Andrew Remo

Employers with Plans Excluded from Illinois’ State-Run Plan

By Andrew Remo 4/1/2016

In Illinois, if you are an employer that likes your retirement plan, you can keep it.Despite some persistent rumors and underhanded marketing to the contrary, the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act — enacted in early 2015 — provides that if an employer covered under the law already has a... READ MORE

Connecticut Coverage Mandate Could Affect Employers with ERISA Plans

By Andrew Remo 3/11/2016

*/ UPDATE, MARCH 14: The provision described below was subsequently withdrawn. For more on that development, click here. The Connecticut Retirement Security Board has taken another step forward with its implementation plan by introducing legislation creating the Connecticut Retirement Security... READ MORE

Obama’s Final Budget: What’s in it for Retirement Plans?

By Andrew Remo 2/10/2016

The Obama administration’s final budget wasn’t a complete retread of its prior retirement plan proposals, but there wasn’t much good news for employer-sponsored retirement plans.Small business owners and small business retirement plans were once again targeted by a proposal that would limit the... READ MORE

The Tax Reform Plan That Could Kill the 401(k)

By Andrew Remo 2/9/2016

Though specific policy details remain elusive on many key issues in the 2016 presidential campaign, the tax reform proposal of a leading candidate could undermine the 401(k).Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), after his surprisingly strong third place finish (just behind Donald Trump and Ted Cruz) in the... READ MORE

Retirement on the Rocks?

By Andrew Remo 1/28/2016

Current retirement savings policies continue to be under the wonk microscope in Washington D.C., and was the primary subject of an event at the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress last week. The event featured the work of Christian Weller, a Professor of Public Policy at the University of... READ MORE

Challenging the Conventional Wisdom on Retirement Benefits

By Andrew Remo 1/22/2016

Economists and retirement policy wonks gathered at a Washington D.C. think tank Jan. 20 for a presentation and discussion about the distribution of retirement benefits.The discussion focused on new research from Peter Brady, a senior economist at the Investment Company Institute, that examined the... READ MORE

Study Sets Structure for State-Run Retirement Program in Connecticut

By Andrew Remo 1/7/2016

The Nutmeg State has taken another step toward the creation of a state-run retirement program for private sector workers with the release of a lengthy report detailing the potential elements of such a program.In 2014, Connecticut enacted legislation creating the Connecticut Retirement Security... READ MORE

With ASPPA GAC’s Encouragement, Congress Fixes 5500 Filing Deadline With Highway Bill

By Andrew Remo, Craig Hoffman 12/4/2015

Congress has passed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015, which is expected to be signed into law Dec. 4 by President Obama — and which, thanks to ASPPA GAC input, includes a vital change for Form 5500 filers.The bill sets policy and funding levels for transportation... READ MORE

Capitol Hill Panel Keys in on Millennial Savings Challenges

By Andrew Remo 11/30/2015

The Financial Services Roundtable recently hosted an event on Capitol Hill that amounted to a retirement counseling session for Millennials working in Congress.Headlining the event was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). A freshman member first elected in 2014... READ MORE

DOL’s Proposed Safe Harbor for State Savings Programs: A Closer Look

By Andrew Remo 11/18/2015

Following President Obama’s directive at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging in July, the Department of Labor (DOL) published proposed regulations Nov. 16 that create a new state payroll deduction savings program safe harbor so that those programs are not subject to ERISA.The safe harbor only... READ MORE

The ‘Birth’ of a Notion?

By Andrew Remo 11/6/2015

The Windy City played host in the first week of November to a gathering focused on developing ideas to address America’s retirement savings challenge — but government-run solutions dominated the conversation.At the conference, “Saving — America’s Challenge and Opportunity in the Twenty-First... READ MORE

Congress Funds Budget Deal with Higher Pension Premiums

By Andrew Remo 10/30/2015

The sweeping two-year budget package that is swiftly moving through Congress this week collects over $8.1 billion in revenue from America’s defined benefit plans. This revenue largely comes from increases in premium payments to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).The pension section of... READ MORE

Senate Hearing Highlights Small Biz MEP Opportunities

By Andrew Remo 10/29/2015

Discussing alternatives to encourage small businesses to offer retirement plans, a Senate subcommittee found consensus around a specific solution.Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security Chairman Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) convened a... READ MORE

While You Were Obsessing Over the Fiduciary Proposal…

By Andrew Remo 10/9/2015

While many in the retirement industry are solely focused on the impending fiduciary rule, the Department of Labor is proceeding on another potentially far-reaching regulatory project at the direction of President Obama.In July 2015, Obama tasked the Department of Labor to issue new regulations and... READ MORE

Hill Hearing to Focus on Fiduciary Rule’s Impact on Younger Savers

By Andrew Remo 9/18/2015

The Department of Labor (DOL) hearings may be over, but a House committee plans to hold a hearing of its own on the fiduciary rule reproposal and its impact on younger savers.House Ways & Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) proclaimed 2017 as “the year when tax reform... READ MORE

Fiduciary ‘Grievances’ Aired at House Hearing

By Andrew Remo 9/11/2015

We’re months away from December, but it felt like a fiduciary rule Festivus on Capitol Hill Sept. 10 as members of Congress aired their grievances about the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed extension authority to regulate assets contained in retirement accounts.Two subcommittees of the House... READ MORE

House Committee to Hold Hearing on Fiduciary Proposal Bill

By Andrew Remo 9/4/2015

Congress returns from its summer break next week, and House Republicans are wasting no time reengaging in oversight of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) fiduciary rule re-proposal.On Sept. 10, two subcommittees of the House Financial Services Committee are planning to hold a joint hearing on the... READ MORE

Fiduciary Hearings: The ‘After’ Math

By Andrew Remo 8/14/2015

Renowned French author André Gide once famously remarked, “Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” So it felt at times during Day Four of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) public hearing on its fiduciary rule.To be fair,... READ MORE

Supovitz Makes the Case for Level Playing Field with Rollovers

By Andrew Remo 8/13/2015

Marcy Supovitz, President-Elect of the American Retirement Association, testified at the public hearing on the Department of Labor’s reproposed fiduciary rule Aug. 12.Supovitz' testimony concentrated on the American Retirement Association’s innovative proposal to create a separate, streamlined... READ MORE

Economic Analysis Drives Day 2 of Hearings on DOL’s Fiduciary Rule

By Andrew Remo 8/13/2015

The second day of public hearings on the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule reproposal was highlighted by a debate over the economic impact that the rule will have on the financial services industry.When a rule of this significance is issued, it must be accompanied by an analysis from the... READ MORE

You are here

Andrew Remo

Pages

Most Popular