DOL Final Rule on Definition of Plan Assets – Participant Contributions - Summary: On January 14, 2010, the DOL published a final rule that establishes a safe harbor period by which amounts that a small employer has received from participants or withheld from wages for contribution to certain pension plans and welfare benefit plans will become plan assets for purposes of Title I of the ERISA and the related prohibited transaction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Located at: Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Obama Looks to Ramp Up Retirement Savings Programs - Summary: The Obama administration announced plans to require employers to give their employees the option of enrolling in direct-deposit individual retirement accounts. Located at: Workforce.com (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Customize Your Plan Document - Summary: While small companies may need to use pre-approved documents because of cost considerations, mid-size and larger companies should consider drafting documents to meet their needs. This article describes three items to consider. Located at: Reish & Reicher PC, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Slow Progress, but More Support for a Fiduciary Standard - Summary: Despite the slow progress in the Senate and increased lobbying by the insurance industry, remarks made by Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein and Bank of America's Sallie Krawcheck last week make it clear that support for applying a fiduciary standard to all professionals who provide investment advice is widespread. What remains unclear, however, is whether these industry leaders support extending the existing fiduciary standard recognized by groups such as the IAA, Financial Planning Coalition, and the Committee for the Fiduciary Standard, or whether their views fall in line with SIFMA's call for a new federal fiduciary standard. Located at: fi360 Blog, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Obama to Propose 'Automatic Workplace IRAs' - Summary: The new IRAs are designed for employers that do not currently offer a retirement savings plan. Under the plans, which would be voluntary, employees would be automatically enrolled in a direct-deposit IRA unless the employee opts out. Contributions would be matched by the Saver's Tax Credit for eligible families. Located at: Employee Benefit Adviser (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

DOL Finalizes Safe Harbor for Depositing Plan Contributions From Participants - Summary: The final regulation is the same as the proposed regulation (with some clarifications) and is effective January 14, 2010. While the safe harbor itself only applies to small employers, the preamble to the regulation provides insight into the operation of the general rule for all employers. Located at: McGuireWoods, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Supreme Court Won't Review Hecker v. Deere 401k Fee Decision - Summary: The US Supreme Court has declined to review a controversial pro-fiduciary decision on 401k fees (Hecker v. Deere). In 2009, the US Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that participants' ability to select from a wide range of funds within the structure of ERISA Section 404(c) shielded fiduciaries from claims of excessive fees. Located at: Mercer, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Plan Participants Displaying 'Calm After the Storm' - Summary: MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has released new data indicating that participants in retirement plans administered by MassMutual are taking a calmer, longer-term approach to their retirement saving plans. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

How Much Are You Paying? A Guide to 401k Fees - Summary: Making smart spending decisions often means comparing costs. The problem with retirement plans is it's often difficult to figure out exactly how much you're being charged because 401k fees are not spelled out very clearly. Located at: New York Times, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Federal Court Approves 401k Settlement Involving Hartford Life - Summary: A federal court in Connecticut has approved a partial settlement in a class-action civil suit involving the handling of 401k plans by Hartford Life Insurance Co. Located at: Ifawebnews.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

401ks: The Last Hurdle for the ETF Industry - Summary: Exchange traded funds have been encroaching upon mutual funds' territory. The lucrative 401k market, however, is one area that the fast-growing industry has yet to fully infiltrate. Located at: ETF Trends, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Why the 401k Will Prevail — and How - Summary: Ed Murphy, Putnam's Head of Defined Contribution, partners with the Profit Sharing Council of America to discuss how the 401k program will continue to adapt and improve to meet the needs of the American workforce. The positive effects introduced by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 will be complemented by assured income products, increased fee transparency, and extended coverage to more Americans. Located at: Scribd, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Obama Administration Unveils Retirement Security Initiatives - Summary: After a year of meetings held all over the country, President Obama's Task Force on the Middle Class gave a preview of elements of their upcoming recommendations. Here we an overview those covered in the retirement security section of the report. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

COMMENTARY: Rethinking Participant Direction of 401k Investments - Summary: As an industry, we have spent a great deal of time over the last two years discussing issues like investment advice, default investments and fiduciary responsibility ostensibly for the purpose of improving retirement savings for employees. While these are important issues, we have been avoiding the elephant in the room – participants simply aren't sufficiently equipped or disciplined to successfully manage their retirement savings. Located at: Pozek On Pension Blog, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Participants Using 401k Help Offered Through Their Employer Have Higher Returns - Summary: 401k plan participants using professional investment help provided by their employer—such as target date funds, managed accounts and online advice—experience better returns on their retirement investments than those who do not, according to a joint study from Hewitt Associates and Financial Engines. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Adviser Do's and Don'ts - Summary: With the DOL set to release new disclosure rules this Spring, this article alerts advisers to some important do's and don'ts when writing service agreements. Located at: Reish & Reicher PC, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Required Disclosures in Service Agreements - Summary: Reish & Reicher anticipates that the DOL will continue to use its enforcement authority to require written agreements with advance disclosures regardless of what the regulations may – or may not – require. Located at: Reish & Reicher PC, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Investment Policy Statements - Summary: Most investment policy statements prepared by advisers are well-drafted, however some have problems. This article highlights four of those. Located at: Reish & Reicher PC, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Ways for BD/RIAs to Mitigate Fiduciary Risk - Summary: Given that many advisers may rely upon cross-selling and rollovers to augment their plan level services, Reish & Reicher recommend undertaking a review of current policies to ensure that such activities are consistent with regulatory and home office guidance. Located at: Reish & Reicher PC, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

IRS Extends Deadline for Certain PPA Amendments - Summary: Recently, the IRS published Notice 2009-97 which extends the deadline for amending qualified retirement plans for certain PPA provisions to the last day of the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2010. Located at: Prudential , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

The Curious Matter of 403(b) Plan Disqualification - Summary: We all know what happens when a 401(a) rule is violated, its affect on plan qualification, and what to do about it. We would be badly mistaken if we were to apply those same concepts, experiences and rules to managing problems arising from the violation of a 403(b) rule. 403(b) plan disqualification isn't what you might otherwise think. It is truly a curious matter. Located at: Business of Benefits Blog, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

IRS Issues Question-and-Answer Guidance Addressing Heart Act Changes - Summary: The IRS has issued guidance, including 20 questions and answers, addressing miscellaneous provisions of the HEART Act that mostly affect qualified retirement plans, including 401k plans. Located at: Employee Benefits Institute of America, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Leaving Hackers an Electronic Key - Summary: Sequential numbers may be easy to remember, but a new study about the security of computer passwords suggests you may as well leave an electronic key under the doormat with a promise to feed hackers cookies and milk once they break into your system. Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

An Adviser Tests the 401k Waters - Summary: The 401k market, which is growing rapidly but still dogged by small plans with bloated administrative costs, seems like an opportunity. So Jerry Verseput has a plan to grow his advisory business in 2010: focus on 401k clients. Located at: Wall Street Journal, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Does Your 401k Have an ETF in Its Future? - Summary: There's a lot of talk about exchange-traded funds being offered in 401k plans. While nobody was paying much attention, ETFs' share of the $1 trillion in 401k assets has reportedly grown to about $2 billion to $4 billion. Located at: Dailyfinance.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Significant Compensation and Benefit Due Dates for 2010 - Summary: This Hewitt compliance calendar assumes a plan administered on a calendar year-end basis by an employer with a calendar year-end fiscal year. Events that are non-annual in nature, or directly related to specific circumstances of individual participants (such as retirement forms), are not included in this calendar. In general, the information for pension plans applies to single employer plans. Located at: Hewitt Associates , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

2009 Legislative and Regulatory Year in Review and the Outlook for 2010 - Summary: This two-part Hewitt report rounds up key legislation and regulatory guidance enacted in 2009 and forecasts the outlook for legislative activity in 2010. Located at: Hewitt Associates , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Supreme Court Won't Hear Deere 401k Suit Appeal - Summary: The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a review of the dismissal of a lawsuit against Deere & Co. and two Fidelity Investments units, claiming unreasonable fees were charged for investment options in Deere's $3.1 billion 401k plan. Located at: Workforce.com (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Fiduciary Focus: A Frank Discussion for Plan Sponsors - Summary: Sherryann Plessé, principal and head of Vanguard's Strategic Retirement Consulting team of defined contribution and defined benefit consultants, shares essential advice on fiduciary topics such as mitigating risk, offering advice, and managing fees -- so you can better understand your fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA. Located at: Vanguard, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Towers Perrin Retirement Legislative Tracking Chart - Summary: Thousands of bills are introduced in Congress but only a select few are summarized on this chart. This selection represents Towers Perrin's best judgment on the likelihood of enactment and the relevance of the issue for employers. Located at: Towers Perrin , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Survey Shows Wide Gap in Knowledge of Fiduciary Responsibility - Summary: This new research reveals significant differences between small and large defined contribution plan sponsors in their understanding of fiduciary responsibility. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Guidelines for Multiple Vendor 403(b) Plans - 2009 Form 5500 Aggregation - Summary: 2009 Form 5500 aggregation across multiple investment-provider vendors is expected to create unique challenges. As such, these 2009 Guidelines were developed exclusively to address the challenges of completing the 2009 Form 5500. Located at: The Spark Institute , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

SEC Adopts Amendments to Investment Adviser Custody Rule - Summary: While the Custody Rule currently requires advisers that have custody of client funds or securities to implement controls designed to safeguard those client assets from being lost, misused, or misappropriated or subject to the adviser's bankruptcy, recent enforcement actions have lead the SEC to conclude that additional safeguards relating to custody of clients assets are appropriate. Located at: Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

DOL Finalized Deferral Deposit Safe Harbor - Summary: The DOL has finalized regulations establishing a safe harbor for a small employer to timely deposit elective deferrals, other employee contributions, and participant loan repayments. Located at: Sungard/Relius, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Plan Rollovers to a Roth IRA - Summary: This is the second in a series of Technical Updates, covering Roth IRA issues, including 2010 law changes, plan to Roth IRA rollovers, Roth IRA conversions, recharacterizations and reconversions, and taxation issues associated with Roth IRA transactions. This part of the series discusses the rules relating to pre-tax plan rollovers to a Roth IRA. Located at: Sungard/Relius, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Automatic Enrollment Leads to Higher Match Rates from Large Plan Sponsors - Summary: New research from the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute finds that employers adopting automatic enrollment in their 401k plans have also generally increased the employer match to participant's accounts—in some cases, by a significant amount. Located at: Employee Benefit Research Institute , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

COMMENTARY: 12b-1 Fees Create Conflict for Fiduciaries - Summary: These fees are confusing to investors, they create conflicts for advisors and fund company directors, and they complicate the comparison and control of costs across funds. In short, they are “contrary to the public interest and the protection of investors.” Located at: fi360 Blog, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

A 2010 Fiduciary Planning Guide for Plan Sponsors - Summary: This is a 2010 planning calendar designed to be used primarily by sponsors of single employer plans. Covers both DC and DB calendar year and non-calendar year plans. Located at: MassMutual , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Bankruptcy Doesn't Relive Plan of ERISA Mandates - Summary: A DOL administrative law judge has rejected the appeal by a 401k plan administrator of an $86,500 civil penalty, ruling that bankruptcy did not relieve the administrator of requirements to properly file an annual report. Located at: Planadviser.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

PODCAST: More Fiduciary Responsibilities for Brokers on the Horizon - Summary: As a former SEC attorney and current director of legal and regulatory affairs at Fi360, Kristina Fausti shares the knowledge she's learned from frequent meetings with D.C. insiders on upcoming reform legislation set to impose new regulations on brokers and advisers. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Retirement Plan Participation: Effect of Education - Summary: How does education affect the likelihood of participating in a retirement plan? Located at: Employee Benefit Research Institute , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Unscrambling Fiduciary Confusion - Summary: In seeking clarity about the "type" of 401k professional it has retained, plan sponsors often find the answers they are given to be incoherent with a slant in favor of the 401k industry instead of plan participants. The residual fuzziness plan sponsors are left feeling about this topic is a source of significant irritation to them. This article attempts to unscrambling the fuzziness. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

VIDEO: The EFAST2 Online Filing System - Summary: Filers must submit the 2009 and 2010 annual return/report forms and schedules electronically through EFAST2. This is a helpful video produced by the US Department of Labor on the electronic filing of form 5500. Located at: U.S. Department of Labor, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

What Type of ERISA Fiduciary Are You and Why it Matters - Summary: While non-specialists generally lack knowledge of the fiduciary duties and responsibilities imposed by ERISA, confusion surrounding the various fiduciary roles is also common among highly skilled professionals. This confusion underscores the need for clarification of the distinctions between the different fiduciary roles. Located at: Center for Due Diligence, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Be Prepared for the New Form 5500--More Sponsor Involvement Required - Summary: There is a big change coming with the new 5500 and plan sponsors need to be ready. As both the content and filing changes will result in processes very different from the past, it is important than sponsors contact their recordkeepers and TPAs soon to discuss the Form 5500 filing process with them. Located at: Profit Sharing/401k Council of America, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Paper 5500 Option No Longer Available for Plan Year 2009 - Summary: With the exception of 2008 plan years, the option of filing paper copies of the Form 5500 has expired. The DOL expects plan sponsors now to file electronically under EFAST2. In this technical update, we address the questions regarding the paper option for filing a Form 5500. Located at: Sungard/Relius, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

DOL Issues Final Safe-Harbor Rule on Depositing Employee Contributions - Summary: The U.S. Department of Labor announced the publication of a final rule to protect employee contributions deposited to small pension and welfare benefit plans with fewer than 100 participants by providing a safe harbor period of seven business days following receipt or withholding by employers. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Get Prepared for the Fed's Focus on Expenses - Summary: ERISA makes testing of fees for services a fundamental duty of primary fiduciaries. Seek outside help if you do not have the internal capabilities to properly evaluate and benchmark your current service providers' fees and services. Located at: Roland|Criss, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Uncertainty About Fiduciary Practices is Dangerous - Summary: In spite of ERISA's clarity about the standard to which people who serve as its plans' fiduciaries are held accountable, a shockingly high number are dangerously close to harsh personal consequences. Fiduciaries that do not adhere to ERISA's fiduciary standard expose their personal assets to legal judgments for imprudent conduct. Located at: Roland|Criss, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

ERISA Designates Investment Fiduciaries by Their Actions, Not by Their Titles - Summary: Some service providers to ERISA qualified retirement plans tout a "co-fiduciary" status or promote a warranty for their service. Many ERISA plan sponsors accept these claims to mean that use of such a provider's services or investment products eliminates all of a sponsor's fiduciary liability. According to ERISA's standard, this is simply not true. Located at: Roland|Criss, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

ETFs Make Inroads With 401k Investors - Summary: Exchange-traded funds have been the hot thing in the investment world these days, but not among retirement plans. That may be changing, as ETFs finally are gaining a foothold in the 401k retirement-plan market. Located at: Wall Street Journal, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Required Minimum Distributions Are Back - Summary: Late in 2008, when the markets were doing so poorly, Congress passed a law that suspended Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from IRAs, 401ks, 403(b)s and other defined contribution plans for 2009. That was a nice break, but it was only for one year and now that we have entered 2010, it is important to remember that RMDs are back and there are a few rules that everyone should be aware of. Located at: Boston Globe, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

DC Plan Sponsors Say Reviewing Fees Most Important Fiduciary Action - Summary: Callan Associates finds DC plan sponsors saying that reviewing plan-related expenses was the most important fiduciary action they took over the past year. Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Survey Shows Unabated Climb in Workplace Class Action Litigation - Summary: The sixth annual Workplace Class Action Litigation Report by Seyfarth Shaw LLP analyzes class action and collective action court rulings of 2009 involving claims against employers in federal and state courts. This is a summary of the survey findings. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Department of Labor Finalizes Regulations on Form 5500 Schedule C - Summary: Final Regulations that affect Form 5500 reporting were passed on by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration). The final regulations most notably affected Schedule C. Located at: TRI-AD, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Deferral of Unused PTO Time into Retirement Plans - Summary: Recently-published IRS guidance allows employers/employees to defer unused paid time off (PTO) into a qualified retirement plan giving employees another retirement savings tool. Located at: TRI-AD, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Survey Finds Plan Sponsors to Focus on Strategic Initiatives in 2010 - Summary: Callan Associates' 2010 Defined Contribution Trends Survey: Getting the DC Plan Back on Track finds that DC plan sponsors are seeking ways they can reposition their plans following the market collapse to avoid future pitfalls. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

EFAST2 Ready for Online Form 5500 Filings - Summary: Plan sponsors can now take full advantage of a new federal government system for online filing of the required annual report to the Employee Benefits Security Administration at the U.S. Labor Department. Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Efforts to Raise 401k Participation Hit Snags - Summary: The thinking two years ago seemed logical enough: If more companies would automatically enroll employees in 401k plans, then offer them the simplest of investment strategies, the employees would get a leg up on retirement savings, and we'd all be better for it. But logic has given way to reality, and even such basic 401k premises are coming under scrutiny. Located at: USA Today, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

As 401k Accounts Spring Back, Calls for Reform Recede - Summary: With the stock market's rebound since March, participants no longer delays opening there statement, and the urgency felt for reforming the 401k system has dissipated. Federal legislation designed to improve disclosure of fees and to guard against conflicts of interest is on hold while Washington deals with health care. And enthusiasm for a fundamental revamping of the entire system has waned considerably. Located at: LA Times, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

The Washington Connection: Winter 2010 - Summary: This is the first in a series of video conversations that focus on Vanguard's active role in Washington and provide an inside perspective on proposals that could affect shareholders, retirement plan sponsors, and plan participants. In this edition, Ann Combs, head of Vanguard Government Relations, discusses some proposals Congress is likely to consider in 2010. Located at: Vanguard, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Results From Two IRS Compliance Projects Highlight Common 401k and Small Plan Errors - Summary: The IRS has announced the results of two completed LESE projects. Here is a brief summary of the findings. Located at: Employee Benefits Institute of America, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Three Form 5500 Developments - Summary: DOL has ushered in the new year with several developments applicable to Form 5500 filings for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2009. First, as anticipated, the DOL's all-electronic system for filing Form 5500s—called EFAST2—is now live on the DOL website. In addition, DOL has provided new guidance on how to submit delinquent or amended Form 5500s for plan years prior to 2009 now that the all-electronic system is in place. Finally, the DOL, IRS, and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation have released informational copies of the Form 5500, Schedules, and Instructions to be used by employee benefit plans reporting on 2009 and 2010 plan years. Located at: Employee Benefits Institute of America, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Enduring Confidence in the 401k System: Investor Attitudes and Actions - Summary: With millions of U.S. households personally directing their retirement savings, the Investment Company Institute has sought to get a sense of retirement savers' activity and sentiment in light of the extraordinary financial market volatility of the past two years. This paper summarizes results from two surveys conducted by ICI in the last two months of 2009. Located at: Investment Company Institute , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Is the Pressure Off to Regulate Target-Date Funds? - Summary: Some believe a return to profit may ease investor worry about these retirement funds and move the push for regulation to the back burner. But others think now is the time to ratchet up regulation before the next recession burns more investors. Located at: Financial-Planning.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

IRS Rules on Annuity Issues in Defined Contribution Plans - Summary: In a preface to the 2010 policy discussion about enhancing income security in defined contribution plans, the Internal Revenue Service ruled on several issues under current law related to the use of annuity contracts in these plans. Located at: Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP , January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

The Year of Reform Is Upon Us - Summary: December was a big month for agenda setting in Washington as legislators and regulators looked ahead to making reform a reality in 2010. Here are some thoughts on what to expect. Located at: fi360 Blog, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Improving on the Participant Directed 401k Investment Model - Summary: The likelihood of investment success increases as the participant's involvement in investment decisions decreases. This article proposes an alternative approach to the participant-directed 401k investment model in order to allow, as far as possible, the fulfillment of the primary objective of a 401k plan. Located at: Chang, Ruthenberg & Long PC, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

401k Participants May Proceed With Lawsuit Over Fees, Company Stock - Summary: Claims that 401k fiduciaries violated ERISA by allowing a plan and its participants to pay excessive administrative fees cannot be dismissed, a federal district court in Illinois has ruled (George v. Kraft Foods Global). Located at: Mercer, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

COMMENTARY: John Hancock, Are You a Real 401k Fiduciary? - Summary: The author writes, "Employers who believe they are getting a real fiduciary are often sadly mistaken. The big players who advise these plans -- brokers and insurance companies -- want no part of real liability for the quality of the investment options selected for inclusion in the plan." Located at: Dailyfinance.com, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Plans That Suspended Their Matching Contribution Experienced Declines - Summary: A new survey that companies that suspended their matching contributions experienced a decrease in plan participation and deferral rates to a much greater degree than those that did not change their matching contributions. Located at: CCH, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

What Should We Look for in Retirement Plan Vendor? - Summary: We're considering changing our retirement plan vendor. What areas should we focus in on when searching for a new provider? Located at: HR Morning, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

How Some Companies Shortchange 401k Participants - Summary: Automatic enrollment of workers into 401k programs is one of the few policy ideas that are applauded by both the left and the right. But there are some clear drawbacks. Located at: Forbes, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

New Deadline Granted for Advice Bill - Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee was granted another extension for consideration of a bill that would limit who can provide invest. advice to 401k plan participants. Located at: Investmentnews.com (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Survey Shows Significant Increase in Adoption of Auto Enrollment - Summary: A new survey by Hewitt Associates shows a significant increase in the adoption by employers of automatic enrollment features in their 401k plans. The survey also found increased use of target date funds as default 401k investments and an increased focus on lowering plan expenses. Located at: CCH, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Achieving Sustainable Retirement Withdrawals: A Combined Equity and Annuity Approach - Summary: Results of this research indicate that an equity portfolio with a fixed annuity component provides a higher chance of maintaining retirement distributions than other alternatives. Located at: Journal of Financial Planning, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

The Value of TIPS in Pension and 401k Plans - Summary: There is a growing sense that the monetary and fiscal policies required to exit the great recession of 2008/2009 are laying the groundwork for future inflation. In light of this, the author briefly examines the case for providing exposure to Treasury Inflation Protected Securities or “TIPS” in both pension plans and 401k plans. Located at: Fiduciary Investor Blog, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

PSCA Honors Employers for A+ 401k Education - Summary: For the last two years, employers have been pushing stay-the-course themes within their 401k communication and educational programs, but some do it a little better than others. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

The Shape of Things to Come for 401k Plans - Summary: 401k providers are still offering more and more features to plan sponsors. author sets forth three plan features that you are likely to see more of in 2010 and beyond. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

Proposal to Spell Out Projected 401k Income Has Critics Fearing Riskier Investing - Summary: It might increase the amount of money people set aside for their retirement. Then again, it also might prompt workers saving for retirement to take on more risk than necessary in hopes of making up for not saving enough. Located at: Chicago Tribune, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

COMMENTARY: Five Reasons Why We Need 401k Reform in 2010 - Summary: Wonder why the folks stocking shelves at Trader Joe's are usually so cheerful? According to the author, they are among the few working in the private sector who can afford to retire. Located at: Retirement Solutions, January 2010. Click on headline to read full article.

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