Recently by Peter Alwardt
Employee Benefits (ERISA)
U.S. & Multinational Businesses: Watch Out For Group Plan Rules – But Meet The Challenge With A Little Planning!
The Challenge This article presents an overview of the controlled group and affiliated service group U.S. federal tax rules as they apply to qualified retirement plans – including defined benefit, cash balance, profit sharing, 401(k), SEP and SIMPLE plans – and so-called...
Read MoreRetirement Plan Sponsors/Fiduciaries Need To Plan Now To Comply With DOL's Final Regulation On Transparency Of Fees And Expenses
Beginning January 1, 2012 (for calendar year plans), the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration ("EBSA") will require retirement plans that allow participants to direct the investment of their accounts (typically 401(k) and 403(b) plans) to provide extensive...
Read MoreEmployee Or Independent Contractor - Minimizing The Costs Of Misclassification
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is actively auditing small business employment practices via employment tax audits and is also conducting an ongoing review of worker classification practices in large employers. Thus, it is important to review who qualifies as an independent contractor and what...
Read MoreIRS Proposed Reliance Regulations Permit Suspension Of 401(k) Non-Elective Safe Harbor Contributions
In the wake of the financial crisis and the resulting recession, many plan sponsors have been reducing or suspending contributions to their qualified retirement plans. For sponsors of safe harbor 401(k) plans who make a non-elective employer contribution rather than a matching contribution, the...
Read MoreNew Department of Labor Guidance - Safe Harbor For Timely Deposit Of Employee Contributions To Small Plans
Editor:Tell us about your professional background. Alwardt:I have an extensive background in qualified and non-qualified plan design, operational compliance, equity-based plans, employee communications and representation before the IRS and the DOL. Prior to joining Eisner I was with a Big...
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