Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Lots to do today to put the finishing touches on EBN December. But I didn't want to leave you without a blog post, so saving my bacon is former EBN contributor Karrie Andes. Today, she's writing on two topics that never run short on blogworthy material: Form 5500 and the IRS. Enjoy, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments. --K.M.B.

New survey results from AllianceBernstein show that retirement plan participants have a “high” understanding of target-date funds. However, the bar for understanding is set pretty low.

A startup company in South Carolina has launched a bold recruiting and retention strategy: It offers $50,000 bonuses to full-time employees who stay with the company for five years. Stay for 25 years and employees get a $250,000 jackpot.

According to an annual study by Mercer and the Australian Centre for Financial Studies, the United States retirement-income system has ranked 10th for two years running. The researchers offered five ways that the U.S. system could rise beyond its 10th-place rating on the index.

Ten years ago, talk of the cloud was confined to weather reports, or when you played that game where you point at clouds and name what objects they look like. Now, cloud technology is helping us with everything from increased data security to managing and delivering benefits.

It doesn’t seem like that long ago that folks were screaming and tossing chairs at each other in protest of health care reform proposals. But consumers either have come a long way since or have short memories, as a recent Mercer survey reports that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is being viewed more positively.

What is it? Nope, not your vending machine/cafeteria options. Not employee engagement (or lack thereof). The answer is most likely right in front of you.

Author Michael McIntyre caused a bit of a stir last week with comments about how he sees the corporate world as “exceedingly benefit-less” and that job seekers shouldn’t ask about benefits unless. I asked him about these comments in a new EBN podcast.

According to a poll of 642 18- to 29-year-olds conducted by the Strategic Research Institute at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis., 50% don’t believe Social Security will exist by the time they become age-eligible for the program at 67.

“Don’t worry about benefits,” says Michael McIntyre, president and CEO of Benefits America. Further, McIntyre adds, “never ask about benefits, unless you are applying for a C-level position with a Fortune 500 company.” He’s kidding, right? Right?