…we consistently get back fewer US Dollars. Recent trends have shown a weak US Dollar versus the Euro: in July 2012, $1.20 was required to buy €1.00, while currently $1.34 is needed to buy €1.00. When the Euro was first introduced in 1998, $1.18 was…
…a focused approach to your investment strategy is critical. Simply chasing trends can be as futile as poor Dr. Loomis trying to track down Michael Myers in the Halloween flicks. Staying focused on what you are investing for can keep you on track even when…
…the trends to watch in our industry this year. The IRIC’s overall conclusion, as stated by a Yahoo Finance article, is that “there is a growing need for retirement plan sponsors to help participants with retirement readiness and securing their financial future. This will drive…
…factors explaining trends in wage growth, particularly in the pandemic environment, people re-entering and remaining the workforce is of primary importance. As Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated in July 2021, “We lag all of our peers in labor force participation now, which is not…
It has been well documented that growth in average employee pay in the United States has struggled to keep up with inflation. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that from 2013-2018, average weekly earnings after inflation (real earnings) increased at only a…
…plan to maximize the owners’ savings and tax benefits or is it intended to attract and retain top talent? Is financial wellness of the employees important to the company? After all, a 401(k) is a great savings vehicle, but it only works best when employees…
Four Things to Know About ERISA Fidelity Bonds and Fiduciary Liability Insurance The Employee Retirement Income Security Act known as “ERISA” regulates 401k and most other types of employee benefit plans. Under ERISA, anyone who handles plan funds must be covered by a fidelity bond….
That gust of wind you felt on the afternoon of November 2nd was the collective exhalation of relief by employees, employers and retirement planning professionals everywhere. The reason? Despite a high level of concern in many quarters over speculation that the Republicans’ “Tax Cuts and…
…and how can plan sponsors help today’s employees? Plan sponsor decisions matter Defined contribution plans—and 401(k) plans in particular—have undergone a dramatic shift since their creation nearly 30 years ago—evolving from what was once considered a supplementary retirement benefit to become the primary source of…
…The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) provides rules for retaining retirement plan records. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued regulations on keeping these records in electronic form. Keep in mind that the longer the paper trail, the easier it will…
…to re-adjust pay to higher levels. Benefits As an important element of employee compensation, employee benefits have risen by 3.4%/year over the past 15 years2 An increase in part-time workers without benefits, who are paid less than full time workers. Employment Unemployment is at 5%,…
…extremely negative, the IRS established a program to assist plan sponsors in correcting the most common operational and plan document errors and retaining the plan’s tax-exempt status. The IRS Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) encompasses three programs for correcting operational and plan document errors:…