Retirement benefits

Here’s what employers including IBM, Mastercard and TD Bank did this year to redefine their employee benefit packages.

Seniors who are 70 1/2 and older should ensure that they take their first required minimum distribution from tax-deferred retirement accounts by Dec. 29.

Zenefits’ exit, new HSA regulations, financial wellbeing programs and Congress’ attempt to replace the ACA were the top stories of Employee Benefit Adviser this year.

Employees should refrain from cosigning their child's student loan, as Social Security could garnish their retirement benefits if the child defaults on the loan payments.

With a new administration came big changes in the benefits industry and these stories were must-reads during a busy year.

From the push for repeal and replace at the beginning of 2017 to tax reform coming in at the tail end, laws and legislation for brokers has been a roller coaster over the past 12 months

Many younger workers find it difficult to think beyond their student debt, which averages $32,731 with an average monthly payment of $393, according to the Federal Reserve.

Many claims filed by former employees have a very low chance of success, but that does not eliminate the need for the employer to put in the time and money to fight them.

Nearly a year after 401(k) participants accused the plan’s fiduciaries of breaching their fiduciary duty by not searching for lower cost investment options, a judge dismissed the complaint.

Retirement advisers can protect their book of business by redefining their service model and partnering with specialists.

Plan participants should review a full market cycle, index efficient asset classes and eliminate closet indexers.

Akamai's Sarah Sardella, BP’s Cliff York, Accenture’s Julie Wilkes and SurveyMonkey’s Becky Cantieri were honored for improving employee health, retirement and work-life balance.

Missing required 401(k) minimum distributions are subject to a penalty equal to half the amount that should have been taken.

These industry pioneers are creating products to meet evolving needs of employers and employees.

Many claims filed by former employees have a very low chance of success, but that does not eliminate the need for the employer to put in the time and money to fight them.

In order to avoid an audit, pension planners should conduct periodic audits for hard-to-find former employees.

Akamai's Sarah Sardella, BP’s Cliff York, Accenture’s Julie Wilkes and SurveyMonkey’s Becky Cantieri were honored for improving employee health, retirement and work-life balance.

Although the current year has been good for participants, many workers are not investing in a retirement plan.

Money worries continue to plague employees but executives struggle to create plans that address workers’ fiscal woes.

These industry pioneers, awarded by EBN this year, are creating products to meet evolving needs of employers and employees.