Survey Reveals Most Companies Planning to Restore 401k Match in 2010 Many U.S. employers are increasingly losing confidence in their workers' ability to save for retirement and, as a result, plan to step up their efforts this year to help workers maximize their 401k savings, according to a new survey by Hewitt Associates. Source: 401khelpcenter.com

DB Plans Outperform DC Plans Defined benefit plans fared slightly better than defined contribution plans as the economy began its decline two years ago, underscoring the importance of rebalancing 401k accounts. Source: Employee Benefit News

401k Fiduciary Risk Management ERISA mandates that 401k fiduciaries run their plan in a prudent manner. An important component of being prudent means acquiring knowledge and then learning how to apply it in a manner that is appropriate for a given set of circumstances. Prudence also requires ongoing learning and reevaluating what was done before. Source: Investment Horizons

2010 403(b) Plan Buyer's Guide Since their 2007 passage, the new Internal Revenue Service regulations have created a tidal wave of change as 403(b) plan sponsors, many of which traditionally have been required to play a very limited role in plan administration oversight, have begun to address ways in which to simplify plan administration, control costs, and improve their plans for participants. Add to those shifts the aftereffects of last year’s market downturn, and even sponsors of actively engaged and well-governed 403(b) plans have been forced to reconsider their current vendor configurations. Source: Plansponsor.com

EPCRS Issues Arising from 403(b) Disqualification pointing out the absurdity of disqualifying an entire 403(b) plan since the employer suffers little direct tax sanction, and the burden of the employer's errors are borne by the employees. There is no "stick" to the "carrot and stick" combination that makes 401k plans work. Source: Business of Benefits Blog

403(b) Arrangements - Title I Exemption ASPPA and NTSAA filed comments with the DOL requesting clarification of the application of the exemption from ERISA coverage for certain 403(b) arrangements using an “open architecture" investment platform. Source: ASPPA

401k Fee Litigation Report February 2010 The focus of these lawsuits against the plan sponsors has evolved over time to include broader challenges to, among other things, the plan sponsors' selection of actively managed mutual funds as plan investment options. Source: Groom Law Group

Washington, D.C. Update: The Feds Have a Full Agenda The purpose of this article is to bring you up to date concerning regulatory and legislative developments in Washington, D.C. Source: Reish & Reicher

DOL Posts Six EFAST2 User Guides The Department of Labor has posted on its website six EFAST2 user guides to assist with electronically filing Form 5500 for 2009 and later plan years. Source: Plansponsor.com

DOL Finalizes Participant Contribution Timing Safe Harbor The DOL has published final regulations providing a safe harbor rule for the deposit of participant contributions and loan repayments to small plans that are subject to ERISA. Small plans are plans with fewer than 100 participants as of the first day of the plan year. No safe harbor is provided for larger plans. Source: Prudential