The Fourth Edition of ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide provides a thorough and authoritative analysis of the principal statutory provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the corresponding provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) dealing with employee benefits. It also discusses and explains the multitude of regulations, rulings, and interpretations issued by the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in explanation of ERISA; the Code provisions relating to the requirements for tax-qualified retirement plans; and the subsequent legislation amending or supplementing ERISA and such Code provisions. Cited by the Supreme Court, ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide discusses and explains the multitude of regulations, rulings, and interpretations issued by the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in explanation of ERISA and the subsequent legislation amending or supplementing ERISA. ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide has been updated to include: A new chapter that focuses on the key federal employment laws, such as the antidiscrimination, wage and hour, and leave laws, which often must be considered by benefits professionals when providing benefits advice to their clients A revised chapter on ERISA preemption, which includes a new discussion of what constitutes a "plan" for purposes of applying ERISA preemption and an updated discussion of the impact of the Supreme Court's decision in Cigna Corp. v. Amara on ERISA preemption A summary of the requirement of providing health plan participants with a Summary of Benefits and Coverage has been added to the discussion of benefit plan notice requirements An update on recent court decisions involving 401(k) fee litigation and the extent to which excessive or undisclosed fees can constitute a breach of ERISA fiduciary duty. The Department of Labor's final regulations issued under ERISA Section 408(b)(2), regarding the disclosure that must be made by service providers to plan fiduciaries concerning the direct and indirect compensation that the service providers receive in connection with providing services to a covered plan A discussion regarding the income tax consequences of employer-paid COBRA premiums A discussion regarding successor liability in asset sale transactions has been added to the chapter on mergers and acquisitions A discussion regarding the extent to which an employer's interference with the benefits of union supporters may constitute an unfair labor practice under the National Labor Relations Act

The Fifth Edition of ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide provides a thorough and authoritative analysis of the principal statutory provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the corresponding provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) dealing with employee benefits. It also discusses and explains the multitude of regulations, rulings, and interpretations issued by the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in explanation of ERISA; the Code provisions relating to the requirements for tax-qualified retirement plans; and the subsequent legislation amending or supplementing ERISA and such Code provisions. Cited by the Supreme Court, ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide discusses and explains the multitude of regulations, rulings, and interpretations issued by the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in explanation of ERISA and the subsequent legislation amending or supplementing ERISA. ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide has been updated to include: Description of the student loan program 2018 Private Letter Ruling and the resolution of this with the "anti-conditioning" rule. Analysis of the latest version of the EPCRS, which is available for tax-qualified retirement plans with certain compliance failures, as set forth in IRS Revenue Procedure 2019-19, including an update to the IRS user fees that apply to the various correction programs. Discussion of the new self-correction options for participant loan failures, certain non-amender failures, and beneficial retroactive amendments to increase participant's benefits. Description of IRS VCAP, its uses, limitations, and procedural requirements. Description of IRS Revenue Procedure 2015-32 for correction of delinquent Forms 5500-EZ. Analysis of the DOL's guidance on the definition of an "Employer" for ERISA purposes and subsequent Court rulings eviscerating that guidance. Discussion of health plans use of "cross-plan offsetting" as a way of adjusting for overpayments. Discussion of the new DOL regulations governing review and appeal procedures for disability claims. Complete revision of the mergers and acquisitions chapter, including best practice, common pitfalls, a sample merger agreement, merger checklist, and spin-off agreement. Update on 2018 and 2019 court cases that impact labor relations, as well as actions taken by the current administration that overturn prior policies and decisions. Discussion of the most recent actions impacting ACA and litigation surrounding those actions. Discussion of recent court cases regarding discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation. Discussion of ongoing litigation regarding "conscience-based objections" to a provision in the ACA requiring employers to provide no-cost birth control coverage to employees. Description of changes in Fair Labor Standard Act interpretations regarding wages, determination of independent contractor status, and regular rate.

The Seventh Edition of ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide provides a thorough and authoritative analysis of the principal statutory provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the corresponding provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) dealing with employee benefits. It also discusses and explains the multitude of regulations, rulings, and interpretations issued by the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in explanation of ERISA; the Code provisions relating to the requirements for tax-qualified retirement plans; and the subsequent legislation amending or supplementing ERISA and such Code provisions. Cited by the Supreme Court, ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide discusses and explains the multitude of regulations, rulings, and interpretations issued by the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in explanation of ERISA and the subsequent legislation amending or supplementing ERISA. ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide offers benefits professionals in-depth, timely coverage of significant developments, case law, and rulemaking in the past year: Legislative and regulatory activity continues to keep all pension professionals alert and busy. During the period 2020-2021, additional guidance was released clarifying the provisions of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Defined benefit plan sponsors got some relief in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) during 2021 Relief provided under the ARPA of 2021 allowed for the use of interest rate stabilization provided certain disclosures are met and funding shortfall amortization options The IRS released an update to the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System under Revenue Procedure 2021-30. Changes included enhancements of the self-correction program, the modification of overpayment corrections, and the replacement of anonymous Voluntary Correction Program filings with anonymous presubmission conferences The DOL issued guidance for fiduciaries regarding the importance of safeguarding participant data using vigorous cybersecurity protocols, and lawsuits provided further direction for proper fiduciary oversight Analysis of the recent court decisions regarding the use of arbitration to resolve disputes Discussion of the impact of state established programs, such as CalSavers, and the court's position that such programs are not preempted nor do they interfere with ERISA's core purposes Discussion of the additional benefits ARPA had on distressed multiemployer retirement plans Impact of ARPA on COBRA notice disclosure requirements Analysis of the reversal of National Labor Relation Board decisions by the new administration and the updated decisions coming from the Democrat-controlled Board

The Sixth Edition of ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide provides a thorough and authoritative analysis of the principal statutory provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the corresponding provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) dealing with employee benefits. It also discusses and explains the multitude of regulations, rulings, and interpretations issued by the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in explanation of ERISA; the Code provisions relating to the requirements for tax-qualified retirement plans; and the subsequent legislation amending or supplementing ERISA and such Code provisions. Cited by the Supreme Court, ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide discusses and explains the multitude of regulations, rulings, and interpretations issued by the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in explanation of ERISA and the subsequent legislation amending or supplementing ERISA. ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide has been updated to include: The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 Discussion of improvements in the ability for plan sponsors to take advantage of electronic disclosure opportunities for participant notices and disclosures. Updates to fiduciary duties and best practices based on litigation outcomes Analysis of the rising role of arbitration in the resolution of disputes between plan sponsors and participants Discussion of COBRA notice requirements due to COVID-19, pursuant to CARES Act Discussion of the impact of COVID-19 on union contracts and multiemployer plans Impact of CARES Act on bankruptcy filings and procedures

Widely recognized as the definitive work on the topic, Qualified Domestic Relations Order Handbook, Fourth Edition, written by Gary A. Shulman, turns the most confusing QDRO issues into clear answers and step-by-step guidelines. Drawing on years of experience, Shulman steers you past the QDRO pitfalls, with expert tips, drafting checklists, and even a special chapter on 29 areas of high liability risk. In this volume you'll find: For Attorneys: Over 20 model QDROs for use with all types of retirement plans Comprehensive model separation agreement language that you can incorporate directly into decrees to ensure that all of the QDRO issues are properly addressed Easy-to-understand explanations for complex QDRO issues such as pre- and post-retirement survivorship, separate interest vs. shared, early retirement subsidies and supplements, coverture formulas, etc. Guidance on how to draft and administer child support QDROs Dozens of tips on how to detect potentially hazardous deficiencies in the "company model" QDRO Detailed instructions and models for dividing federal Civil Service, FERS, thrift savings plan, and military pensions For Plan Administrators: How to quickly identify flaws and interpret conflicting language in defined benefit and defined contribution plan QDROs A Comprehensive QDRO Compliance Manual (with Model QDROs) that you can adapt for your own company's use Case studies and sample multiple-choice tests to help train your QDRO review staff Streamlining tips and default procedures that will help your company expedite the QDRO Approval Process Why waste time and risk costly errors by working with scattered resources and partial information? With the QDRO Handbook, Fourth Edition, you'll save time as well as trouble. It provides fast, definitive resolutions to all your QDRO questions. And because it's designed for both attorneys and plan administrators, it helps you anticipate questions throughout the entire drafting and approval process. That means less guesswork, fewer delays and most importantly, less liability exposure. Qualified Domestic Relations Order Handbook provides everything you need to draft or administer QDROs promptly and accurately, with a superb toolkit of resources for attorneys and administrators, including: 21 QDRO models for all types of plans and conditions Step-by-step drafting guidelines Model language for specific circumstances Model discovery letters for requesting retirement plan information Sample correspondence Drafting and compliance checklists Company policies and procedures manual Appendices of related statutory provisions And much more!