The IRS just announced the 2013 retirement plan benefit limits and we’re seeing some modest increases from 2012. What does it all mean for employer-sponsored retirement plans? This post analyzes the practical effects for both defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) plans, followed by a table summarizing the limit changes. Changes affecting both DB […]Read More… from What’s the Impact of 2013 IRS Retirement Plan Limits?
Pension discount rates have plummeted over the past few months and plan sponsors should prepare for a potential upward spike in balance sheet liabilities for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. Using the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve (CPDC) as a proxy, pension accounting discount rates could decrease by 100 basis points (or more). This […]Read More… from Low Pension Discount Rates = Big Accounting Liabilities for FY2011
Almost a year to the day after providing relief for the 2011 plan year, the PBGC released PBGC Technical Update 11-1. This notice provides guidance for the 2012 plan year on how to comply with the proposed amendments to the reportable events regulations. Summary of Important Guidance Similar to the prior pronouncements, the new Technical […]Read More… from Déjà vu: PBGC Extends Reportable Event Relief for 2012
Freezing or terminating a defined benefit (DB) pension plan can have unforeseen implications for a company’s profit sharing plan. This is especially true if the plans are top-heavy or rely on IRS cross-testing methods (e.g., professional firm cash balance plans). This post explores changes to minimum profit sharing benefits that occur when plan sponsors freeze […]Read More… from Employers Need to Understand Minimum Profit Sharing Benefits for Frozen/Terminated DB plans
The IRS recently released the October interest rates for pension plans. What do they hold in store for plan sponsors? This post summarizes some of the important rates along with our observations. Funding Segment Rates The interest rates used to determine pension plan liabilities for IRS funding purposes are composed of three segment rates (unless […]Read More… from Plan Sponsors Should Prepare Now for 2012 Pension Interest Rates
The IRS just announced the 2012 retirement plan benefit limits and we’re finally going to see some (very) modest increases after 3 years of flat rates. What does it all mean for employer-sponsored retirement plans? This post analyzes the practical effects for both defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) plans, followed by a table […]Read More… from What’s the Impact of 2012 IRS Retirement Plan Limits?
IRS Notice 2011-85 announces the relief and postponed effective date for several items related to hybrid pension plans (e.g., cash balance and PEP plans). The notice is pretty technical (of course), but the IRS also published a nice summary of what’s affected by the relief. Here’s what it means for plan sponsors: The scope of […]Read More… from What’s Important for Plan Sponsors in IRS Hybrid Plan Notice 2011-85
Many successful companies (especially professional firms like medical groups and law firms) are considering whether to increase retirement plan deductions for 2011. This post highlights the action steps to take while there’s still time. Note: We’ll be focusing on cross-tested profit sharing plans and cash balance plans. These plans allow owners to make large tax-deferred […]Read More… from Now is the Time for Retirement Plan Decisions
The Federal Reserve’s “Operation Twist” is intended to boost consumer spending, but it could cause lots of problems for defined benefit pension plans who haven’t adopted a liability-driven investment (LDI) strategy. Here’s what plan sponsors need to consider: 1. If long-term interest rates drop due to “Operation Twist”, then pension liabilities will likely increase and […]Read More… from Fed’s “Operation Twist” Another Reason For Pension Plan LDI
In this post we highlight three new PBGC premium relief items: 1. Seven Day Rule – for waiver of late premium penalties in 2011 and later. 2. “Alternative” premium method election relief – for 2010 and later years. 3. Waiver of certain “alternative” method penalties – for 2008 and 2009. Below is a detailed summary […]Read More… from What’s New with PBGC Premium Relief
