The law of employee benefit plans, once a small part of labor and tax law, is now a large independent field with a distinctive character. The authoritative coverage of this Law In A Nutshell: Employee Benefit Plans provides the background needed to acquire a thorough understanding of employee benefits law.

The text covers plan finance and taxation; economic aspects; regulations; ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) legislative background; vesting; participation, accrual, and non-interference; distribution; employee securities; employee stock ownership plans; preemption; nondiscrimination; and plan termination.

Features and Benefits:
Timesaving reference guide;
Provides tools to understand employee benefits law and how to apply it;
Table of cases, statutes, and regulations;
Answer exam questions quickly and accurately.
Table of Contents:
Overview and Basic Concepts;
Basic Plan Finance and Taxation;
Economic Aspects of Plans;
Traditional Frameworks for Plan Regulation;
The Legislative Background to ERISA;
Benefit Protection: Vesting;
Benefit Protection: Participation, Accrual and Non-Interference;
Benefit Distribution: Substantive Standards;
Taxation of Distributions;
Benefit Payment: Procedure;
Plan Information;
Fiduciary Regulation;
Prohibited Transactions;
Employer Securities and Employee Stock Ownership Plans;
Preemption;
Procedure;
Nondiscrimination: Coverage;
Nondiscrimination: Contributions or Benefits;
Additional Limitations on Contributions and Benefits;
Funding and Contributions;
Plan Termination.

Don't let their small size fool you: West's Law in a Nutshell series represents the depth and breadth of the law in over a hundred different areas. Nutshells have a loyal following who swear by their succinct and easy to understand treatment of the law, and this particular title is a great illustration that learning the law doesn't have to be dry and confusing.