The Department of Labor (DOL) is now requiring that all retirement plans in the 2009 year and there after submit their Form 5500 via electronic filing (EFAST2). In a recent article, the DOL claims the transformation from paper filing to electronic filing will result in significant changes in procedures. The EFAST2 became mandatory beginning on January 1, 2009 and plans will be able to commence filing electronically on January 1, 2010. With the exception of plans covering the sole owner, partners in a partnership and plans with no employees, all plans, including retirement, welfare and 403(b) plans, will need to be filed electronically.

Paradox that it may seem, given the current economic conditions, now is probably the best time to start investing in a 401(k) retirement plan. “History shows that you are most likely to earn the highest returns on the money you invest after the market has taken a severe beating,” according to a recent question-and-answer session on CNN Money.com. Simply put, current conditions allow you to purchase more stock shares at a lower price, potentially resulting greater returns once the financial markets recover.

If your company offers a 401(k) plan, there’s a good chance that the turmoil in the markets have you and your employees anxious about your accounts. If you’re wondering what the best way to respond to these concerns is, Kiplinger.com does a good job of tackling various questions in a recent article. The article responds to such topics as:

Plan sponsors now have one less thing to worry about. Final regulations released last week by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allow for flexibility or even exemption from Contribution Nondiscrimination Testing (CNT), according to a recent issue of the publication “Business Insurance”.

With the way the financial markets have been going lately, what is the best way to handle your retirement-related investments? Should you invest in stocks? Bonds? Should you hide your money under your mattress? Fortunately, there are a number of useful strategies for you to consider, according to a recent question-and-answer session on CNN Money.com.

The current economic conditions have forced many companies to make difficult cuts in their expenses. One such example is the company match – employers are having to either reduce their contributions to the employees plan or eliminate it completely. But what about those who have a Safe Harbor 401(k) plan? Are they allowed to make changes to their matching contribution? The answer, according to planadviser.com, is yes.

The American Savings Education Council has designated the week of February 22 through March 1, 2009 as America Saves Week. This week promotes increasing the savings rate for Americans and the America Saves week Web site offers tools and tips to help many people start saving. In addition, it offers tools for employers to use to get their employees to start saving, such as materials to download, and suggested activities such as:

In the current down market, it is now especially important for retirement plans to offer a diversified investment fund line-up in their portfolio, according to an article in CNNMoney.com. That means investing in a variety of asset classes.