As predictably as the leaves changing in “the North,”the benefits world is starting to see lots of activity. Here’s a sampler. Retirement security is going to eclipse ACA talk in the coming years. That will of course include discussion of health care costs in retirement....
Just back from American Benefits Council Board meeting in Chicago. More on that later this week. Here are some happenings in the benefits world: Let’s hope the PACE Act (which preserves the small employer definition at 50 rather than allowing it to grow to 100...
Here’s your short-form Monday Briefing for the first week of October. Yikes! Another court finding successor liability for multi employer withdrawal liability in an asset sale. Be careful out there. (Resilient Floor Covering Pension Trust Fund v. Michael’s Floor Covering, Inc. / 9th Circuit) This...
This last week had us wondering if Volkswagen makes an ACA reporting software package that we could use, maybe just for 2015. (That’s benefits humor.) Here’s our full disclosure of interesting benefits news from last week: You can keep (offering) your plan? See here for a...
Monday morning. So soon. Here are a few reads to get the synapses firing: The DOL’s fiduciary rule is moving towards final form. It will be published before President Obama leaves the White House and possibly later this year or early in 2016. But that doesn’t...
Right on cue, things seem to be picking up a bit. Lots to think about from last week’s screen time. Here’s a sampler of what has been catching our attention. We are still betting on leave laws as a megatrend in the coming years. Now...
OK. Summer’s over (from a school-year standpoint, if not astronomically). That means it’s time to check on 5500s (maybe call the auditors to see what surprises they have coming), accept that ACA reporting isn’t going away and start a new ear-worm. (September – Earth, Wind &...
First day of the week … last day of August. Where does the time go? This is Minnesota State Fair week here in the North. That means just about anything you might deep-fry is available for a few days. Here are a few things we have...
It felt like fall here in Minnesota last week. We’re hoping that’s temporary. (We like to talk about the weather.) Here are a few things to think about with your morning coffee: State and local time off and leave rules. We heard a lot about state...
But Holly Fistler and I are very proud to be on the cover of Minnesota Bench & Bar with our article on King v. Burwell. (Minnesota Bench & Bar) Dr. Hook and “Cover of the Rolling Stone” circa 1972. (YouTube) Well worth a listen. Let...
Sorry to be late on this post. My fingers went most the week without touching a keyboard after last week’s Monday Briefing. (I guess I wouldn’t do so well at Amazon.) Other than Lynn Dudley at the American Benefits Council (see below) it looks like...
This Monday update is coming to you from northern Minnesota, walking distance from the Canadian border, compliments of the WiFi at Bearskin Lodge. (Bearskin) Here’s a sampling of what we think is worth looking at during these waning days of summer. Revised ACA reporting instructions. What to...
Summary. In today’s ScreenCast 04 we address some of the reporting and compliance problems that arise when employers aren’t quite ready to identify all of their ACA full time employees. Background Some employers are pretty sure they will satisfy the 70% test required under ACA Employer Shared Responsibility rules for 2015....
Some recent developments worth noting. Stay tuned this week for another ScreenCast or two on ACA Reporting. Here are the first three: (defining the employer) (ACA Reporting Questions) (ACA Reporting Q&A / EINs) There are a lot of ways to think about ERISA and severance...
Question: We have a controlled group with lots of employees. Somehow we are able to use the same EIN on paychecks for every employee regardless of which entity employs them. Can I use this single EIN for all of my ACA reporting? Answer: No. You might...
If you offer a 401(k) plan through a staffing agency, or are thinking about it, here is some potentially good news for you. (Multiple Employer Plans) –Liz Deckman is chair of the Seattle Chapter of the Western Pension and Benefits Council. She recently attended the...
Broken link fixed. Here’s our most recent ACA Reporting ScreenCast. Here we identify some of the questions that are coming up, mostly from employers who offer enrollment to groups that are broader than what is required by ACA.
Minnesota weekends in July are best spent near one of our 10,000 lakes. Mine was on Upper Pine near Rutledge, Minnesota (population 229). Not bad. Some catching up on recent developments: Growing bipartisan interest in getting rid of the 40% excise tax on high cost plans (aka:...
Andrew HollyAndrew represents clients in a wide range of complex civil matters.
Nick BullardNick is a trial partner in Dorsey’s office in Minneapolis. ...
Tim ArendsChair of the Benefits and Compensation practice group, Tim devot...
Shannon BjorklundShannon provides advice and litigation assistance to companies...
Tim GoodmanTim Goodman works with employers on medical plans, retirement pl...
Alan IversonAlan is a litigator in Dorsey’s trial group with a focus on cli...
Stephen P. LuckeSteve represents businesses, employers, insurers, and fiduciarie...
Marianne O'BaraMarianne works regularly with numerous non-U.S. companies and t...
Kirsten SchubertKirsten helps clients large and small navigate all aspects of com...
Michael VovesEmployee Benefits, Minneapolis
