BPP401k.com Newsletter August 5

The Dreaded 'A' Word: All You Need To Know About ERISA Audits It's ERISA audit time again. Now that the regular tax season is over, accountants soon will be turning their attention to ERISA plan audits. If your retirement plan is subject to the audit requirements, here are the basics you should know

Top 5ive Retirement Mistakes to Avoid While saving up for retirement is difficult to begin with, it gets worse.

Women Take Lead in Cutting Back on Spending More women at tightening their belts than men in recession, study shows

Pension Plan Execs Look to Reduce Expenses Faced with high fees from hedge funds, poor returns from traditional active managers and sharp declines in their defined-benefit plans' funded status, corporate executives are looking to squeeze fees, adopt passive strategies and close or freeze their plans.

Match Pension Plans to Business Goals There are two types of pension plans to choose from that provide different benefits for employees and the company. Find a balance that’s right for your organization.

Should you borrow to repay a 401(k) loan?

Average 401(k) Plan Account Balances Doubled Between 1999 And 2007; Median Grew By 210% The average 401(k) plan account balance more than doubled for 2.4 million people who were consistently plan participants from 1999 through 2007.

Every Other Month Theory The Motley Fool explores why virtually every business, contractor, sales person says that every other month is slow.

Top 3 reasons to discourage 401(k) loans A recent study found that 401(k) loans are at all-time high. Unfortunately, employees don’t recognize the many ways they’re hurting their own future.
Have Your 401(k)ake and Eat It Too Prior to the enactment of EGTRRA, a 401(k) plan held no benefit for an owner-only business with no common-law-employees. Why? Because of elective deferrals inclusion as part of the 25% deduction limit.

Facing Your 401K Fears With the recent rebound in the stock market and stocks up 45 percent since March, it may be time to awaken from your fearful recession stupor and open those 401K statements -- and take control of your retirement.

Match Game: How to Cope With a Suspended 401(k) Without stellar investment returns – and not many people are depending on those – the only way to recoup losses is to step up your contributions.

IMHO: “Right” Minded Providers, like plan sponsors, have "personalities" and sometimes the chemistry that a good relationship needs to thrive just is not there, even when the plan's needs are reasonable and the provider's capabilities are top-notch.

FAQ of the Week A sole proprietor has a defined benefit plan with a minimum funding requirement of more than 25% of compensation. Can deductible contributions be made on the proprietor’s behalf to a defined contribution plan as well? ANSWER

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