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The Next Wave of Asset Allocation: Stocks and Commodities Futures
Excerpt: "In this article, you will learn about the work of . . . two researchers and why their findings may be [important in the future]. You also will see why commodities futures, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that combine them, may hold the key to your clients' asset allocation success. Enter Erb & Harvey: The ground-breaking 2006 research study was published in the Financial Analysts Journal by Claude B. Erb, CFA and Campbell R. Harvey and titled: The Strategic and Tactical Value of Commodity Futures." (authored by Judy Diamond Associates, Inc.)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066536.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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Subjective Health Assessments and Active Labor Market Participation of Older Men
Excerpt: "We use panel data from the US Health and Retirement Study 1992-2002 to estimate the effect of self-assessed health limitations on active labor market participation of men around retirement age. Self-assessments of health and functioning typically introduce an endogeneity bias when studying the effects of health on labor market participation. This results from justification bias, reflecting an individual's tendency to provide answers which 'justify' his labor market activity, and individual-specific heterogeneity in providing subjective evaluations." (authored by Social Science Research Network)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066535.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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[Opinion] DOL Amicus Brief in GGRA v. City and County of San Francisco (PDF)
27 pages. (authored by U.S. Department of Labor via American Benefits Council)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066534.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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GM-Chrysler Union Would Create Pension Goliath
Excerpt: "A General Motors Corp. acquisition of Chrysler LLC would solidify GM's ranking as the world's largest corporate employee benefit fund, giving it total assets estimated at $170 billion. The deal also would unite companies that, despite their financial challenges, both have overfunded defined benefit plans." (authored by Pensions & Investments)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066533.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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American Benefits Council Requests Signers for Group Letter Urging Immediate Relief for Defined Benefit Plan Sponsors
Excerpt: "Action Requested: Review the following letter to Congress [linked . . .], which urges immediate measures to mitigate the impact of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) defined benefit pension funding rules, and include your company's name to the list of signees." (authored by American Benefits Council)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066532.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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Orange County, CA Voters Overwhelmingly Support Effort to Block Public Pension Spikes
Excerpt: "Voters overwhelmingly endorsed limiting the power of county supervisors to sweeten pension payouts for public employees. In early returns, Measure J was supported by a whopping 78 percent of the vote, among the absentee and early voting results being reporting as of 9:30 p.m. last night. The measure is a public rebuke of the stewardship that county supervisors have given the pension system, which is now only 73 percent funded and runs a $3 billion unfunded liability." (authored by Orange County Register)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066531.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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[Official Guidance] Text of Final IRS Regs: Information Reporting on Employer-Owned Life Insurance Contracts (PDF)
8 pages. Excerpt: "Effective Date: These regulations are effective on November 6, 2008. Applicability Date: These regulations are applicable for tax years ending after November 6, 2008. . . . [O]n January 24, 2008, the IRS released Form 8925, 'Report of Employer-Owned Life Insurance Contracts,' for taxpayers to use to comply with the reporting requirements . . . . [T]his Treasury decision adopts the proposed regulations without substantive change and removes the corresponding temporary regulations." (authored by Internal Revenue Service)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066530.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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Hard Choices and Challenges Follow Historic Election Results
Excerpt: "After a victory of historic significance, Barack Obama will inherit problems of historic proportions. Not since Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated at the depths of the Great Depression in 1933 has a new president been confronted with the challenges Obama will face as he starts his presidency. . . . Obama has yet to truly confront the realities of a domestic platform that calls for significant increases in federal spending and a fiscal problem that has worsened dramatically. Given the projected spending of $700 billion for a financial rescue package and hundreds of billions more for an economic stimulus package that Democrats say is needed, the deficit could approach $1 trillion or more next fiscal year, even without any of Obama's other priorities." (authored by The Washington Post; free registration required)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066529.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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Some Industries Look for Silver Lining in Stimulus Package, Health and Energy Shifts
Excerpt: "The prospect of universal health care -- or in the shorter term, an expansion of children's health care and changes in Medicare and Medicaid purchasing -- will create new winners and losers. Democratic lawmakers have made it clear that payments to private insurers for Medicare plans are a big bull's eye in any health-care overhaul. Currently, private insurers receive more per beneficiary than the government would spend if it covered people directly. But insurers could benefit from a health-system overhaul. Aetna Inc.'s chief executive, Ron Williams, supports requiring people to buy health insurance. Some of Aetna's rivals oppose that position, but Mr. Williams says that without such a requirement, healthy people would opt out of the collective insurance risk pool and costs would spiral." (authored by The Wall Street Journal)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066528.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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[Guidance Overview] Proposed Regs on Consequences of Failing to Defer Receipt of Qualified Retirement Plan Distributions and Expansion of Notice Period for Certain Notices (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued proposed regulations that would: expand the content of the notice required under Internal Revenue Code (Code) section 411(a)(11), dealing with the right of a participant to defer receipt of an immediately distributable benefit; extend the election period for waiving the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity (QJSA) under Code section 417 from 90 days to 180 days; and extend the period for distribution of the notices required under Code sections 402(f), dealing with rollover eligibility and tax treatment of distributions, 411(a)(11) and 417 from 90 days to 180 days." (authored by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies)
http://benefitslink.com/links/20081105-066527.html
2008-11-21 3:32:16
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