Author Archives: Administrator

DOL Issues New Final Regs on Investment Advice for 401(k)s

Today, Oct. 24, 2011, the IRS issued new Final Regs on Investment Advice to Participants and Beneficiaries in individual account plans, including 401(k) plans. The regulations say they affect plan sponsors, fiduciaries, participants and beneficiaries of participant-directed individual account plans, … Continue reading

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PPA Restatements: Information is Power and Monopoly is Powerful

I never thought posting a simple chart to make gathering information about PPA restatements pricing easy would be so controversial. (You can get a copy of the chart at http://www.erisafile.com/ppa_restatement_fees.pdf) A few weeks ago, I blogged about the video of … Continue reading

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Free ERPA CPE from the IRS on Oct. 28, 2011

On Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at 2pm ET, the IRS is hosting a free phone forum on Determination Letter Issues Regarding Employee Stock Ownership Plans. The phone forum will focus on technical issues affecting ESOPs and recurring issues noted in … Continue reading

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IRS Extends Plan Document Deadline to Jan. 31, 2012

The IRS released Rev. Proc. 2011-49 today (Oct. 5, 2011). Rev. Proc. 2011-49 is the update to Rev. Proc. 2005-16, and officially supersedes Rev. Proc. 2005-16. Rev. Proc. 2005-16 contained the specifics on applying for EGTRRA opinion/advisory letters during the … Continue reading

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Was George Orwell Right About Plan Documents

It’s that time again. Time to decide whose defined contribution plan documents you will be using during the next six year cycle. On the day my competitors are raising their prices and worrying about losing revenue because a small group … Continue reading

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IRS Issues Mandatory Model Notice for Nonelecting Church Plans

Last week, I was fortunate to attend the IRS’ phone forum on Current Developments and Issues from the office of Employee Plans Rulings and Agreements. As with all IRS phone forums, it was excellent. During that forum, the IRS said … Continue reading

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IRS Selects Kinsail Corp. for Approving ERPA Continuing Education Providers

On Sept. 19, 2011, the IRS announced that it has selected Kinsail Corporation as the vendor to administer application and renewal services for Continuing Education Providers that serve Registered Tax Return Preparers, Enrolled Agents, and Enrolled Retirement Plan Agents. According … Continue reading

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Differences Between Plan Sponsor and Plan Administrator

On May 16, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in Cigna Corp. v. Amara, No. 09-804. It involved a dispute between Cigna Corp., the plan sponsor, and approximately 25,000 participants in Cigna’s defined benefit plan over Cigna’s decision … Continue reading

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Earning ERPA CPE: There has to be a Better Way

I normally write a content blog (blog about guidance) and not an opinion blog. There are some excellent ERISA opinion blogs, including my favorite written by Ary Rosenbaum. A few weeks ago, I had the duty and privilege of writing … Continue reading

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Free ERPA CPE from the IRS on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011

The IRS is hosting a free phone forum on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, on Participant Loans. The webinar will focus on the treatment of loans as distributions under Code section 72(p), their taxability, and their relationship with Code section 4975 … Continue reading

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