John Iekel

The rule temporarily reinstating the requirement that employers provide two identifying numbers in order to register with CalSavers could become permanent.  Employers originally had been required to provide (1) their employer payroll tax account number and (2) their federal employer identification... READ MORE

Bills before the Massachusetts House and Senate that would expand the Massachusetts Defined Contribution CORE Plan are moving again.  The legislation, introduced early in 2023, has been largely dormant since summer; however, committees in both chambers have given the measures a nod.  About the... READ MORE

The guidance the IRS just issued in Revenue Procedure (Rev. Proc.) 2023-37 on qualified and 403(b) pre-approved plans made some significant changes in order to conform, clarify, and update the rules. Here’s a look at some of the key changes, which generally became effective on Nov. 21, 2023, with... READ MORE

The IRS has released a draft of the Form 1099-R to be used in 2024. This is an early release draft of the form, as well as its instructions, which the IRS is providing only to inform taxpayers, including benefits recipients.  The form is used to provide information to recipients about... READ MORE

Retirement coverage is not universal, and any employer can find it challenging not only to cover employees, but also to motivate them to participate in the retirement plan that it offers. But it can be particularly challenging for some industry sectors.  Leaders from one sector—post-acute care... READ MORE

The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the IRS, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) on Nov. 17 released informational copies of the 2023 Form 5500 Series. They have been released online. These versions of the Form 5500, Form 5500-SF, and Form... READ MORE

Near retirees are in a unique position. The good news is that for the most part, they are living longer, are healthier than in the past, and have more work options than their predecessors. At the same time, there still is a significant number of them who perform physically challenging jobs—and that... READ MORE

Retirement solutions need to adapt to a changing world—and that means meeting attendant challenges in order to meet the needs of retirees and those who serve them.  “This is a pivotal point in time,” said SPARK Institute Executive Director Tim Rouse at the opening of the recent SPARK Forum. He... READ MORE

Providing retirement benefits is a dynamic function, and in an age of accelerating technological transformation that requires reinvention of products and services. An expert panel at the recent SPARK Forum shared some of their experiences in that vein.  Panelists included Balaraman Jayaraman, Co-... READ MORE