John Iekel

The states that offer a retirement program for private-sector employees whose employers do not have a new prospective member: Michigan. Legislation has been entered in the state House of Representatives that would create such a program in the Wolverine State. The Retirement Savings Program Act, HB... READ MORE

Sometimes the most mundane details can be overlooked—which, for a plan, entails risk. In fulfilling the myriad responsibilities attendant to offering and running a plan, a retirement plan committee can be a great help.  Navigating increasingly complicated benefits administration—and against a... READ MORE

The plan document is not a suggestion; it’s a roadmap to compliance and competent and effective administration. But it’s not always given the regard it deserves—which can imperil a plan and those whom it ultimately was written to serve.  Oops Robert M. Kaplan, Director of Technical Education at... READ MORE

OregonSaves, the first state-run program to provide retirement plan coverage to employees whose private-sector employers do not, is devoting $5 million to coverage for childcare providers. The Oregon Retirement Savings Board and State Treasurer Tobias Read made the announcement on Feb. 12.  In... READ MORE

Greater longevity than in the past is a good thing, as is concurrent big picture improvement in finances. But periodic economic challenges do take place, which can spell trouble—especially for retirees who did not save enough.  A substantial majority of retirees in a study by Clever Real Estate—68... READ MORE

The scope of New York Secure Choice, the program through which the Empire State provides coverage to private-sector employees whose employers do not, has been expanded to include single proprietors.  New York Gov. Kathy Holchul (D) signed S 2399 into law on Jan. 26, 2024. Sen. Andrew Gounard (D-... READ MORE

In a storied decision, a judge once wrote that he couldn’t define a certain topic, but he knew it when he saw it. So, too, financial wellness—an expert panel recently suggested its meaning is “amorphous” and “evolving.”  “Financial wellness” can mean different things to different people and... READ MORE

Those who make filings with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) now must use the agency’s new e-Filing portal. It became operational on Feb. 1, 2024.  The PBGC had announced on Jan. 8 that it would launch a new and improved e-filing portal at the start of the next month. The launch of... READ MORE

A resolution before the Alaska House calls for the state to join others in calling for the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).  Rep. Alyse Galvin (I-Anchorage) introduced House Joint Resolution 18 on Jan. 22, 2024.  Alaska has the highest... READ MORE