Cash Balance Plan Answer Book, 4th Edition (1-year Online Subscription)

Chapter 1 Introduction

• Cash Balance and Other Hybrid Pension Plans Defined
• The Legal Framework of Cash Balance Plans
• A Brief History of Cash Balance Plans
• Whipsaw
• Wearaway
• Age Discrimination

Chapter 2  Cash Balance Plan Design

• Basic Design
• Reasons for Offering Cash Balance Plans
• Designing Principal Credits
• Defining Interest Credits
• Compensation Defined
• Eligibility for Participation
• Vesting Requirements
• Benefits at Retirement
• Benefits Available
• Benefit Limits
• Ancillary Benefits
• Contributory Plans
• Pension Equity Plans
• Impact of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 on Hybrid Plan Design
• Plan Mergers

Chapter 3 Administration

• Parties Involved in Plan Administration and Oversight
• Administrative Tasks
• Service Providers
• Paying for Administrative Fees
• Other Administrative Considerations for Cash Balance Plans

Chapter 4 Conversions

• Plan Conversion Approaches
• Opening Account Balance Conversions
• Impact on Plan Participants
• Transition Alternatives
• Other Considerations for Conversions

Chapter 5 Age Discrimination Rules for Cash Balance Plans

• General Standards for Defined Benefit Plans
• Age Discrimination Controversy over Cash Balance Plan Design
• Safe Harbor Age Discrimination Standard
• Age Discrimination Rules Specific to Hybrid Defined Benefit Plans
• Other Age Discrimination Concerns

Chapter 6 Communication, Reporting, and Disclosure

• General Communication
• Communicating Plan Changes
• Participant Statements
• Summary Plan Descriptions
• Participant Communication About Plan Funding and Funded Status
• Communication at Distribution
• Other Reporting and Disclosure

Chapter 7 Plan Costs

• General Plan Cost Information
• Plan Funding Information
• Plan Accounting Information
• Other Plan Cost Information

Chapter 8 Eligibility and Vesting

• Minimum Participation and Vesting Requirements
• Determining Service
• Break in Service Rules
• Changing the Vesting Schedule

Chapter 9 Distributions

• Forms of Payment
• Required Distributions
• Taxation

Chapter 10 Accrual Rules

• Basic Rules
• Cash Balance Considerations

Chapter 11 Coverage and Nondiscrimination Testing

• Controlled Group
• Employees and Highly Compensated Employees
• Plan Coverage Requirements
• Defining Plans for Purposes of Testing
• Benefits Tests and Safe Harbors
• Other Nondiscrimination Considerations
• Separate Line of Business Rules

Chapter 12 Top-Heavy Testing

• Basic Top-Heavy Requirements
• Determining Key Employees
• Applying Top-Heavy Requirements

Chapter 13 Investment of Plan Assets

• Basic Rules for Plan Investments
• Relationship Between Assets and Liabilities
• Choosing Investments to Manage Risk

Chapter 14 Plan Termination

• Choosing to Terminate a Cash Balance Plan
• PBGC Requirements
• Notifying Plan Participants
• Other Considerations

Chapter 15 Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)

• What Is a QDRO?
• Determining the QDRO Benefit
• Considerations During Plan Conversions
• Regulatory Guidance on QDROs

Chapter 16 Determination Letters

• Effect of a Requesting a Determination Letter
• Timing and Filing Considerations
• Special Situations
• Notification Requirements

Appendix A DOL Hypothetical Examples of Plan Expenses

Appendix B Model SPD Language

Appendix C Joint Implementation Guidelines

Appendix D Single Life and Uniform Lifetime Tables

Appendix E Joint Life and Last Survivor Table

Appendix F Model Language for the Annual Funding Notice

Appendix G Definitions of Section 415 Compensation

Appendix H Definitions of Code Section 414(s) Nondiscriminatory Compensation

Appendix I Department of Labor Audit Information

Appendix J Pension Equity Plan Determination Letter Processing Guidelines

Tables

• Internal Revenue Code

• Treasury Regulations
• Internal Revenue Service Announcements, Notices, Memoranda, Rulings, and Procedures
• ERISA
• Code of Federal Regulations
• Department of Labor Opinions and Bulletins
• PBGC Releases and Instructions
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
• Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA)
• Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 (WRERA)
• Table of Cases
• Bibliography
• Glossary
• Index