LexMonitor

FROM VISION TO EXIT: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Building and Selling A Business: Book Review

The recent, premature death of Steve Jobs brought the concept of entrepreneurship back into our economic lexicon. Tim Kane wrote about Steve Jobs after his retirement, but before his death, in Growthology, the blog created by the Kaufmann Foundation of Entrepreneurship, said: The American economy...

IRS announces 2012 dollar limits on contributions and benefits

Each year the Internal Revenue Service announces the cost-of-living adjustments applicable to qualified retirement plans for the following year. Unlike 2001 in which most limits did not change from the prior year, most limits increased: Following are the key retirement plan limits announced...

The New World of 403(b) and 457 plans

That’s a map of the New World circa 1540 by Sebastian Munster, a German cartographer. It depicts the European view about the New World and especially North America. It’s my visual metaphor about where the 403(b) and 457 markets are now – almost three years after the final...

Book Review: THE VIGILANT INVESTOR: A Former SEC Enforcer Reveals How To Fraud Proof-Your Investments

My blogging buddy security lawyer Bill Singer on his blog, Broke and Broker, An Irreverent Wall Street Blog (always a good read), posts frequently about investment scams and scoundrels. In one of his latest, Bill writes that Feds Bust Bank Guarantee Scam. But the Feds don’t have the manpower...

Meet the "ERISA Account", the newcomer to the small 401(k) plan scene

Let me introduce you to the “ERISA Account”, a relative newcomer to the small 401(k) plan market. It’s been part of the large and medium plan market for some time. Only recently has it migrated down stream because of (yes, you guessed it) the increased regulatory emphasis and...

Investor's Watchdog (Pat Huddleston, Former SEC Enforcement Branch Chief)

Balance Forward Plans: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

If you’re a Bon Jovi fan, you’ll recognize the expression in the headline, “The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same”. It's Track 12 on Disc 2 of their album, Bon Jovi Greatest Hits - The Ultimate Collection.  But, of course, that’s not Jon pictured...

What do modern art and defined benefit pension plans have in common?

The answer is obvious. Both can be difficult and often impossible to understand. Modern art enthusiasts do have help. They can turn to the Understand Modern Art instantly Breath Spray as shown here from the website Photography Uncapped. Unfortunately, there is no such canned (pardon the pun)...

What do modern art and defined benefit pension plans have in common?

The answer is obvious. Both can be difficult and sometimes impossible to understand. Modern art enthusiasts do have help. They can turn to the Understand Modern Art instantly Breath Spray pictured here from the Photography Uncapped website. Unfortunately, there is no such canned (pardon the...

On a clear day, you can see ... a QDRO?

That’s the album cover of the original Broadway cast recording of the 1965 musical, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (which subsequently went on to become a movie starring Barbara Streisand in 1970 and which will be returning to Broadway starring Harry Connick, Jr. this Fall). It’s...