ResearchWise Tools, resources and calculators for employers and participants.     Annuities Do Annuities Make Sense in a 403(b)? The low down on annuities inside a 403(b). [403(b)wise] On the Annuities Alert When it comes to variable annuities the SEC and NASD say: Watch your back. [The Washington Post]   Variable Annuities: Beyond the Hard Sell Excerpt: "Investing in a variable annuity within a tax-deferred account ... may not be a good idea." [NASD Investor Alert]   10 Questions to Ask Before Buying a 403(b) Fixed Annuity [403(b)wise]   Variable Annuities: What You Should Know [SEC]   Making Sense of Annuities Detailed information on annuities from Frank Armstrong, president of Investor Solutions, and author of "The Informed Investor." [Frank Armstrong]   Books Teach and Retire Rich Easy-to-read guide to wealth building for educators by 403(b)wise. [403(b)wise]   Consumer Reports Financial Information [Consumer Reports]   Common Sense On Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor [John Bogle]   The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio [William J. Bernstein]   Nine Steps to Financial Freedom [Suze Orman]   The Average Family's Guide to Financial Freedom [Bill and Mary Toohey]   Calculators Comprehensive List of Calculators Mortgage to retirement calculators. [Mortgageloan.com]   403(b) Contribution Calculator Powerful, easy-to-use 403(b) calculator. [Dinkytown Calculators]   Minimum Distribution Calculator Generally, you must begin taking minimum distributions from your 403(b) by the April 1st following the year you reach age 70 1/2, or the April 1st following the year you retire, if later. [TIAA-CREF]   How Much is That Fund Costing You? Input fund ticker symbol and account balance to find out fund's total cost. Click "details" to learn historical returns, comparison to benchmarks, and a break down of fund costs including loads and 12b-1 fees, etc. [FOLIOfn] Find fund ticker symbols here.   Inflation Calculator This CPI inflation calculator uses the average Consumer Price Index for a given calendar year. This data represents changes in prices of all goods and services purchased for consumption by urban households. [EF Moody]   Employer Employer Get Wise Guide for the New 403(b) Regs New regs offer employers unique opportunity to drastically improve their plan. [403(b)wise]   IRS 403(b) Plan Checklist This "quick tool" is designed to help employers keep their plan in compliance. [IRS]   2007 403(b) ERISA Checklist Compliance checklist for DB, DC and 403(b)Plans subject to ERISA. [Prudential]   Benefits Officials: Stop Acting Like 98-pound Weaklings Coming 403(b) regulations offer opportunity to get tough with vendors on pricing. [403(b)wise]   Employer Guide to Retirement Plan Fees Clear, comprehensive guide to fiduciary responsibility and plan fees; includes glossary of terms. [The Standard]   Target Funds + Auto Enroll + Auto Increase = Homerun Vanguard says putting all three in place gives employers best chance to help employees effectively save for retirement (free login). [Plan Sponsor] School Districts Would Be Wise to Adopt a 403(b) Plan Document School business official explains how a plan document benefits employer and employee. [403(b)wise]   Less is More (free login) Survey: Road to DC happiness includes fewer investment options, advice. [Plan Sponsor] 403(b)wise Will Speak to Your Group 403(b)wise founder and teacher Dan Otter will get your group 403(b) wise! [403(b)wise]   Is Your 403(b) New School or Old School? The 403(b) is a-changing. Is your plan still old school? [403(b)wise]   403(b) and 457 Side-by-Side Comparison from the IRS (pdf) Compare features of retirement plans (including 401(k) plans) for tax exempt and government employers. [IRS]   Fiduciary Education Campaign New government program to educate employers about fiduciary duties. [Department of Labor]   Employers are Paying Closer Attention to 401(k) Fees Excerpt: "A survey by Deloitte & Touche revealed a disconnect between what employers thought about expenses and what they actually knew." [Dow Jones News Service]   Limit Number of 403(b)/457(b) Vendors Through RFP Process [403(b)wise]   The RFP Process [403(b)wise]   Selecting Vendors for Your Defined Contribution Plan [Shultz, Collins, Lawson, Chambers, Inc.]   Can There Be Too Much Choice in a Retirement Savings Plan? [Vanguard]   The Fewer the Better Streamlining investment choices can improve employee participation and decision making. [HR]   403(b) and 457 Fiduciary Liability Employers take note: plan sponsors must act quickly to properly protect themselves against allegations of fiduciary liability. [403(b)wise]   Guidance on 403(b) Automatic Enrollment New IRS guidance allows considerable flexibility. [Gardner Carton & Douglas]   A Look at Plan Fees for Employers A resource to help employers better understand retirement plan fees and expenses. [Department of Labor]   Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974(ERISA) [US Department of Labor]   Financial Planner/Advisor Information Investment Advisers: What You Need to Know Before Choosing One [SEC]   8 Things Your Financial Planner Won't Tell You [MSN]   Information on fee-only planners including how to locate one. [NAPFA]   IRS 403(b) Information IRS 403(b) Plan Checklist This "quick tool" is designed to help employers keep their plan in compliance. [IRS]   IRS Publication 571 in pdf format [irs.gov]   403(b) and 457 Side-by-Side Comparison from the IRS (pdf) Compare features of retirement plans (including 401(k) plans) for tax exempt and government employers. [IRS]   IRS 403(b) FAQs Topics include: part-time employees, hold harmless agreements, EGTRRA, common compliance errors and more. [irs.gov]   IRS 403(b)/457 Online Resource Guide [irs.gov] IRS Revenue Ruling 90-24 Exact IRS wording for 403(b) transfers. [Taxlinks]   IRS Home Page [irs.gov]   IRS Note: You may direct technical and procedural questions concerning retirement plans to a special IRS toll free number (877) 829-5500. The call center is open 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. You may also email questions.   Mutual Funds Invest Wisely: An Introduction to Mutual Funds [SEC]   What Every Investor Should Know About Mutual Funds [AAII]   10 Simple Rules For Fund Investors [Washington Post]   Mutual FundAlarm [FundAlarm]   Fund Democracy [Fund Democracy]   Mutual Fund Screener [Money Magazine]   Mutual Fund Selector [Morningstar]   Willful Ignorance: The Mutual Fund Investor Most mutual fund investors don't know how much they're paying to have their money managed. What's worse is that they mostly don't care. [MSNBC]   How Much is That Fund Costing You? Input fund ticker symbol and account balance to find out fund's total cost. Click "details" to learn historical returns, comparison to benchmarks, and a break down of fund costs including loads and 12b-1 fees, etc. [FOLIOfn] Find fund ticker symbols here.   Retirement Retirement Clock Ticking Top 10 ways to beat the clock and prepare for retirement. [US Department of Labor] Retirement Storm Clouds It's not the economy or the stock market, but faulty assumptions that could rain on your retirement. [Money] Do We Have a Retirement Crisis in America? A summary of the findings on the state of retirement income security in the United States. [TIAA-CREF Institute] Many Retirees Select Lump Sum Pros and cons of lump sum retirement payout vs. lifetime annuity. [USA Today] Financial Birthdays of Note As you approach retirement it's time to make a list of the financial birthdays that may be significant to decisions about your retirement plan money. [Fidelity]   State Activities: Retired Educators Associations (REAs) [AARP]   Taking Minimum Required Distributions Includes definition of Minimum Required Distribution (MRD), rules, calculation methods, links to MRD calculators and more. [Fidelity]   Social Security Information 2003 Social Security Retirement Earnings Test Many employers, including educational institutions, take advantage of the expertise of older workers by hiring their own former full-time employees or other retirees on a part-time basis. For retirees this may affect their Social Security benefits. [TIAA-CREF] Social Security Home Page [Social Security Administration]     Home | Disclaimer | © 2001-2008 bWise Guys, LLC. All rights reserved.				Related Information Employer Get Wise Guide to New 403(b) Regs Got a 403(b) question? Got a 403(b) answer? Join Discussion. 403(b) Market Statistics.