As part of the deal struck by Senate Democrats with Senate Republicans to fast-track a handful of the president’s nominations, Thomas Perez was confirmed July 18 as the new Secretary of Labor. Perez... Read More
Advertisement
Legislation
BY Andrew Remo | 7/17/2013
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing July 16 to examine issues related to multiple employer defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans.... Read More
BY Andrew Remo | 7/11/2013
Congress seems no closer to resolving the politically sensitive issue of student loan interest rates, as a proposal from Senate Democrats which included the so-called “stretch IRA” revenue raising... Read More
BY Andrew Remo | 7/10/2013
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, introduced legislation July 9 that would simplify and enhance the current private employer-based retirement plan system.... Read More
BY John Ortman | 6/28/2013
The two most influential members of the U.S. Senate when it comes to tax issues revealed yesterday that they intend to take a ‘“blank slate” approach to tax reform. In a “Dear Colleague“ letter, Sens... Read More
BY Andrew Remo | 6/27/2013
The Oregon State House of Representatives approved a bill on June 24 that would create a task force to develop recommendations for establishing an “Oregon Secure Retirement Plan” to offer retirement... Read More
BY Andrew Remo | 6/20/2013
The House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Services approved a bill yesterday that, should it become law, would delay the rule making process currently underway at the Department of Labor... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 6/11/2013
Perhaps concerned about FINRA’s suggestions that it should take over all advisor examinations, members of the Investment Adviser Association lobbied Congress last week in support of a bill introduced... Read More
BY Andrew Remo | 5/30/2013
Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) recently introduced two key bills in Congress affecting retirement plans. On May 16, Neal introduced the Automatic IRA Act of 2013 (H.R. 2035), which would require employers... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 5/29/2013
In an effort to slow the SEC’s effort to create a uniform fiduciary standard for financial advisors authorized but not mandated by Dodd-Frank, Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) convened a panel of the Financial... Read More
BY Judy Miller | 5/28/2013
On May 23, members of the Senate Finance Committee met for one of 10 private briefings on tax reform options. This briefing was on “economic security” topics, including retirement savings. While no... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 5/17/2013
With the possibility of two fiduciary standards for financial advisors looming — one by the DOL, whose rule is pending and was originally expected to come out in July, and another by the SEC, which... Read More
BY Brian Graff | 5/9/2013
As you may be aware, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 passed the U.S. Senate on May 6. What you may not know is that ASPPA and NAPA are opposing the legislation in its current form. (In fact, a... Read More
BY Andrew Remo | 5/8/2013
Following a week-long in-state/district work period, Congress returns to Washington D.C. this week for a three-week work period. While fiscal and tax issues are expected to take a back seat to other... Read More
BY John Ortman | 5/2/2013
The convergence of two circumstances has made tax reform “somewhat more likely” in the months ahead, says Brian Graff, CEO/Executive Director of ASPPA and NAPA. In this month’s Washington Update... Read More
BY John Ortman | 4/16/2013
In an interview Monday with CNBC's Rick Santelli, Brian Graff, Executice Director/CEO of NAPA and ASPPA, explains the impact of President Obama’s proposal to cap retirement savings accounts at $3... Read More
BY Fred Barstein | 4/15/2013
Lost in the great debate about President Obama’s 2014 budget, which would impose a $3 million limit on retirement accounts, was a proposal to require small employers to offer an auto-IRA for those... Read More
BY John Ortman | 4/12/2013
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing April 11 to discuss President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) grilled Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on the president’s proposed $3... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 4/11/2013
In this month's Washington Update video, NAPA's CEO/Executive Director Brian Graff slams two provisions in President Obama’s FY 2014 budget, which was submitted to Congress April 10. The first of... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 4/10/2013
President Obama’s own pension, based on reasonable actuarial assumptions, is worth at least $5 million — 40% more than the small business retirement savings cap proposed in his fiscal year 2014... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 4/5/2013
With the release of the Obama administration’s proposed budget expected next week, some details are beginning to leak out, including proposals that would impose new limits on individual retirement... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 4/1/2013
Based on focus groups commissioned by a number of top DC providers and conducted with plan sponsors by EACH Enterprises, there seems to be considerable concern about state-run retirement plans.... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 3/21/2013
In a Senate hearing held March 19 by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) about allowing people who take out loans or hardship withdrawals to delay repayment until taxes are due, experts... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 3/18/2013
It’s been nearly six months since California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law that state’s landmark auto-IRA legislation, the California Secure Choice Savings Trust Act (SB 1234). (Judy Miller, ASPPA... Read More
BY NAPA Net Staff | 3/5/2013
After Day 2 of the 2013 NAPA/ASPPA 401(k) Summit, several themes have emerged in the presentations and off-the-cuff remarks by the conference’s featured speakers, especially on the topic of tax... Read More
Recent Comments