Smart Stops on the Web

www.iscebs.org

The International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists conducts annual surveys of its membership on various employee benefits and compiles and publishes the results on this site. Topics range from employer-sponsored prescription drug programs to retirement issues.

Pension Plans Discussed Here

www.dol.gov/dol/pwba

The Department of Labor’s Web page for the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration has forms, news releases and links to related sites. Also included are articles on pension plans with titles such as “The Ten Warning Signs That Your 401(k) Contributions Are Being Misused,” “What You Should Know About Your Pension Rights” and “Women and Pensions: What Women Need to Know and Do.”

More Pension Plan Information

www.pbgc.gov

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s site offers plan administrators and participants interest rate information as well as forms, technical updates and a small business guide to pension plans. The News Room offers press releases and speech transcriptions, and the Legal Information section includes information on interest rates, opinion letters and regulations.

Executive Compensation Information

www.xpay.net

This electronic newsletter—created by Mark Poerio of the law firm Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker LLP—offers definitions, descriptions, news and links to information about benefits taxation, cafeteria and 401(k) plans, and profit sharing. This site is updated on a monthly basis and includes archived issues from April 1999.

“The Benefits Network”

www.benefits.net

Sponsored by the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation, this site has compensation and benefit news, research and information on human resources and legislation. It also provides introductory information on flexible spending accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care, and 401(k) plans as well as links to additional resources, such as reading lists and glossaries pertaining to those subjects.

Benefit From This Site

www.benefitnews.com

Although visitors must register, this site, which includes a survey database and information on benchmarking and investment options for 401(k)s, is free. The homepage is organized into sections including disability, health plans, laws and regulations, retirement, technology, and work and life issues. These various sections feature discussion groups, an events calendar and a glossary of benefit terminology.

A Portal for Pensions

www.401khelpcenter.com

The site’s Daily Digest offers the latest 401(k) plan news, opinions, rule changes and investment trends. In addition, the Collected Wisdom section features articles, studies and research related to 401(k) plans, such as the article titled “401(k) Explained,” which guides new investors through a plan’s features.

Budget Time to Visit This Site

www.budgethub.org

BudgetHub says its mission is to “provide a variety of information about planning and budgeting.” The site features articles such as “Ten Ways to Improve Your Planning and Forecasting Abilities,” “The Changing Face of Finance” and “Justifying Your Financial Software Purchase.”

Keep Abreast of News Abroad

www.europeaninternet.com

Internet portals from more than twenty countries are featured here as are links to news from wire services worldwide. Other sections include discussion boards and frequently asked questions sections on a variety of topics as well as classified ads. The site’s search engine organizes news and archived files by country and professional sector.

A Site That Would Make Will Rogers Proud

www.yourcongress.com

The slogan for this site sets the tone. It reads: “It’s Your Congress. Learn to Laugh.” The information, which includes congressional news and updates, is accurate and current but presented in tongue-in-cheek fashion. The Headlines section features items from newspapers and wire services, and reports the actions of your state’s representatives on Capitol Hill. The site’s Last Week and This Week sections give updates on all congressional votes and also keep tabs on what’s on the horizon.

“At the Tone the Time Will Be…”

www.time.gov

This site—a joint venture of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Naval Observatory—is devoted almost exclusively to giving users the accurate time in any state. Just click on the U.S. map and area of the state you are searching. A section called Time Exhibits provides a history of timekeeping and explains when and why we change our clocks for daylight savings time and what’s inside your quartz wristwatch.