Plan sponsors need to make sure that they are clear on the rules for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) in case of inquiries by plan participants. These rules can be especially confusing in light of the suspension of RMDs during 2009. Fortunately, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently featured some guidance on the subject in their “Employee Plans News” newsletter.

This year’s NADA Convention and Expo will be held in Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center, from Saturday, February 13 to Monday, February 15, 2010. Be sure to stop by the NADART booth (#1801) while you’re there and check out NADART services and features, which include:

In a recent survey conducted by The ICI, the trade group of the money management industry, 90% of those surveyed still had confidence in their retirement savings and investment options, despite the damaging affects the recession had on the market over the past few years.

In a recent article through Boston.com, a study initiated by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and the Hartford Financial Services Group shows a strong link between planning for retirement and having the confidence in meeting retirement goals. 

Despite the economic turmoil over the past year, or perhaps because of it, good communications with employees has remained an important priority with employers. The methods of communication that are being used vary, depending upon the topic being discussed, according the results of a recent survey by Watson Wyatt.

With the new year comes new rules with regards to Roth IRAs. As of January 1, 2010, those who wish to roll over (i.e., convert) funds from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA can now do so, even if their annual income limit exceeds $100,000, says a recent brief by the National Center for Policy Analysis.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released its’ Winter 2009 Employees Plans News edition on its’ Web site. The winter newsletter includes articles pertaining to 2010 rules and distribution regulations for Roth IRAs, notice requirements for pension plans that reduce benefit accruals as well as reminders for end-of-the-year deadlines. The IRS also offers a free newsletter called The Retirement News for Employers which has been created specifically for small business employers. The IRS encourages all small businesses to subscribe for their newsletter for tips, new features and regulation updates pertaining to their sponsored retirement plan.

Investment Advisor recently released an article regarding the reintroduction of the Automatic IRA Act of 2007, which is expected to be passed by Congress in 2010 requiring automatic IRA enrollment for all small businesses.

Last week, U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman, D-Nm., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Herb Kohl, D-Wis., introduced a bipartisan bill that would require employers who sponsor a 401(k) plan to inform their plan participants of the projected monthly income they could expect to live off of in their retirement years based on their current retirement account balance.