How, one may legitimately ask, can anyone possibly write anything that makes any sense with a title like the one I’ve given this blog?
Easily, is my answer, as as long as one accepts the fact that our world of retirement plans and rules is not so limited as it seems at first glance, and
One of the most maligned and misunderstood, yet one of the most valuable, DC plan investments is the the insurance company general account investment-typically referred to as the “fixed fund,” the “guaranteed fund,” or even sometimes the “stable value fund”(in some of its iterations). These funds guarantee principal and a certain rate of return over a stated period of time. These funds usually (except in an inverted yield environment) provide a much higher rate of return over money market funds, while providing a measure of security of which money market funds can only dream. if the insurance company properly balances liquidity with the rate of return, it is an invaluable offering.
Continue Reading Insurance Company General Account DC Investments and the 408(b)(2) Conundrum: Balancing Capital, Liquidity and Transparency
Lurking darkly in the background behind all the recent discussions of fee disclosure and how the prohibited transaction rules apply under 408(b)(2), is something most of us in the benefits world typically pay little attention to: the U.S. Criminal Code.
We all have a general knowledge that kickbacks and racketeering schemes of any sort are
It had to happen if we kept at this long enough. We have written often over the past few years on the minutiae of 403(b), particularly where they demonstrate the often goofy differences between 401(k) plans and 403(b) plans. We have also written some on the finer technical rules which apply to plan distributed annuities
ASPPA, AARP and WISER are taking the bull by the horns and, rather courageously, are putting representatives from the mutual fund industry and the annuity industry together on panels in the "Lifetime Income Summit" to be held on May 21.
The agenda promises to be an interesting one. An insurance industry representative will chair the
Roger Siske, dear friend, mentor and traveling companion had taught me much about the art of travel, about enjoying myself well while on the road for what seems at times like far too many hours. One of the places to which we had traveled several times together was San Francisco, home of the two labyrinths
Sheri Fitts, marketing Guru of The Standard, and I put on a webcast which detailed the steps an advisor can take in assisting their clients in winding their way through the maze of ERISA issues that 403(b) plans need to deal with. This webcast includes some thoughts on moving a plan from non-ERISA status
BNA’s Tax Management Advisory Board published memorandum as an “Advisory Board Analysis” last week, “Income Guarantees in Defined Contribution Plans.” It speaks in some detail of the technical issues confronting the provisions of annuities through a defined contribution plan.
Continue Reading BNA’s “Insurance Guarantees In Defined Contribution Plans” Published
Well, technically, we didn’t write this idea on the beer napkin, but the thought occurred to us to do so as David John and I were sitting in a restaurant at Union Station quaffing one or two. The beer napkin was too wet to write on, but here’s the idea as best I remember it.
The independent auditor is really at the heart of the growing storm in the 403(b) world. For all the problems and challenges caused by the tax regulations, they really pale when compared to what has to happen on the ERISA Title 1 side of things as employers and the market attempt to transform to an