CASH-BALANCE PLANS

If you have a traditional employer-sponsored defined-benefit pensionplan, the US Treasury Departmenthas ruled that you can convertit to a so-called "cash-balance"plan, as long as you meet certain conditions.Many companies have chosencash-balance pension plansbecause they're cheaper than traditionaldefined-benefit plans andallow younger workers to build uppension benefits quicker, but debatehas centered on what many criticssee as a negative impact on olderworkers, who may have their retirementbenefits cut. Under the rulesproposed by the US Treasury, anychange must be age-neutral bothbefore and after the conversion. Formore details, visit www.treasury.gov.