Skip to content

Employee Benefits

Reporting for Certain DB & DC Benefit Plans Is Changing

Reporting for Certain DB & DC Benefit Plans Is Changing

If you sponsor a defined benefit plan and/or defined contribution multi-employer plan, take note! There are a few updates to Form 5500 effective for 2022 plan year reporting (Source: Mercer.com; “Latest Form 5500 Updates”). Form 5500 is used to report about a plan’s qualification, financial condition, investments, and operation. All

Read More »
Are Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) Making a Comeback?

Are Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) Making a Comeback?

Data doesn’t show a big resurgence in Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), yet. Don’t be surprised if that changes, given the Great Resignation and increased competition for a shrinking pool of skilled workers. Today, about 14 million employees participate in 6,500 ESOPs, which means there are fewer plans than in

Read More »
DOL Audit Fights Cyberterrorism

DOL Audit Fights Cyberterrorism

Last updated on May 25th, 2022Of the many responsibilities Employee Retirement and Income Security Act (ERISA) plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and recordkeepers must uphold, one of the most challenging relates to cybersecurity to protect plan assets and plan participants’ information. The US Department of Labor (DOL) upped the ante associated with

Read More »
The Benefits of Offering a 457 Plan to Government Employees

The Benefits of Offering a 457 Plan to Government Employees

Still feeling the affects of the Great Resignation? With employers still feeling the effects of the Great Resignation, it’s a job seeker’s market and folks who are looking for work can afford to be picky about which employment offer to accept. Even employees who weren’t previously looking for another job

Read More »
Limited-Scope Audits Expand Auditor and Plan Sponsor Responsibilities

Limited-Scope Audits Expand Auditor and Plan Sponsor Responsibilities

Effective December 15, 2021, new standards apply to audits of financial statements for employee benefit plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). While this primarily expands what’s required of an auditor, plan sponsors have some new responsibilities as well. Employee retirement and health plans are legally required

Read More »
Understanding Your Role as a Trustee

Understanding Your Role as a Trustee

The trustee is responsible for the safekeeping of a plan’s investments and needless to say – it’s a critically important role. While operating in good faith is a baseline duty expected of all trustees, not all trustees understand what they can be liable for or the true extent of their

Read More »
Rolling a 401K into a Roth IRA

Rolling a 401K into a Roth IRA

While the goal is to retain loyal employees (rather than constantly hiring and training), the reality is most Americans don’t stay in one job their whole lives. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it turns out that the average person has 12 jobs over a 32-year span! Fortunately, 401(k)

Read More »
Grants, Free Resources and Other Support to Stand Up to Cyber Attacks on Schools

Grants, Free Resources and Other Support to Stand Up to Cyber Attacks on Schools

Cybercriminals beware! As we gear up for back to school season, the White House, Federal agencies, companies, and local administrators and educators are teaming up to shore up plans, resources, and protocols to help school districts across the U.S. stand up to cybercrime. A lack of resources and infrastructure have
Read More
Lunch Money: What’s the Latest on Free Meals in New York Schools?

Lunch Money: What’s the Latest on Free Meals in New York Schools?

Last updated on July 24th, 2023In May, when the New York State Education Department Office of Child Nutrition hosted a webinar reviewing how schools and districts could take advantage of a 2023-2024 Executive Budget enhancement to help the state move closer to realizing universal free meals at all K-12 public
Read More
Will Three-Year Bachelor’s Degrees Catch on in the U.S.?

Will Three-Year Bachelor’s Degrees Catch on in the U.S.?

Has the time arrived for three-year bachelor’s degrees to become the status quo in the U.S.? About 50 years ago, the idea was raised. Other than a short reprisal in the early 2000s, the three-year-degree concept never gained much momentum, until recently. In April of this year, InsideHigherEd.com reported, “Representatives
Read More
Testing a Four-Day School Week

Testing a Four-Day School Week

Last updated on May 30th, 2023School districts in certain parts of the country have adopted a four-day school week, primarily in response to staffing shortages and recruiting challenges. In some instances, local districts that were losing teachers and other staff to those offering the four-day school week had no choice
Read More
Are You Ready for GASB 96, 94, 100 and 101?

Are You Ready for GASB 96, 94, 100 and 101?

It’s a big year for new and updated GASB standards, which translates into new and updated reporting requirements for government entities, including public school districts and institutions of higher education. GASB96 took effect for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2022, so it will start to be reflected in financial
Read More

ESSER Update: Where Things Stand & Where They’re Going

With school district budget planning and presentation season underway, no doubt Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds and spending will be part of the discussion. Between ESSER I, II and III, a total of $189.5 billion in Federal funding was provided starting in 2020. Here’s a look at
Read More
How Your School Can Use Federal Funds to Go Green

How Your School Can Use Federal Funds to Go Green

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), there is more federal funding available – in the form of grants and tax credits – to help schools go green and save. Is your district making the most of this opportunity? IRA funding is meant to help schools create healthy, sustainable learning
Read More
NYS Regents 10 Biggest Proposed Budget Items for 2023-2024

NYS Regents 10 Biggest Proposed Budget Items for 2023-2024

Last updated on February 6th, 2023In December, the New York State Board of Regents outlined budget and legislative priorities for the 2023-2024 school year. Here are highlights of the 10 items requiring the biggest share of the proposed budget. #10. $10.5 million for College and Career Pathways in support of
Read More

Map of Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs)

  • Move map to NY and scroll to zoom in
  • Under Map Options select “Color QCR Qualified Tracts”