ERISA governs employee pension, health and welfare benefits plans through a complex series of rules.  ERISA is tied to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) designed to encourage employers to provide retirement and other benefits to their employees. Many ERISA and IRC provisions are intended to ensure that tax-favored pension plans do not favor the highest-paid employees over rank-and-file employees in the way benefits are provided. ERISA imposes minimum funding standards as well as fiduciary reporting and disclosure requirements on employers, plan administrators, and plan trustees and fiduciaries.  An attorney or other professional benefit advisor should be consulted before implementing any benefit plan or plan amendment.

Helpful Links

• http://www.dol.gov/

• http://www.dol.gov/pwba/welcome.html

• http://www.dol.gov/pwba/pubs/main.htm

• http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/

• http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/retirement/index.html