Defined Benefits

Contributions also were down $4.4 billion last year, probably thanks to the federal highway bill, which allowed pension sponsors to delay making their mandatory payments.

The idea is to save taxpayers even more time and money, including reducing the need for plan administrators to contact PBGC.

A commission recommends changing the militarys 20-year pension system by cutting payouts and introducing a 401(k)-type option.

A merger of H.G. Heinz Co. and Kraft Foods would mean the union of more than $13 billion in defined benefit and defined contribution retirement assets.

Fifteen of the 19 largest sponsors of traditional pension plans will not be required to contribute any significant amount to their plans in 2015.

Cammack Retirement has identified nine hot trends that people on any side of a defined contribution plan should keep their eye on in the coming year and beyond.