Is Your ERISA Plan Up-to-Date? - Summary: Benefit plans and operational policies and procedures that have not remained current with new requirements are at risk for being non-compliant and subject to fines and penalties. Located at: Aiken & Aiken Blog, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Retirement 401k Debit Cards Are Costly - Summary: Using a debit card to take cash from your 401k retirement plan may generate hefty fees and trigger duplicate taxes, the main U.S. brokerage regulator said. Located at: Bloomberg, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Defined-Benefit Plans Still in the Retirement Mix - Summary: A new Watson Wyatt study finds a noticeable slowdown in large companies ditching their defined-benefit offerings. Hybrid plans are staging a minor comeback. Located at: Workforce.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Mutual Funds Continue Shift to Fee-Based Sales - Summary: Sales of mutual funds continue to move away from the long-established model of paying intermediaries point-of-sale commissions. Located at: Planadviser.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Fixed Income Annuities for Retirement Income - Summary: This study evaluates results of various allocations within a hypothetical Retirement Income Account tested to produce a targeted level of retirement income. The objective of this study was to gain insight on how alternative combinations of retirement income asset classes might have performed had a full range of retirement income solutions been offered at the start of this test period. Located at: MassMutual's Center for Behavioral Research , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

The Federal Thrift Savings Plan: A Model for the Private Sector? - Summary: The federal Thrift Savings Plan (a 401k-like plan for federal workers) often is portrayed as an example for all participant-directed retirement plans. But, does it bear any resemblance to its private-sector counterparts. Located at: Investment Company Institute , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Highlights from Form 5500 Reports - Summary: Using Form 5500 reports, this analysis looks at total participants, contributions, benefit disbursements and assets of retirement plans with at least 100 participants for 2005 and retirement plan trends since 1975. Located at: Watson Wyatt, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

401k Fees on Front Burner at DOL, Congress - Summary: Legislators and federal agencies plan to concentrate their efforts on addressing excessive 401k fees, and employers can expect to see new guidance on several retirement-related topics soon. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Fees and Expenses: The Transparency Debate - Summary: PowerPoint used by David J Witz of Fiduciary Risk Assessment used in presentation to address fees and expense transparency. It describes situations when revenue sharing is a plan asset and the liabilities associated with failure to comply with 408(b)(2). Located at: Fiduciary Risk Assessment LLC , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

The Great 404c Debate - Summary: PowerPoint used by David J Witz of Fiduciary Risk Assessment in recent debate with Dr. Greg Kasten of Unified Trust over the virtues of 404c compliance. Dr. Kasten endorsed a discretionary trustee approach as an alternative to compliance with 404c while Witz endorsed a strict adherence to 404c for those plans that continue to offer participant direction. Located at: Fiduciary Risk Assessment LLC , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Housing Helps Explain Slowing Growth in 401k - Summary: The national housing obsession in recent years may have dulled the urge to invest in 401k retirement plans. Located at: The Hartford Courant, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

OPINION: Create a Universal 401k - Summary: According to the author, "A Universal 401k would ensure every American has access to a savings plan, with generous matching funds." Located at: Center for American Progress, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Research Shows Most Retirement Income is from Investment Returns - Summary: Russell Investments has released research to its clients that shows that investment returns generated by 401k savings during an individual's retirement play the critical role in providing retirement income. This challenges the conventional belief that retirement income is derived predominantly from savings and returns accumulated during a participant's working years. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

IRS Retirement Newsletter for Employers - Summary: This edition includes articles such as New Law...Help for the Small Employer; What Do I Do if My Plan is Selected for an Examination?; New on the Web; We're Glad You Asked!; ERPA is Picking Up Speed; Product Profile - 401k Fix-It Guide; Written Plan Requirement for 403b Plans; This Way to the Forums; DOL News; Hardship Distributions in a 401k Plan; and Timing is Everything Flyer. Located at: IRS , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Struggling Workers Hold Off on Cutting 401k Savings - Summary: Retirement plan administrators say they are not seeing a large-scale move by employees to reduce their contributions to 401k plans. But investment advisers say more people may consider cutting back on retirement savings if the economic doldrums continue. Located at: BusinessWeek, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Trading Limits Cut 401k Contributors Options - Summary: 401k contributors face more trading restrictions. Have retirement savers lost too much control over their workplace savings plans? Located at: Chicago Tribune, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Get on Top of Your 401k - Summary: As traditional pensions disappear and are replaced by 401k plans, the onus is on workers to use them to save and invest prudently for retirement. Tips on how to take care of your account instead of leaving it on autopilot. Located at: Dallas Morning News, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Court Gives ERISA Plan Fiduciaries Presumption of Prudence - Summary: Fiduciaries of 401k plans and other eligible individual account plans recently received some comfort from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which affirmed a grant of summary judgment for defendants in a class action alleging that the fiduciaries should have ceased investing plan assets in employer stock, contrary to the plan's express requirements. Located at: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: State-Administered Retirement Plans for the Private Sector: A Bad Idea - Summary: Author writes, "There is no compelling case for the states to enter the private retirement savings business. Let them put their own pensions on solid financial footings first." Located at: Oxford University Press USA Blog, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

401k Fee Disclosure a Priority to Legislators and Regulators - Summary: Fee disclosure is receiving considerable attention from the media, lawmakers and regulators. Legislators have held hearings to consider the appropriate disclosures for plan sponsors and plan participants, and have introduced several bills. Although the legislative outcome is uncertain, the regulatory changes are moving along. Located at: Watson Wyatt, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Who's Responsible for Depositing Contributions - Summary: We finally got clarity about when 401k contributions must be deposited when the DOL announced a proposed safe harbor of seven business days. But it's the DOL's directive in Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2008-01 on fiduciary responsibility for collection of delinquent contributions that will have more impact on fiduciaries. Located at: Retirement Plan Blog, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

2008 Investment Company Fact Book - Summary: The 2008 Investment Company Fact Book provides an entry point to our extensive body of research and statistics on retirement savings, as well as statistics on, and analysis of, all types of registered investment companies and their investors, collectively referred to as funds and fund investors. Located at: Investment Company Institute , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Ten Tips for Communicating With Employees About Retirement Plans - Summary: Varying degrees of investment knowledge, scattered workforces, limited time and busy schedules all conspire to make getting the message across difficult. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

ABC Testifies on IRS Automatic Contribution Regulations - Summary: Jacobson's testimony focused on improvements in four areas: (1) eligible automatic contribution arrangements, (2) permissive withdrawals, (3) automatic contribution arrangements that are neither qualified nor eligible automatic contribution arrangements and (4) the need for flexibility in order to further Congress' obvious goal of encouraging these arrangements. Located at: American Benefits Council , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Lump Sum vs. Annuity: Which Is Better? - Summary: You might choose to take a lump sum and allocate a portion to a high-quality, immediate fixed annuity. Ideally, you would annuitize as much of your essential fixed expenses as possible and use the rest of your portfolio for discretionary spending. Located at: Gather.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: Why PPAs Autopilot Fails on Takeoff - Summary: Author writes, "While the Pension Protection Act of 2006 is a decidedly 21st century addendum to the landmark Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, it more closely resembles 1984—as in the classic George Orwell novel of the same name." Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: Corporate Governance -- ERISA-Style - Summary: The class-action litigation against Enron directors and committee members is a lesson about the need for corporate governance procedures for a company's ERISA plans. Looking at 401k plans, there are two key issues. Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: Target-Maturity Funds -- Compared with What? - Summary: Author states, "On the whole, I believe the movement from participant choice to target-maturity funds—a movement that is right now at the "inching forward" stage—is good. However, there is a problem these funds present to which, at present, there is no really good solution." Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Solo 401k Compliance Can Get Lost in Translation - Summary: A Solo 401k plan, like a regular 401k plan, must meet certain ERISA and Internal Revenue Code requirements. One of those requirements is the obligation to file Form 5500-EZ if plan assets exceed $250,000. And here's where there could be bad news. Located at: Retirement Plan Blog, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Take This 401k and Shove It - Summary: West Virginia teachers got to vote on whether to remain in 401k-style retirement plans or return to generous state pensions. But you won't be so lucky. Located at: Money Magazine, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: Capping 401k Revenue Sharing: Recordkeepers Block Rebates to Participants - Summary: The author asks, "What will 401k plan participants gain from disclosure of mutual fund revenue sharing amounts? Simply put, the cost of 401k plans will be cut in half." Located at: Benchmark Financial, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Vanguard DC Plans See Significant Hardship Withdrawal Hike - Summary: While recognizing a significant year-over-year uptick in defined contribution participants taking hardship withdrawals, a new Vanguard Group research report said the trend occurred in only a fraction of the company's total recordkeeping assets. Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

The Intricate Web of Plan Amendments Explained - Summary: The purpose of this article is to identify, and generally describe, the various categories of amendments that must be made to individually designed tax-qualified plans during and after the 2008 plan year, and to describe when such amendments must be made. Located at: White & Case LLP, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Characteristics and Efficiency of 401k Investment Menus - Summary: This paper assesses the efficiency and performance of 401k investment options offered by a large group of US employers. The researchers conclude that, in 401k arena, more is not necessarily better. Located at: Michigan Retirement Research Center , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

The Influence of Time Diversification on Horizon-Based Asset Allocations - Summary: Academic opinion is divided over the existence of time diversification -- the premise that investments in stocks are less risky over longer periods. Located at: Vanguard Investment Counseling & Research , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

The Impact of 408(b)(2) on Advisers - Summary: What will the effect of the new 408(b)(2) guidance on compensation and revenue sharing be for advisers? Located at: Reish Luftman Reicher & Cohen, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COLUMN: Advisor Do's and Don'ts - Summary: Because of the importance of ERISA 408(b)(2), the focus of this column is on some of the issues the regulation raises. Located at: Reish Luftman Reicher & Cohen, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

The Implication of the 408(b)(2) Proposed Regulation—Disclosing Fiduciary Status - Summary: It is important that advisers recognize and document the distinction between the tasks that they are performing as fiduciary and those that are non-fiduciary tasks. Located at: Reish Luftman Reicher & Cohen, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Fred Reish Asks: What about LaRue? - Summary: The LaRue decision is a 'friend' for competent advisers whose practices are focused on 401k plans. That is because the use of a competent, non-conflicted adviser is material evidence that fiduciaries have engaged in a prudent process. Located at: Reish Luftman Reicher & Cohen, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

QDIA Notices—Who's Responsible? - Summary: Plan sponsors who do not have knowledgeable in-house benefits staff will likely not be able to fully understand and comply with the QDIA notice requirements. As a result, most small and mid-sized plan sponsors will need to turn to their providers for help. But, which provider is going to handle that job? Located at: Reish Luftman Reicher & Cohen, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Low-Income and Older Workers Make 401k Investing Mistakes - Summary: New research shows that 401k participants with lower salaries have smaller plan balances, compared to those with higher salaries and those nearing retirement tend to do a poor job on managing their investments. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Business Groups Bash Pivotal 401k Suit - Summary: Yet another set of outside voices has now formally weighed in on the 401k fee lawsuit against Deere & Co., this time in support of the Moline, IL-based manufacturer. Trade groups decry lawsuit charging Deere, Fidelity with excessive fees. Located at: Financialweek.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Why Tapping Your 401k Early Can Sting - Summary: For young adults with high-interest debt and few other options, tapping into retirement funds can be tempting. However, there's one major reason why it's a bad idea: It can cost a lot more than it saves. Located at: Thestreet.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Collective Trust Product a 'Must' for Asset Managers in 401k Market - Summary: Collective investment trusts are rapidly penetrating the DC retirement market and represent a major business opportunity for asset managers who can meet the requirements of this investment vehicle, concludes a white paper released by SEI. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

What's on the Minds of Retirement Plan Consultants - Summary: At a recent conference, Schwab conducted an informal survey to gauge consultants' perspectives on a number of current issues in the 401k market. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: Effective 401k Fee Reform Needs Plain, Simple Language - Summary: Congress can change the rules on 401k fee disclosure, but until consumers start reading more information and employers know how to supply it, the effort is akin to putting a bow on a pig and saying it's the Easter Bunny. It's not going to deliver the goods. Located at: Marketwatch.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

The Elephant in the Living Room: Mutual Fund Transaction Costs - Summary: The transaction costs charged by mutual fund managers are often a significant, if clandestine, part of the fund business, but some Washington lawmakers are trying to change that. Located at: Financial Advisor Magazine, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Merrill Lynch Sees Strong Adoption of Roth 401k - Summary: The Merrill Lynch Retirement Group reported that among the 1,700 plans on its proprietary recordkeeping system, almost 200 (12%) had added a Roth 401k option as of the end of March. Located at: Planadviser.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Roth 401k: A Benefit to Some Employees; A Challenge to Employers - Summary: The Roth 401k can benefit some employees, but not all. It may be difficult for some people to decide whether this new option is right for them. Employers have a potential challenge also. This is a white paper on the various issues. Located at: AAML.org , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: On the Connecticut Legislature 401k Plan Bill - Summary: One can hardly argue that small business owners are, as a rule, intimately familiar with their retirement plan options, and surely there are any number of them who are not comfortable committing to making contributions every year. But neither of those is a major impediment to adoption of these programs by small businesses. Located at: Plansponsor Institute Blog, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

401k-Type Plans, Participants Grow at Slower Pace - Summary: Growth in the number of 401k-type plans and the number of participants in those plans, which increased sharply in the 1990s, has slowed in recent years, according to a study released today by the nonpartisan EBRI. Located at: Employee Benefit Research Institute , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

DOL Corrects and Clarifies QDIA Guidance - Summary: The DOL issued corrections and clarifications to it QDIA rules for participant-directed defined contribution plans. This is an overview with recommendations for plan sponsors. Located at: Milliman , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Report to Congress on H.R. 3185 - Summary: This report, prepared by the Congressional Research Service, provides information on the kinds of fees that are charged in 401k plans and details the provisions of H.R. 3185, the 401k Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act. Located at: Congressional Research Service , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Amicus Brief in Hecker et al v. Deere & Company/Fidelity - Summary: This is the Brief file by The ERISA Industry Committee, The National Association of Manufacturers, and the American Benefits Council as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellees. Located at: American Benefits Council , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Financial Engines Issues National 401k Evaluation - Summary: "The Financial Engines National 401k Evaluation" is a new report that assesses nearly one million 401k participant portfolios to determine how well Americans are handling their 401k plans. The report also estimates the costs associated with common investing mistakes. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Wal-Mart 401k Suit - Benchmark Bias - Summary: Biased benchmarking is undoubtedly one of the largest sources of perceived or marketed "alpha" in the investment industry. We wondered if biased benchmarking might account for some of the alleged participant losses claimed in this case. Located at: Fiduciary Investor Blog, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: Open Letter to the 401k Retirement Industry - Summary: By not clearly explaining the price employees pay in various 401k fees, you unintentionally invited Congress to act. By not clearly explaining the price of retirement, aren't you're issuing another invitation? Located at: Ackley Associates , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Improving Returns on 401k Plans - Summary: Is your 401k plan as effective as it can be in helping employees save for their retirement? Does it have auto-enrollment and other useful features that are available today from providers? These features can enhance the appeal of your employee savings programs and increase usage, making them even more effective. Located at: Towers Perrin, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Hispanic Americans on the Road to Retirement - Summary: The purpose of the study is to better understand Hispanic Americans' retirement attitudes and behaviors. Located at: Prudential Financial , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

401k Disclosure Rule Would Affect Brokers - Summary: Some say DOL's proposed changes to 408(b)(2) of ERISA -- especially those dealing with advance compensation disclosure and conflict of interest reporting aspects -- are overly burdensome and redundant. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Financial Experience & Behaviors Among Women - Summary: Prudential Financial's study on the Financial Experience & Behaviors Among Women polled 1,033 American women about their financial knowledge, goals, actions taken, and confidence in attaining financial goals. The survey was administered from October 17 to 25, 2007. Located at: Prudential Financial , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

On Participant Education - Summary: With the automated-plan concept taking hold, 401k participant education is emphasizing investment-related topics less. People need to hear less about asset allocations and more about how to put together a budget. Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

On Collective Trusts - Summary: Collective investment trusts, sometimes referred to as collective, or commingled, funds, are hardly a new idea. They are, however, in an environment increasingly concerned about retirement plan costs, enjoying a resurgence in interest. Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

On Roth 401ks - Summary: Plans are adding the Roth 401k as a feature very aggressively, but not many employees have gone for it. Why Not? Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

On Managed Accounts - Summary: The rise of "automatic" asset-allocation solutions like target-date funds has not eliminated the need for personalized advice among 401k participants. Located at: Plansponsor.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Plan Sponsors Focus on Investment Monitoring and Decision Making - Summary: The Pension Protection Act has changed patterns in savings and reporting, reports Grant Thornton LLP in its 2008 Plan Sponsor Retirement study. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Possible ERISA Fiduciary Duty in Cross-Selling Rollover IRAs - Summary: A federal district court in Iowa allowed class action claims to proceed against a financial services company for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 resulting from the company encouraging retirement plan participants to roll over their 401k plan assets into IRAs invested in the company's proprietary mutual funds. Located at: Goodwin Procter LLP , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Annuities in 401k Plans Gaining Momentum - Summary: The use of annuities as an investment alternative within 401k plans will gain momentum as those approaching retirement seek to create guaranteed retirement income streams, according to a report by the Financial Research Corporation. Located at: CCH, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

401k Investors Can Sue for Account Mismanagement - Summary: Score one for the little guy. The Supreme Court recently ruled that participants in 401k plans can sue for losses related to their accounts. David Wray, president of a nonprofit association of 401k plan sponsors, talked us through the implications of the court's decision. Located at: Smartmoney.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

401k Fee Litigation - Summary: The plaintiffs claim that, in negotiating for and receiving revenue sharing, the service providers breached fiduciary duties and engaged in "prohibited transactions" under ERISA. Some of the lawsuits similarly challenge the use of actively managed mutual funds as investment options. This article contains an overview of the issues and a chart of the cases now pending. Located at: Groom Law Group, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Report of the Working Group on Financial Literacy of Plan Participants and the Role of the Employer - Summary: The 2007 ERISA Advisory Council formed a Working Group on Financial Literacy of Plan Participants to study numerous issues in increasing the financial decision-making skills of plan participants. This is there report. Located at: U.S. Department of Labor, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Report of the Working Group on Fiduciary Responsibilities and Revenue Sharing Practices - Summary: The 2007 ERISA Advisory Council formed the Working Group on Fiduciary Responsibilities and Revenue Sharing Practices to study numerous issues relative to the practice of revenue sharing. This is there report. Located at: U.S. Department of Labor, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Wal-Mart Suit Hits 401k Fees - Summary: A lawsuit argues that the plan sponsored by the country's largest private employer used retail funds rather than institutional ones, and had too many active funds. It's the most recent in a string of such cases, and benefits attorneys note that until there are definitive rulings in these cases, more large companies will likely be hit. Located at: Workforce.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

SEC Staff Push for Splitting 12(b)-1 Fees - Summary: Staff members at the SEC will recommend that 12(b)-1 fees be broken into at least two parts. Located at: Investmentnews.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Morningstar Aims to Size Up Target-Date Funds - Summary: Mutual fund researcher set to roll out indexes to help measure fast-growing 401k option. Located at: Financialweek.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Employees See Sizable Shrinkage in Their 401ks in Q1 - Summary: When 401k participants open up their latest quarterly statements, many will be greeted by declines they haven't seen in more than five years. Located at: Financialweek.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

One in Four Drain Retirement Dollars - Summary: Employees continue to borrow from their retirement savings and they may not even plan to repay the loan. One-fourth of Americans have prematurely dipped into their retirement dollars according to a Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Personal Finance Poll. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Saving for Retirement: Men and Women Compared - Summary: Are men and women equally likely to save for retirement? Are there differences between men and women in contributing to a work-place retirement savings plan or having an individual retirement account? Located at: Employee Benefit Research Institute , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

DOL Clarifies QDIA Notice Requirements - Summary: More than four months after the Department of Labor's qualified default investment alternative regulations became effective, the Department has issued much needed guidance clarifying the rule's application in a number of contexts. Located at: Benefits Biz Blog, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

401k Fees on Everyone's Lips at P&I Conference - Summary: The most attended — and most interactive — breakout sessions at the Pensions & Investments' Defined Contribution Mid-America Conference covered defined contribution plan fees, the recent spate of lawsuits against companies alleging too-high 401k fees and requirements for increased disclosure of fee information to plan participants. Located at: PIonline.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Tougher Retirement Road for Middle Class - Summary: Middle-class Americans will be far worse off in retirement than they expect, warns a new study from BGI. Located at: Workforce.com (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Time to Convert Retirement Funds to a Roth? - Summary: If you want to convert employer plan funds directly to a Roth IRA, there are some new Internal Revenue Service rules you should be aware of. Located at: Financial-planning.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Plan Sponsors Courting Disaster - Summary: Confusion over 401k plan fees is triggering lawsuits and congressional inquiries. What can plan sponsors do to head off trouble? Located at: CFO.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

2008 401k Providers Guide - Summary: Again this year CFO magazine has teamed with Dalbar to publish this survey of services that are provided by the major 401k vendor platforms. Located at: CFO.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Ten Techniques for Communicating About Retirement Plans - Summary: Communicating with employees about their retirement benefits can be a challenge. Varying degrees of investment knowledge, scattered workforces, limited time and busy schedules all conspire to make getting the message across very difficult. Nevertheless, the process is getting easier. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: The Night of the Living Dead Retirement Plan Participants - Summary: A highly disturbing fact is that many plan sponsors fail to discharge their ERISA section 404(a)(1)(A) duties because they don't know about--much less understand--the total economic impact that the hodgepodge of both visible costs and invisible costs can have on the account balances of the participants in the plans provided to them by the sponsors. Located at: MorningStar.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Most Investors Buy First Fund Through Retirement Plans - Summary: Employer-sponsored retirement plans are increasingly the gateway to mutual fund ownership, according to the Investment Company Institute's most recent report on fund investors. Located at: Investment Company Institute, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Alpha Fees for Beta Performance - Summary: Just as the dust is starting to settle over 401k fee scrutiny, new research shows performance fees paid by pension funds worldwide are up 50% compared to five years ago, reports Watson Wyatt. Located at: Employee Benefit News (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

The Future Shock of Retirement - Summary: Reviewing some recent academic literature yields a surprising conclusion: At least superficially, Americans appear better prepared for retirement than previously believed. Located at: Barclays Global Investors , May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Proposed Regs Require Full Disclosure of 401k Fees - Summary: While Labor's efforts have been extensive, in the end, the agency has had to resort to its regulatory powers to force service providers to disclose in writing to plan sponsors all forms of compensation received from providing services to 401k plans. Located at: Charlotte Business Journal, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Labor to Host Web Cast on Form 5500 Reporting Requirements - Summary: The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a free web cast May 8 to help employers and plan administrators understand and comply with the Form 5500 Series reporting requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Located at: U.S. Department of Labor, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

COMMENTARY: Debate Over 401k Fee Disclosure - Summary: Make no mistake about it. A law requiring firms to disclose the fees they charge workers in 401k plans will very likely become reality sometime soon. But what the final law will look like -- there's a House and Senate version at the moment -- is still unknown. Located at: Marketwatch.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Contribution Timing and Collection Responsibility, a Q&A - Summary: When must 401k deposits be made? Who's responsible when contributions are not made? The Department of Labor is flexing its regulatory and advisory muscle to clarify any misunderstanding that may exist and at the same time is asking the benefit's community to suggest alternative solutions. Located at: 401khelpcenter.com, May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

Economy Slowing Down 401k Contributions - Summary: Due to the current economic climate, 8% of investors have halted or reduced their contributions in 401k plans in recent months, according a study to be released next week. Located at: InvestmentNews (free registration may be required), May 2008. Click on headline for full article.

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