This month I want to share with you some very useful information about pensions and 401k benefits. As the dust continues to settle from the Enron fallout, many companies are examining their vulnerability regarding pensions and retirement benefits.

Training departments and human resource executives often absorb a lot of the responsibility for program administration, employee enrollment and participation communications. We have learned of several outstanding resources that you should review to improve your understanding of the complex issue and more importantly, help you perform your jobs more effectively.

Amidst confusion and growing public concern about 401(k)s, the nonprofit Alliance for Investor Education (AIE) has issued the "401(k) Survival Kit," a collection of its members' best-available information on the topic. It is loaded with links to educational resources and financial services companies. Also, be sure to check out the many trade publications outlined in our Industry Resources Link button for more information.

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As always, thank you for your involvement and continued dedication to training!

- John Quincy, Editor

Three Ways to Deliver Investment Education
By Sara Fister Gale

Lucrative retirement benefits are supposed to help you attract and retain the best people. But if employees don't understand how to invest them, how valuable are they? LEARN MORE

When Choosing Training, the Medium Depends on the Message
By Karen Frankola

A look at how to decide which medium to use for training, whether online, classroom, or blended. Learn from the experiences of others. See how blended learning can save time and money.  LEARN MORE

15 Questions to Help You Improve Your Existing
Training Programs
By Seth N. Leibler and  Ann W. Parkman

Companies often continue training programs well beyond the point of usefulness or out of habit. In many cases, the original business need has changed or has been met, but the training goes on as originally designed. This is not only a very expensive practice, it tends to erode the training department's reputation for providing good return on investment.
There are many questions you can ask to evaluate existing training courses to determine if they are still needed and to ensure that they are accomplishing their intended business objectives.Below are 15 of the most important ones that will enable you to not only evaluate current courses quickly but, assuming a training need still exists, to identify ways to improve their effectiveness and efficiency.  LEARN MORE

Presentation Skills Training: A Matter of Personality and Outcomes
By Jim Endicott, Owner/Manger of Distinction Communication

It was simply a matter of a web link or two and literally hundreds of trainees joined me online from all around the country. All in all, pretty easy and convenient and the price was right-- free. The topics were related to presentation design concepts and I knew going into it that the medium would be right for some, but unfortunately, dead wrong for others. LEARN MORE

What’s New? 

HR Departments Asked to do More in the Face of Cutbacks in Finances and Staff
Corporate human resources departments are facing severe staff and revenue cutbacks even as they are being asked to do more for their companies, concludes a new Conference Board report. LEARN MORE

Pension Benefits: Trends & Implications for 2002
The results of a 2002 Workforce HR Trends survey reveal that employees need retirement help. 

In addition to this report of the study's highlights, a very helpful  online resource companion was compiled by the editors of  Workforce magazine including 10 Web site links.

Employees need help in two key areas of retirement planning, according to respondents to the Workforce 2002 HR Trends Survey. Seventy-six percent of the respondents said employees need help in deciding how to invest their 401(k) funds. Sixty-one percent felt there is a need for employees to do overall long-term retirement planning. LEARN MORE

New Presentations Templates Available for Trainers - FREE!
Making effective presentations is key to training - no matter the medium. Some great resources, courses, and yes, free downloads are available at PresentersUniversity.com. Click here to enter their download area. A brief registration form will need to be completed, but well worth your time.