Safe Harbor 401(k) Top-Heavy Plans Small business owners commonly select a safe harbor 401(k) retirement plan design. These same employers often see their plans become top heavy. A plan is considered top heavy when more than 60% of the aggregate value of the plan accounts belongs to key employees — the owners and officers of the business. Source: McKay Hockman

Evaluating Whether Your Target-Date Fund Measures Up As the Labor Department signals its interest in weighing in on these funds, plan sponsors should make sure their evaluation process is in place, and that it's thorough and well-documented. Source: Callan Associates (PDF File)

Overcoming Fiduciary Fear There are two kinds of fears that 401k plan fiduciaries must overcome in order to effectively manage a prudent investment process -- the fear of doing something and the fear of doing nothing. Source: Fiduciary Investor

New Web Resource for Compliance Assistance on 403(b) Plans The DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration announced new outreach and compliance assistance efforts for 403(b) pension plans subject to Title I of the ERISA. The initiatives are part of the agency's ongoing compliance assistance program to help employers, plan officials and service providers. Source: U. S. Department of Labor

Survey Reveals Trends in 401k Participant Attitudes About Retirement Planning A recent survey of defined contribution plan participants conducted by MassMutual's Retirement Services Division reveals some surprising findings about participant attitudes and approaches toward investing - and some striking differences based on gender. Source: 401khelpcenter.com

DOL Rules to Enhance Retirement Advice and Transparency Announced The U.S. Department of Labor announced two new rules designed to enhance retirement security and transparency for the millions of workers covered by 401k, pension and other retirement arrangements. The first of the two rules would ensure workers receive unbiased advice about how to invest in their individual retirement accounts or 401k plans. Source: 401khelpcenter.com

DOL Fact Sheet on Proposed Regulation on Invest. Advice This fact sheet has been developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, to cover their proposed rule relating to the provision of invest. advice to participants and beneficiaries in individual account plans, such as 401k plans. Source: U.S. Department of Labor

DOL Proposed Rule on Invest. Advice This document contains a proposed rule under ERISA relating to the provision of invest. advice to participants and beneficiaries in individual account plans, such as 401k plans, and beneficiaries of individual retirement accounts. Written comments on the proposed regulations should be submitted to the DOL on or before May 5, 2010. Source: U.S. Department of Labor (PDF File)

EBSA Recovered More Than $1B in 2009 The U. S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) reported recovering $1.36 billion in 2009 for employee benefits plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Source: Planadviser.com

Final QDRO Regulation Expected Soon The U.S. Department of Labor plans to publish a final regulation in April clarifying the rights and obligations of parties seeking to obtain benefits under a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO). Source: Thompson Publishing Group

IRS Retirement News for Employers - Winter 2010 Edition This edition includes articles such as: April 30, 2010 Filing Deadline for Adopting Employers of Pre-Approved Plans; Deadline for Making Employer Contributions; Clarification of HEART Act Changes; Future Requirements for Tax Return Preparers; Is Your Distribution from Your Roth IRA Taxable?; The Latest in the World of Code §403(b) Plans; SEP Plan Pitfalls Phone Forum; and more. Source: IRS (PDF File)