David J. Kupstas, FSA, EA, MSEA

David J. Kupstas, FSA, EA, MSEA Chief Actuary

Recent Posts

January 21 2016

What SUP with the 2015 Form 5500?

The IRS has introduced new compliance questions on the Form 5500 information returns filed annually for 401(k) and other qualified retirement plans. While these questions are optional for the 2015 Form 5500, plan sponsors and service providers should...

December 08 2015

The COLA Is Flat in 2016; IRS Limits Explained

In the qualified retirement plan world, there are limits on how much money may be contributed to a plan by an individual or a company. There is also a cap on the wages that may be taken into account for an employee in determining contributions and be...

November 13 2015

PBGC Premiums to Rise Again; The Reason Will Make You Cry

Note: This article was published in 2015. The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 eliminated cost-of-living adjustments to PBGC variable-rate premium percentages. As such, some information in this article may be outdated. At an industry conference in Washington, ...

October 09 2015

"Highly Compensated Employee" Defined

We talk a lot about Highly Compensated Employees (HCEs) in our business. What is a “Highly Compensated Employee?” Does it just mean someone we think makes a lot of money? No. There is a specific definition.

August 26 2015

Don't Be in Stocks If You Need the Money Soon

The stock market has taken a beating recently. Over the four business days from August 20-25, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 354.63, 530.94, 588.40, and 204.91 points, respectively – a decline of 9.68% in all. Whether you are a personal or ...

August 05 2015

IRS: No More Lump Sum Buyouts for Vulnerable Retirees If We Can Help It

Think of a 75-year-old. Maybe it’s you, maybe it’s someone in your parents’ or grandparents’ generation. Let’s call the 75-year-old “Pat.” Imagine that Pat is receiving a steady payment of, say, $1,000 per month from a pension plan. These payments wi...

July 06 2015

Time + compound interest = lots of wealth

Hey, parents. Want to give your teenager a gift that may last a lifetime? If she has a job, consider setting up a Roth IRA and making a contribution equal to the amount she earns. With the magic of compound interest, the small amount you put aside no...

June 09 2015

IRS 5500-EZ Program: A Brilliant Idea Becomes Permanent

When someone comes up with a good idea that works, it should be kept around. Last year around this time, we told you about a wonderful pilot program the IRS rolled out providing relief to late filers of Form 5500-EZ. We are pleased to report that the...

May 19 2015

Do You Have to Prove Hardship to Get a Hardship?

Note: This article was published in 2015. The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 made changes to the rules relating to an employer's ability to rely on an employee's self-certification of the need for a hardship distribution. As such, some information in this ar...

April 23 2015

How Long Should You Maintain Plan Records? It Might Be Longer Than You Think

Late in 2014, the IRS posted an article on its website about how long retirement plan records should be kept. With eager anticipation, I clicked on the article and found that it said…not much.