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Please Click HerePosted on April 21, 2009 by Melissa S. Kampmann
If your assets, including life insurance proceeds and retirement assets, are close to or worth more than $3,500,000, you have very attractive estate planning opportunities because of the rare convergence of the following three events: Depressed asset values; Historically low interest rates; and The potential for a limited time frame to continue receiving valuation discounts […]
Posted on April 20, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
On Thursday, April, 16th, 2009, the Joint Finance Committee of legislature voted to eliminate the QEO Legislation as part of its review of the state budget. While specifics are still being worked out, it is clear that the initiative to eliminate the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) is alive and well. The companion legislation that eliminates […]
Posted on March 27, 2009 by Mary Ellen Schill
At a March 24 webinar conducted by the IRS and the Department of Labor on the new COBRA provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”), IRS representatives gave insight into the IRS position on what is an “involuntary termination” for purposes of the COBRA subsidy. Group health plan sponsors should be […]
Posted on March 23, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) revisions to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulations became effective January 16, 2009. The revisions are extensive. Significant changes were made that impact an employer’s responsibilities under the law. In addition to adopting regulations that implement the new military call-to-duty and military caregiver FMLA leaves, the important […]
Posted on March 19, 2009 by Mary Ellen Schill
Today, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued the model COBRA notices which were required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). We issued a legal update on February 25th that summarized the impact of ARRA on an employer’s COBRA obligations (both state and federal). For your reference, follow this link to […]
Posted on March 18, 2009 by Steven P. Lipowski
A recent rulemaking announced by the Federal Trade Commission has amended the various filing thresholds for parties engaged in merger and acquisition activity subject to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR”), effective as of February 12, 2009. Also, monetary penalties for failure to comply with HSR have increased to $16,000 per day. Background: […]
Posted on March 5, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
At the end of 2008, it is estimated that the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) lost $18.6 billion as a result of the turndown in the economy. This estimate reflects a -26.2% return in 2008. In light of these losses, the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds board, Mr. David Stella, reported that […]
Posted on March 3, 2009 by Derek L. Prestin
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”), the governing body responsible for issuing rules and regulations for Internet domain names, plans to sell an unlimited number of new top-level domain names beginning in late 2009. Top-level domain names are those letters to the right of the last “dot” in a website address, such […]
Posted on February 27, 2009 by Mary Ellen Schill
Yesterday, we issued a client e-alert regarding the COBRA provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”). The IRS was busy yesterday as well, issuing Q&As about those COBRA provisions, as well as a revised IRS Form 941. The updated Form 941 is the means by which employers are able to claim […]
Posted on February 25, 2009 by Mary Ellen Schill
Attorney Mary Ellen Schill spoke in Eau Claire on February 26 on the new COBRA rules found in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the stimulus law signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009). Since these new rules affect ALL employers sponsoring group health plans (regardless of size, and both public and […]