News and Updates

On March 12, 2020, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Public Service Retirement Fairness Act to permit 403(b) plans to invest in Collective Investment Trusts (CITs).

The $2 trillion stimulus bill, known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, was signed into law on March 27, 2020, and addresses a range of economic and health-related issues resulting from the COVID 19 pandemic. The following are retirement-related provisions and implications of the CARES Act:

Many provisions of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 Act became effective on January 1, 2020. Because of this, providers, plan sponsors and industry groups began to immediately seek guidance and relief from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of the Treasury following the SECURE Act 's enactment on December 20, 2019.

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was signed into law in late 2019 and is the first significant retirement legislation in more than a decade. ICMA-RC and Mike Hadley, partner in the law firm Davis & Harman, LLP, presented a discussion of the SECURE Act and its impact on governmental retirement plans. View the recorded webinar now. If you have any questions, please reach out to your ICMA-RC representative.

As part of America Saves Week 2020 (ASW), which takes place February 24 – February 29, 2020, ICMA-RC is spreading the message of saving successfully by urging public sector employees to assess their 2020 savings goals and take the necessary actions to make sure they are on track for a secure retirement.

On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed into law a $1.4 trillion spending bill to fund the federal government through the end of its fiscal year (September 30, 2020). Attached to the bill was the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019; the first significant pension reform in a more than a decade.

On Nov. 7, 2019, the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service proposed regulations to update the life expectancy and distribution period tables used to calculated required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement plans and IRAs.

Vantagepoint has started the process of adding private alternative assets in its target-date and target-risk funds, becoming one of the first funds of their kind to help give defined contribution retirement plans access to private equity, private real estate, and other relatively illiquid investments that historically have not been available in these kinds of funds.

On October 23, 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a proposed rule that would create a new voluntary safe harbor to allow employee pension benefit plans to communicate certain plan-required notices and disclosures electronically.

On November 6, 2019, the IRS announced the various adjustments applicable to retirement plan contribution limits for 2020.

More than 50,000 employees regularly getting updates through text feature

Transition from an annuity-only to open architecture platform will provide participants with greater choice and cost efficiency

Experts Discuss the Impact Ransomware Has on State and Local Municipalities

Ford, a dynamic leader of financial service organizations, will succeed the retiring Bob Schultze

Furry friends help remind us of some of the “Pawsitive” steps public sector employees can take to increase their savings for the future.

Recordkeeping model recognized for focus on retirement plan participants’ needs

ICMA-RC is pleased to announce that Rick Donley will join the corporation as Managing Vice President for Consultant Relations on Monday, October 7.

On May 23, 2019, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, was passed by the House of Representatives in a near-unanimous, bipartisan vote of 417-3. The SECURE Act represents the first major piece of retirement legislation to be approved by the House since 2006.

Participants Can Now Engage Alexa for Retirement Account Information

Thirty-five daughters, sons, and wives of fallen firefighters, police officers and other public employees will receive ICMA-RC Public Employee Memorial Scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year.”

Peggy Merriss, chair of the ICMA-RC Board of Directors, was inducted into the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA)’s Municipal Government Hall of Fame at the association’s recent annual convention. The award honors excellence in city government management.

On May 13, 2019, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) re-introduced the Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act.

ICMA-RC Chief Information Security Officer Les McCollum was recognized for his outstanding accomplishments at the 2019 Salute to African Americans in Technology.

Core values, employee appreciation and overall benefits part of selection criteria

The House passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act by a 417-3 vote on May 23, 2019. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA) of 2019 on April 1, 2019. The overwhelming majority of provisions in both bills are identical (or very similar).