The DOL has published Private Pension Plan Bulletin - Abstract of 2005 Form 5500 Annual Reports, a report that provides a summary of the 2005 IRS Form 5500 Annual Reports:

The December 28, 2007 Employee Ownership Update is online and discusses the following:

What is a Fidelity Bond

The annual employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) allocation process involves many different parties as well as different moving parts. In order to complete the ESOP allocation in a timely manner, it is important to effectively manage the allocation process. One of the easiest and most effective ways to manage the ESOP allocation process is by preparing and maintaining an allocation timeline.

US braces for baby boom retirement wave discusses how the first of the baby boom generation is set to start retirement in January, "setting off a demographic tidal wave with wide-ranging economic, political and social implications." The article includes some interesting statistics:

Tribune ESOP is Born

The December 14, 2007 Employee Ownership Update is online and discusses the following:

The DOL recently announced Reasonable Contract or Arrangement Under Section 408(b)(2)--Fee Disclosure, a DOL Proposed Regulation on fee disclosures. Reasonable Compensation Proposed Regs Floated by DOL discusses how the proposed regulations are "directed at amending ERISA Section 408(b)(2), 29 U.S.C. Section 1108(b)(2) - Exemptions from prohibited transactions - Enumeration of transactions exempted from section 1106 prohibitions to clarify the meaning of "reasonable" contract or arrangement.":

I recommend that you use this post as a reminder to make sure you have complied with the required minimum distribution (RMD) requirements as provided under IRC Section 401(a)(9) - Qualified pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans - Required distributions. To better understand the RMD requirements, here is an excerpt from the Distributions installment of ESOP Planning:

Ownership: The Ultimate Motivator discusses how encouraging employees to take ownership of their work will result in better customer service and a stronger company. The article provides a three-component formula for creating a turbo-charged workforce:

The Employee Ownership Foundation issued a press release announcing the release of a final report on reasons for ESOP terminations:

There are only 20 days, including today, remaining in 2007. Yes, that is right, only 20 days. For calendar year ESOPs, the 2007 plan year is almost over, and it is almost time to process the 2007 allocation. If you have not already done so, now is definitely the time to start preparing for the 2007 ESOP allocation process. Last year I introduced a series of ESOP Planning articles. This year I will be updating the articles and posting them on this blog. I will start today by providing an introduction to ESOP planning.

Practical Training Tips for Smaller Firms is a checklist that suggests tips for establishing and maintaining a training program:

Last month I discussed the 2007 Las Vegas Conference & Trade Show, including the keynote address by Dr. J. Robert Beyster and the commentary by ESOP Association President Michael Keeling. Here are links to the transcripts for your reference:

The December 3, 2007 Employee Ownership Update is online and discusses the following

The ESOP Law Blog provides a detailed description of the Rangel Proposal in Congress Proposes New Restrictions on S Corporation ESOPs:

Wood-Mizer Products Inc. (Indianapolis, IN)