DIFC Changes to End of Service Gratuity
Aon Commentary on Consultation Paper

Retirement

The Dubai International Financial Centre Authority has published a Consultation Paper seeking feedback on proposed changes to the End of Service Gratuity benefit regime for expats. Click here for Aon's insights into the changes and immediate actions for employers ahead of the proposed 1 January 2020 implementation date.

Branching Out: Why OCIO Services Are Taking Root in New Markets

Retirement

Chief Investment Officer spoke recently with Stephen Cummings, chief executive officer of Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting Inc., one of the fastest growing providers of outsourced chief investment officer solutions, to find out where and why demand is growing - and how new users of the OCIO model can make it work for them.

Oil and Gas Retirement Benchmarking Reports

Retirement

These reports shows that the average oil and gas company continues to provide valuable retirement programs with many committed to defined benefit plans despite headlines in the media.

2017 Retirement and Investment Whitepaper Series

Retirement

Learn about the latest topics in Retirement and Investment from Aon Hewitt's 2017 whitepaper series. Download complimentary copies of all whitepapers.

Redefining Retirement in the Health Care Industry - Five-Part Series

Retirement

The purpose of this white paper series is to provide insight and strategy for health care organizations in the midst of such dramatic change.

2016 Retirement and Investment Whitepaper Series

Retirement

What was happening in the retirement and investment industry last year? Download complimentary copies of all 2015 whitepapers to find out.

2018 Utility Industry Benchmarking Report

Retirement

Aon’s most recent survey provides insights regarding financial management of retirement programs in the utility industry. Our consultants examine all key levers – funding, investment, design, liability management, and actuarial assumptions and methods.

2018 U.S. Annuity Settlement Market Update

Retirement

Aon’s 2018 U.S. Annuity Settlement Market Update provides a detailed overview of how innovation is driving market growth and shares insights for pension plan sponsors, as they continue to address cost & risk in an ever evolving market.
Key highlights:
— Review of 2017 market activity
— Analysis of insurer pricing competitiveness
— Thoughts on market driving themes for 2018

Rethink: Global Pension Risk Governance

Retirement

Recently, a group of Aon’s senior leaders across the Retirement & Investment Consulting practice came together to discuss ‘best practices’ of Global Pension Risk Governance.

Insurance Industry Retirement 2017 Benchmarking Report

Retirement

Our research found that the insurance industry continue to provide market-competitive benefits overall, and offers especially valuable retirement benefits to its employees. However, the level of spending on retirement benefits and the degree of commitment to DB pensions varies considerably. Download our findings to learn more.

The Real Deal: 2015 Retirement Income Adequacy at Large Companies

Retirement

Aon Hewitt’s sixth installment of The Real Deal Study analyzes the financial retirement readiness of 2.1 million employees of 77 large U.S. employers.

2017 Hot Topics in Retirement and Financial Wellbeing

Retirement

Based on the responses retirement plan sponsors provided to Aon Hewitt’s Hot Topics in Retirement and Financial Wellbeing survey, this year should be a very busy year for them. We are hearing from employers that they do not intend to sit on the sidelines waiting for the environment to dictate their next move. Instead, they are taking action in an effort to bolster employee benefits and help their workers plan for a secure financial footing - both today and in retirement.

Government Plans Are Different: A Regulatory Overview

By Dan Schwallie
benefits quarterly third quarter 2018

Retirement

Many rules that otherwise apply to qualified retirement plans either do not apply to governmental plans qualified under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Section 401(a) or apply differently. This article provides a high-level introduction to governmental tax-qualified retirement plans and highlights many of the differences in applying rules of the Code. Differences in application of many of the rules are conveniently summarized in two tables. This article also briefly discusses the applicability of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to governmental plans.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Reporting and Withholding

By Ronald Gerard, Elizabeth Groenewegen, and Lee Nunn
Journal of Deferred Compensation 23 (Spring 2018)

Retirement

Employers, participants, and even tax professionals may be confused about the reporting and withholding requirements because participants are often no longer active employees when the NQDC benefits are paid. This article provides a general discussion of the reporting and withholding requirements for NQDC plans.

Click here to read article.

Premium Interest Tax for 409A Failures

By Ronald Gerard, Richard Hardeman, and Lee Nunn
Journal of Deferred Compensation 23 (Spring 2018)

Retirement

Deferred compensation that falls within the scope of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code is subject to strict compliance guidelines, and when deferred amounts fall out of compliance, the amounts can be subject to taxes, penalties, and reporting requirements. This article addresses the premium interest tax beginning with the identification of amounts subject to premium interest tax, as well as the calculation of the premium interest tax and underpayment interest.

Click here to read article.

Words of Authority: The Changing Nature of Retirement

Retirement

With the changing retirement landscape, employees need to accept greater responsibility to finance their retirement income and retiree-healthcare benefits. And employers must recognize and react to the chang needs for retirement planning resources.

Roth Is on the Rise: Is Roth Right for Your Plan?

Retirement

Nearly three out of 5 defined contribution plans surveyed now offer Roth contributions, and nearly one out of five offers in-plan Roth conversions. Roth can offer participants tax diversification. This article provides an overview of the contribution and conversion rules, and contrasts Roth contributions with traditional after-tax contributions and Roth IRAs.

Selecting and Monitoring Target Date Funds: Issues to Consider

Retirement

This note provides an overview of the issues to consider when selecting and monitoring target date funds (TDFs). It describes the legal framework surrounding target date funds and the steps that plan fiduciaries should take to select and monitor TDFs.

Is It an Unforeseeable Emergency or a Hardship Distribution?

Retirement

Many plan sponsors and advisors use the term “hardship distribution” to describe both a hardship distribution from a qualified plan and a distribution due to an unforeseeable emergency from a nonqualified plan. This colloquial use of the term is fine, provided everyone understands the very real differences for such distributions to be compliant.

Strategies for the Post-IRS Determination Letter Environment

Retirement

No More IRS Determination Letters-New Strategies for Plan Sponsors

Retirement

January 23, 2018 – Retirement & Investment Outlook 2018

Retirement

Listen to Aon’s Retirement & Investment senior executives, as they discuss their 2018 investment outlook. Topics include:

• Market environment and outlook
• Regulatory changes and their potential impacts on retirement and investment programs
• Investment strategies that we believe are primed to perform well

Retirement Webinar Series

Retirement

Throughout 2017, Aon brought together our clients and subject matter experts in a series of thought-provoking Retirement webinars to share solutions focused on changing the way America retires.

Retirement Practice Legal Consulting & Compliance Quarterly Update
Second Quarter 2019

Retirement

Retirement Practice Legal Consulting & Compliance Quarterly Update
First Quarter 2019

Retirement

Retirement Practice Legal Consulting & Compliance Quarterly Update
Forth Quarter 2018

Retirement

Retirement Practice Legal Consulting & Compliance Quarterly update
Second Quarter 2018

Retirement

This quarter we discuss financial wellbeing programs, fiduciary investment advice rules, cybersecurity and the risk of a data breach involving participant data in retirement plans, and much more.

Retirement Practice Legal Consulting & Compliance Quarterly update
First Quarter 2018

Retirement

In this issue we provide updates on the ongoing litigation between ABB, Inc. and Tussey regarding an investment option in ABB’s 401(k) plan, the new applicability date for the disability claims procedure regulations, the latest required amendment list issued by the Internal Revenue Service and much more.

Retirement Practice Legal Consulting & Compliance Quarterly Update
Fourth Quarter 2017

Retirement

This edition discusses cybersecurity of retirement plan data; pension funding and the recent tax reform proposals; recently issued IRS guidance of interest to qualified plan sponsors; benchmarking fees for defined contribution plans and much more.

Retirement Practice Legal Consulting & Compliance Quarterly Update
Second Quarter 2017

Retirement

This issue discusses actions that plan sponsors can take now to navigate the stages of their defined benefit retirement plan; fiduciary inverstment advice rules; the Supreme court decision regarding Verizon's annuity lift-out litigation; new disability claim procedure rules; the impact of New Puerto Rico Tax Law to retirement plans and so much more.