Pentegra Retirement Services

Not So PEPpy? Think Group of Plans

Despite predictions by some that 2021 would begin with an explosion of Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) as a result of the passage of the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement), that does not seem to be the case, so far. Certainly there are many PEPs out there to choose from, but even at this early date in the calendar year it does not look like the prediction from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that 3,200 firms would apply to administer PEPs Pooled Plan Providers ... READ MORE Posted April 10, 2021 at 06:24 AM

An Action Plan for Preretirees

As someone saving for their retirement, you may want to periodically revisit your investing and financial strategies as well as your timetable for retirement. Even if retirement is still several years away, you can see how well various assumptions you may have made about retirement are holding up. Here are some issues you should consider as a preretiree. Is Your Employment Secure? Job losses have been significant and many employees have had their hours and wages reduced. While it may be diffi... READ MORE Posted April 04, 2021 at 07:19 AM

A To-Do List for Retirement Planning This Year

The uncertain times we have been living in for the past year-plus may – and I emphasize “may” – finally be on the decline. While we are plainly not out of the woods yet, I believe the time has come to at least consider, if not act upon, five retirement-related “to-do” items for this year. Focus on saving money for retirement. This is of course a long-lived mantra, yet according to a CNBC report in February, roughly 25% of workers in the U.S. have less than $10,000 saved for ret... READ MORE Posted March 27, 2021 at 10:34 AM

The Markets are Bringing Back the “I” Word How Concerned Should We Be

After creating relatively little concern for the financial markets over the past decade, the “I” word, or inflation, has recently been escalated to headline status. There has been wide agreement that the world’s economies have experienced a low rate of inflation over the past 10 years. A low rate of inflation means that overall, prices of goods and services (i.e. the cost of living) are going up but at a very slow rate. In fact, there have been periods when prices have been falling, leading t... READ MORE Posted March 20, 2021 at 05:58 AM

A Different Kind of GoP

While Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) and Multiple Employer Plans (MEPs) got the lion’s share of attention last year with the passage of the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) and understandably so another type of plan is also gaining traction in our industry. That is the GoP – which, I hasten to point out in these politically portentous times, does not refer to the Grand Old Party but to the SECURE Act’s “Group of Plans” option. We have written bef... READ MORE Posted March 13, 2021 at 09:53 AM

The CARES Act What it Means for You, Your Retirement Plan

Watch the video athttps://youtu.be/zrffVUzFuYI The CARES Act is the third round of federal government support in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and associated economic fallout. The CARES Act provides further support to both individuals and businesses, including changes to retirement plan distribution and tax policy for individuals impacted by or who experience financial consequences as a result of COVID-19. Key Provisions Impacting the Retirement Industry Expands the definition of permiss... READ MORE Posted March 06, 2021 at 09:49 AM

The Retirement Plan Landscape – A Look Into the Future

Watch the videohttps://youtu.be/d9cLyjouTm4 Over the course of the last year there have been seismic shifts in the retirement plan landscape – SECURE Act, CARES Act, numerous additional notices from the IRS and DOL, not to mention recently proposed new legislation. Learn what’s new and changing in the retirement plan landscape. Key Items The SECURE Act – provisions effective in 2021 The CARES Act – highlights from the Act and recent IRS notices clarifying certain provisions The Final DOL Rule... READ MORE Posted February 27, 2021 at 01:15 AM

Pensions, Retirement & Markets: 5 Key Trends to Watch in 2021

https://youtu.be/GAgUXSQESm8 Join us as we kick off the 2021 PENTalkTM series with our 5th annual Pensions, Retirement and Markets installment: 5 Key Trends to Watch in 2021. We’ll share insights highlighting five trends in the capital markets and retirement industry which are expected to impact pension sponsors and retirees this year. Source: https://www.pentegra.com/videos/pensions-retirement-markets-5-key-trends-to-watch-in-2021/ READ MORE Posted February 20, 2021 at 03:39 AM

Rapid Pace of Legislation in 2020 Could Be Eclipsed by This Year’s

2020 was an unusually busy year … and not just for the most obvious reasons. Legislatively, the retirement savings industry was faced first with the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act – actually signed into law on Dec. 20, 2019 — the most significant retirement plan legislation in more than a decade. As its name implies, the SECURE Act’s main purpose was to increase access to tax-advantaged retirement accounts and to help prevent older ... READ MORE Posted February 13, 2021 at 12:00 AM

The Role of the Federal Reserve: How Has It Evolved and Expanded?

The role and visibility of the United States Federal Reserve (Fed) has significantly expanded from its original charge as (a) an implementer of monetary policy and (b) a stabilizer of the banking system. It has become a large scale investment entity and bond market participant with a huge balance sheet. According the Council on Foreign Relations and the Federal Reserve, the Fed’s assets have expanded to $739 million at the end of 2002 and to $3.5 trillion as of August 2013. In the 1970’s, the... READ MORE Posted February 05, 2021 at 09:55 AM