed financial wellness, choosing between Roth and pre-tax savings and saving for long-term health care expenses.

Borrowing to fund and making in-kind contributions were just a couple of the strategies Robin M. Solomon, a partner at Ivins, Phillips & Barker, shared with attendees of the 2018 PLANSPONSOR National Conference.

A little more than a year ago, Franklin Templeton launched its “Spryng” college savings tool, making a bet that the capabilities of crowdfunding could translate well to the college savings domain.

In a frank conversation with PLANADVISER, Andrew Biggs points to some common misconceptions about retirement income replacement among lower income groups.

Commenting on new Social Security deficit projection figures published this week, Rob Fishbein, corporate counsel at Prudential Financial, says it’s not time to hit the panic button yet—but it is time to take very seriously the retirement income challenge individuals face.

With many Boomers retiring, the research firm says the industry is at “an inflection point.”

While the conference is quickly approaching, there is still time to sign up. All the information you need is here. 

As of the first quarter, more than $1.5 trillion in student loan debt was outstanding, triple the amount in 2001; with these figures in mind, Franklin Templeton researchers have highlighted the opportunities presented by 529 plans.

Financial Finesse observes ways employers drive repeat usage of financial wellness programs.

A MassMutual study finds Asian Americans are more thoughtful retirement investors than other demographics, but they lack education about how long they will need to make their savings last and the timing of claiming Social Security.

Three-quarters of advisers believe they understand annuities well, yet of that number, 62% say their clients do not.

Approximately 41,000 FedEx retirees and beneficiaries in defined benefit pension plans will receive annuity benefits.

Data provided by CommonBond shows that workers in the technology and retail industries are most straddled with student loan debt; even workers in industries less impacted by student debt say they believe employers should help.

Looking across today’s DC plan marketplace, researchers suggest it is still much more common to see plan designs that are tailored to drive retired or terminated participants out of the plan.

“This study shows that for financial firms who want to improve retirement savings outcomes must evolve their role from just account providers to trusted partners that people can turn to for help on holistic financial wellness,” NARPP says.

A plan auditor speaking at the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) 71st Annual National Conference suggested internal controls plan sponsors should have in place for eligibility, compensation, and contributions and loans.

Brodie Wood, SVP of healthcare, education and not-for-profit markets at Transamerica Retirement Solutions, discussed the efficiencies and benefits a closed MEP can offer not-for-profit 403(b) plans.

The news comes as a large number of ERISA lawsuits are playing out in the district and appellate courts across the U.S., testing whether 403(b) plan sponsors of major universities have sufficiently exercised their bargaining power or allowed inefficient recordkeeping arrangements to persist over long periods of time.