THE PROFIT SHARING/401(k) COUNCIL OF AMERICA (PSCA) IS NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR ITS 10TH ANNUAL SIGNATURE AWARDS

Award program recognizes excellence/results in retirement plan education and communication campaigns

CHICAGO (April 27, 2005) - The Profit Sharing / 401(k) Council of America (PSCA) announced that entries are now being accepted for the 10th Annual Signature Awards, a competition designed to honor excellence in plan communication and investment education.

“A quality communications program is an essential component to a successful retirement plan,” PSCA President David Wray said. “The Signature Awards recognize and encourage high quality, effective retirement plan communication.”

Throughout the past few years, the PSCA Signature awards have been distinguished by an emphasis on both creativity and program results — measuring the effectiveness of each campaign against its stated goals.

Signature Awards entry materials are available on PSCA's website, or call the PSCA at to receive complete entry materials. Entries must be submitted by June 10, 2005.

“The Signature Awards encourage the sharing of innovative communication ideas and reward success in profit sharing and 401(k) plan communication and investment-education,” said Al Leighton, Chair of PSCA’s Education and Communications Committee, past Signature Awards judge and Chief Financial Officer for Marian, Inc. 

“The competition also provides plan sponsors with outside, objective recognition of their efforts from their peers,” said Paul Dowd, who chairs the Signature Awards subcommittee.

Winning entries will be showcased during PSCA’s 58th National Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, September 20-23, 2005. A conference workshop will highlight the “Best of Show, 2005.” The Signature Awards ceremony, which will take place at the conference, will honor the 2005 winners. In addition, winning campaigns will be featured in PSCA’s Profit Sharing magazine and listed on PSCA's website..

Signature Award entries are classified by campaign objective. A panel of industry experts selected from PSCA’s member companies judges each category. The judges selected have experience in plan management and communication and expertise in a communication-specialty area. Judges represent both plan sponsor and service provider members.

The Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America (PSCA), a national non-profit association of 1,200 companies and their 6 million employees, advocates increased retirement security through profit sharing, 401(k) and related defined contribution programs to federal policymakers and makes practical assistance with profit sharing and 401(k) plan design, administration, investment, compliance and communication available to its members. PSCA, established in 1947, is based on the principle that “defined contribution partnership in the workplace fits today’s reality.” PSCA's services are tailored to meet the needs of both large and small companies with members ranging in size from Fortune 100 firms to small, entrepreneurial businesses.