Human Resources: 401(k)

Cost of Prescription Co-Pays Increases in Minnesota and Wisconsin
The cost of medical coverage is on many employees’ minds as they near retirement. Prescription costs are of particular concern to baby boomers who rely on coverage through their employer.

Fresh Start Foundation to present 401k edcation program
FRESH START WOMEN'S FOUNDATION TO OFFER A 401(K) EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT HELPS WOMEN TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE

Cost of Prescription Co-Pays Increases in Illinois
The cost of medical coverage is on many employees’ minds as they near retirement. Prescription costs are of particular concern to baby boomers who rely on coverage through their employer. Despite medical coverage cuts, the 2008 Compensation Data – Illinois survey reported nearly all Illinois employers offer prescription drug coverage as part of their medical plan.

Cost of Prescription Co-Pays Increases in United States
The preliminary Compensation Data 2008 survey results found co-pay costs have increased for non-formulary and formulary drugs since 2006.

SurePayroll Named to Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For
National Association for Business Resources honors SurePayroll as a great place to work.

Pensions Outperformed 401(k) Plans During Last Bull Market, Watson Wyatt
Rates of return for defined benefit (DB) pension plans outpaced those for employee-directed 401(k) plans during the most recent bull market from 2003 to 2006, according to an analysis by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a leading global consulting firm.

MassMutual Clients Express High Satisfaction with Plan Installation Process
According to both retirement plan clients and advisors, the Retirement Services Division of MassMutual Financial Group continues to meet or exceed their expectations throughout the plan installation process. The data is derived from MassMutual's recently completed new client implementation

David Hudecek Joins Buck Consultants as Director
David Hudecek has joined Buck Consultants as a Director in the firm's Washington, DC office.

Nicole Giantonio Joins Buck Consultants as Senior Vice President
Nicole Giantonio has joined Buck Consultants as Senior Vice President of Sales. She is based in the firm's New York office.

MassMutual Completes Acquisition of First Mercantile Trust Company
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) announced today it has completed its previously announced purchase of First Mercantile Trust Company from SunTrust Banks, Inc. (NYSE: STI).

MassMutual to Host Free Advisor WebEx Regarding Opportunities in the Nonprofit Market
MassMutual's Retirement Services Division is offering a free WebEx session exclusively for retirement plan advisors to discuss "Opportunities in the Nonprofit Market." The

MassMutual Offers Free Research Paper on Target Retirement Date Investments as QDIAs
MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has released a new research paper regarding the use of target retirement date investments as the default option for retirement plans with automatic enrollment.

ING Debuts Video on Web Highlighting Commitment to Environment
What: ING debuts a new video on the Web that answers the question: What if large companies took responsibility for environmental stewardship and made it part of their fundamental business strategy?

MassMutual Hosts 2-Day Conference in Support of Its TPA Alliance
MassMutual's Retirement Services Division hosted its 2008 TPA Conference at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., May 14 - 16.

MassMutual Names Hugh O'Toole Head of Sales and Distribution for RSD
MassMutual Names Hugh O'Toole Head of Sales and Distribution for Retirement Services Division

Mercer urges changes to FASB disclosure proposal for retirement plan assets
Mercer today urged the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to modify its proposed expansion of employers’ disclosures of pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets. In a comment letter sent to the FASB, Mercer expressed concern that certain aspects of the new disclosure standards could be too costly to employers and that implementation by year-end 2008, as called for in the FASB proposal, will be a struggle for plan sponsors – particularly those with multiple plans and geographies. Mercer called for a one-year extension of the effective date of new disclosures under the proposal.

Chantel Sheaks Joins Buck Consultants as Principal
Chantel Sheaks has joined Buck Consultants as Principal of Government Affairs in the firm's Washington, D.C. office.

SOCIAL MEDIA: THE NEXT FRONTIER IN EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION
Watson Wyatt Experts Say Social Media Can Benefit Employers;Guidelines for Use, Change Management the Key

MORE COMPANIES, WORKERS ADOPT CONSUMER-DIRECTED HEALTH PLANS
Nearly Half of Employers Now Have CDHPs, Watson Wyatt/National Business Group on Health Survey Finds

Employers Enhancing 401(k)s To Compensate for Retirement Plan Changes
Employers Enhancing 401(k)s To Compensate for Retirement Plan Changes,Watson Wyatt FindsHybrid Plans Are Increasingly Attractive Alternative

Education Level and Marital Status Among Factors Influencing 401(k) Investing
Education Level And Marital Status Among Factors Influencing 401(k)Investing, Watson Wyatt Finds

Thinking of Retiring on the Beach? Start Saving Now
Most U.S. employees know they should save more for retirement. However with the personal savings rate at negative .5 percent (www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/pinewsrelease.htm), individuals are spending more than they earn, depleting their savings and increasing debt.

ExpertPlan Expands Payroll Foothold with 5 New Payroll Companies
ExpertPlan announced it inked deals with five nationwide payroll companies in December 2007, providing each firm with its own fully branded 401(k) product. ExpertPlan now boasts seven new payroll partners since launching its private label 401(k) program within the payroll channel in late 2007. The company, which now has a dedicated sales and relationship management team devoted solely to supporting the needs of its payroll partners, anticipates bringing in over a dozen more payroll companies in 2008.

Thinking of Retiring on the Beach? Start Saving Now
Most U.S. employees know they should save more for retirement. However with the personal savings rate at negative .5 percent (www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/pinewsrelease.htm), individuals are spending more than they earn, depleting their savings and increasing debt.

More Retirees Relaunching Careers
Many retirees are returning to the workforce to overcome boredom and limited finances. Yet making a career comeback can be very problematic for those facing ageism and gaps in their work history. In their new book professional resume writers Louise Kursmark and Wendy Enelow help retirees address these issues and quickly return to work through savvy resume strategies that make the most of a retiree's experience and achievements.

MassMutual Teams with The Conservation Fund on Electronic Prospectus Delivery
In an effort to drive awareness of its electronic prospectus delivery option among retirement plan sponsors and participants, MassMutual's Retirement Services Division is collaborating with The Conservation Fund's Go Zero(SM) program to help address two of the world's most pressing environmental issues -- climate change and habitat loss.

Buck Consultants to Provide Consulting and Actuarial Services to Nebraska Public Employees
Buck Consultants to Provide Consulting and Actuarial Services to Nebraska Public Employees Retirement System

Standing Out: Benefits That Impact Recruitment
The number of Michigan organizations actively recruiting has increased over the last five years from 80.1 to 93.5 percent. In this competitive market, employers must look to a variety of benefits to stand out.

Thomas Burke has joined Buck Consultants as a Director in its Pittsburgh office.
Burke joins Buck after having worked as an independent consultant for several years. Prior to that, he served with Mercer Human Resource Consulting as a Principal. His expertise includes design and implementation of employee compensation, performance management, and recognition programs.