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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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
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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
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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
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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
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What’s Happening with Enrollment in New York Public Schools?

What’s Happening with Enrollment in New York Public Schools?

Last updated on January 10th, 2023Welcome to 2023 and the annual budget planning season. In addition to a myriad of factors that may play into budget discussions – from inflation and staff shortages to COVID, learning losses, mental health, and more – you may want to be prepared to speak
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Your December Reading List: ESSR Guidance & Resources

Your December Reading List: ESSR Guidance & Resources

While you’re likely looking forward to some time away from talk of budgets, fiscal cliffs, and more this holiday season, we recently came across a few ESSR funding pieces you may want to review. They focus on the latest developments in ESSR spending, and how to overcome planning and implementation
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Is That Fundraiser Legal?

Is That Fundraiser Legal?

What was once a rite of passage and learning experience for children moving through elementary, middle, and high school has transformed into highly regulated, adult-driven activities for extra-curricular program funding. I remember the days of selling boxes of candy bars for our school fundraisers and proudly handing in my envelop
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Cyber Criminals Outsmart Higher Ed Institutions: Beware!

Cyber Criminals Outsmart Higher Ed Institutions: Beware!

Last updated on November 17th, 2022$3 million. That was the asking price from cyber criminals to provide a decryption key to release the University of California, San Francisco’s data in 2020. The university paid $1.14 million. Since then, the problem has only gotten worse. In a survey commissioned at the
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Map of Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs)

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