Some people argue against any kind of hardship withdrawal or loan from a retirement plan, but few would argue about the special circumstances surrounding the consequences of Hurricane Sandy. Accordingly, the IRS announced on Nov. 16 that participants in a qualified plan may make hardship... READ MORE

When all is said and done, Hurricane Sandy will probably weigh in as the second most costly storm in U.S. history. As the Northeast slowly struggles to return to normal, relief and recovery efforts will yield to getting back to business. Employers in affected areas have questions about what they... READ MORE

The end of the year brings lots of lists. Following up on yesterday’s “Case of the Week” question about notices due by Dec. 2, the law firm of Snell & Wilmer provides a comprehensive to-do list for the following types of benefit plans:• All qualified plans• 401(k)• DC but not 401(k)• DB • 403(b... READ MORE

One of the more controversial regulations proposed by the DOL under President Obama was their plan to broaden the definition of fiduciary to include more financial advisors. According to a BNA report, a proposed rule has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for clearance and should... READ MORE

By John CarlThe ERISA consultants at the Columbia Management Retirement Learning Center Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs and qualified retirement plans. A recent call with an independent advisor in Colorado is... READ MORE

Michael Davis, Phyllis Borzi’s right hand man at the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, will join Prudential Retirement as head of its stable value business. Davis left his post as deputy assistant secretary of EBSA last week. Before joining EBSA, Davis was managing... READ MORE

By Debra DavisAdvisors know that they provide participants with significant help in preparing for retirement. Recent studies by the Principal Financial Group and the Pension Research Council now provide empirical data confirming this.The Principal found that 92% of participants in DC plans who... READ MORE

Despite the fact that there are thousands of broker dealers and advisory firms — hundreds of which have 250 or more registered reps — fewer than 40 of them are focused on the DC market (defined as having at least one person dedicated to supporting DC-focused advisors). That level of support varies... READ MORE

With the election behind us, Congress and the president will soon have to face some daunting issues, starting with the budget deficit. With significant revenue increases unlikely, cost reductions will be the focus, and the tax incentive for retirement savings accounts is one item under attack. The... READ MORE