Defined contribution groups to merge

SPARK Institute and the National Defined Contribution Council plan to merge into one organization representing defined contribution plan providers. The new group, to be called the SPARK/NDCC Institute, will be a more powerful lobbying organization "that has greater strength and resources to more effectively and efficiently represent the shared goals of our members," said Bob Wuelfing, SPARK Institute president. The combined organization, which will have offices in Simsbury, Conn., and Washington, will have 60 member companies, including mutual funds, banks, insurance companies, third-party administrators and brokerage firms.