BPP401k.com Newsletter July 29

Should You Carry a Mortgage Into Retirement? Although it remains the goal of many households to repay their mortgage by retirement, an increasing proportion now enters retirement with a mortgage.

Keep it simple for 401(k) fee reporting Research suggests workers participating in a defined contribution plan do not know or have a complete understanding of fees and expenses.

Seven Termites Eating The 401k The average investor received less than a quarter of the general market return and did not even keep pace with inflation.

Retirement Plans Not Targets of Proposed Panel, Frank Says Concerns that a new consumer watchdog agency proposed by the Obama administration could play a role in overseeing retirement plan products are unfounded, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

Are You Still Matching 401(k) Contributions? A recent study by CFO Research Services and Charles Schwab found that 23 percent of employers had either suspended the company’s matching contribution or were considering it.

Government Studying Company-Sponsored Automatic IRAs Proposal could put participants in an IRA automatically.

You can divorce, but there may be a postnup on your benefits The Supreme Court has ruled that you have to notify your employer's retirement plan administrator in writing that you are changing 401(k) beneficiaries.

Use target date funds the right way Take a defined benefit approach: Focus on a goal, establish a time horizon and watch cash flow.

How Men, Women View Financial Aspects of Retirement - Summary: How do men and women differ in their views of various financial aspects of retirement? Located at: Employee Benefits Research Council. Click on headline for full article.

It's time to rethink retirement plans - Summary: Most investors would fare better if plan sponsors were responsible for investment decisions Located at: Investment News. Click on headline for full article.

Improving financial literacy, simplicity of disclosures essential for promoting personal retirement security - Summary: Testifying before the Department of Labor (DOL) ERISA Advisory Council Working Group on “Promoting Retirement Literacy and Security by Streamlining Disclosures to Participants and Beneficiaries,” American Benefits Council Senior Counsel, Retirement Policy, Jan Jacobson, emphasized that effective communication with the workforce is critical for ensuring beneficiaries’ financial security in retirement. Located at: American Benefits Council. Click on headline for full article.

DOL Avoids A 403(b) Train Wreck With FAB 2009-2. A Learning Opportunity For the IRS? - Summary: The DOL released to Field Assistance Bulletin 2009-2 on July 20th, which provides much needed Title 1 reporting relief for 403(b) plans Located at: BusinessofBenefits.com. Click on headline for full article.

Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2009-02 - Summary: This Bulletin provides guidance on certain Form 5500 Annual Return/Report requirements for tax-sheltered annuity programs described in section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) with respect to contracts issued before January 1, 2009. The guidance in this Bulletin relates solely to Form 5500 reporting obligations and does not address any other issue under Title I of ERISA or any obligations under the Code. Located at: Department of Labor. Click on headline for full article.

DB Pension Relief Under Discussion - Summary: On June 23, Representative Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) released a discussion draft for defined benefit (DB) funding relief. Located at: Watsonwyatt.com Click on headline for full article.

403(b) Plan Termination: Illusion or Reality? - Summary: One of the more long awaited provisions of the final 403(b)regulations was the provision permitting an employer to terminate its 403(b) plan. Located at: SunGard Relius. Click on headline for full article.

Groundbreaking Study Reveals African-Americans and Hispanics Significantly Less Prepared for Retirement Than Their White and Asian Counterparts - Summary: The Ariel/Hewitt study highlights disparities in 401(k) saving and investing behaviors by race and ethnicity Located at: Hewitt Associates. Click on headline for full article.

CRS Report Focuses on DC Pension Plan Policy Issues - Summary: The Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report 401(k) Plans and Retirement Savings: Issues for Congress that focuses on policy issues as they relate to 401(k) and other defined contribution pension plans. The report identifies seven major issues of concern: employee access to employer-sponsored retirement plans; employee participation in retirement plans; contribution rates; investment choices; fee disclosure; retirement savings withdrawal practices; and converting savings into income. Located at: ifebp.org. Click on headline for full article.

For more information visit www.bpp401k.com