Defined contribution plans are and will continue to be a mainstay in the market. But, are they working? Improving Participant Outcomes: An Action Plan for Plan Sponsors  looks at some of the factors that plan sponsors should consider when assessing the value of the retirement plan offered to their employees. It also considers steps they can take to provide greater assurance that employees will be able to generate sufficient income on which to retire. According to the Investment Company Institute’s 2013 Investment Company Fact Book, at year end 2012, there was approximately $5.1 trillion invested in defined contribution retirement plans in the United States. Recent regulatory changes have placed even greater responsibility on plan sponsors, including heightened fiduciary responsibilities, fee disclosures, and expanded audit and reporting requirements. However, little has been done to ensure participants are any more prepared to retire. Are these defined contribution retirement plans...

Defined contribution plans are and will continue to be a mainstay in the market. But, are they working? Improving Participant Outcomes: An Action Plan for Plan Sponsors  looks at some of the factors that plan sponsors should consider when assessing the value of the retirement plan offered to their employees. It also considers steps they can take to provide greater assurance that employees will be able to generate sufficient income on which to retire. According to the Investment Company Institute’s 2013 Investment Company Fact Book, at year end 2012, there was approximately $5.1 trillion invested in defined contribution retirement plans in the United States. Recent regulatory changes have placed even greater responsibility on plan sponsors, including heightened fiduciary responsibilities, fee disclosures, and expanded audit and reporting requirements. However, little has been done to ensure participants are any more prepared to retire. Are these defined contribution retirement plans...

Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that its Employee Plans Compliance Unit (EPCU) would begin a compliance check of certain 457(b) plans maintained by non-governmental, tax-exempt entities. These plans, commonly referred to as “Top Hat” plans, are frequently offered by tax-exempt organizations in addition to other qualified retirement plans. The good news is that the extent of the compliance check is fairly limited. Letters and a questionnaire will be sent to 200 tax-exempt organizations in fiscal year 2013, and another 200 will be sent in fiscal year 2014. Employers will be selected for review based on information contained on 2011 Form W-2 and Form 990. If you receive a compliance check letter from the IRS, it is important that you respond in a timely fashion (15 days from the date of the letter) and provide the requested information. Although responding to the questionnaire is voluntary, failure to do so may result in the IRS initiating an audit of...

Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that its Employee Plans Compliance Unit (EPCU) would begin a compliance check of certain 457(b) plans maintained by non-governmental, tax-exempt entities. These plans, commonly referred to as “Top Hat” plans, are frequently offered by tax-exempt organizations in addition to other qualified retirement plans. The good news is that the extent of the compliance check is fairly limited. Letters and a questionnaire will be sent to 200 tax-exempt organizations in fiscal year 2013, and another 200 will be sent in fiscal year 2014. Employers will be selected for review based on information contained on 2011 Form W-2 and Form 990. If you receive a compliance check letter from the IRS, it is important that you respond in a timely fashion (15 days from the date of the letter) and provide the requested information. Although responding to the questionnaire is voluntary, failure to do so may result in the IRS initiating an audit of...