Over the past five years Congress has passed extensive legislation to encourage more people to save for their retirement. One obstacle many people face in this endeavor is not meeting eligibility requirements to participate in an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan. This hurdle is now easier to overcome for people who have worked on a part-time basis for their long-term employer.
Read MoreA safe harbor 401(k) is a specific 401(k) retirement plan design that allows sponsoring employers to avoid certain compliance testing. Many aspects of 401(k) plans are subject to compliance testing to ensure that higher paid employees and owners don’t benefit from the plan disproportionately in comparison with the rank-and-file employees. Put another way, the plan’s provisions must not unduly discriminate in favor of owners and the highly paid.
Read MoreYou’ve established your retirement plan. Contributions are coming in and distributions are going out. Everything seems to be running smoothly . . . until your recordkeeper sends an alert indicating that you may not be operating your plan according to all the terms of the document.
Read MoreWith the passing of key retirement legislation in the last few years, there are many incentives for employers to adopt a qualified retirement plan that can provide meaningful benefits to employees. While there are numerous factors to consider during the establishment process, employers should consider certain effective dates that will significantly affect the success of their plan’s initial year of operation.
Read MoreWhen an employer establishes a 401(k) plan, the IRS expects the plan to have longevity. If the employer terminates the 401(k) plan, the employer should have a good reason for doing so.
Read MoreThe holiday season is often called the most wonderful time of the year, but many self-employed individuals also call it the most stressful time of the year.
Read MoreFor self-employed individuals, determining the amount that can be contributed to a qualified plan can be daunting. It is important to understand that the compensation that can be used to calculate a retirement plan contribution is likely to be a different amount than what is reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as net earnings (profit or net business income) for tax purposes.
Read MoreEmployers sometimes ask if they can reward their more tenured employees by providing them with a more generous matching formula than their less tenured counterparts.
Read MoreWhat is a summary plan description? When must it be given and to whom? Can it be delivered electronically? What are the consequences of not providing one?
Read MoreThe IRS has indicated that it plans to release new IRA model documents for each type of IRA. When that happens, all IRA trustees, custodians, and issuers will be required to use either the new model documents or the new listing of required modifications if using a prototype document.
Read MoreThe year 2020 saw many employers hold off on starting a retirement plan. Now, as employers look to close their tax year, the goal of establishing a qualified retirement plan for 2020 may be something closer to the front of their minds. Thanks to the SECURE Act, they still have time to adopt a plan.
Read MoreWhat is the deadline for an employer to establish a qualified retirement plan? Can an employer establish a plan in 2020 for the 2019 plan year? If an employer establishes a plan for the prior year, can elective deferrals be contributed for that prior year?
Read MoreAre your business clients frustrated with low employee participation in their retirement plans? It may be time for them to rethink their eligibility and contribution requirements.
Read MoreOne way that your employer plan clients can turn around low participation rates in their retirement plans—and save more—is by implementing automatic enrollment.
Read MoreOne way that your employer plan clients can help motivate employees to jump-start their retirement saving and participate in the plan is by spreading the word about the saver’s credit and its benefits.
Read MoreIf you offer retirement plans for employers, you have the opportunity to serve as a valuable resource for employers looking to better communicate with employees about increasing their plan participation.
Read MoreA substantial percentage of small businesses do not offer a retirement plan. Many small business owners perceive setting up and running a retirement plan to be complicated and daunting. But they may not be aware of the SIMPLE IRA plan and how it is generally easier and less expensive to maintain.
Read MoreBanks and credit unions can connect with small employers by offering a retirement savings plan suited for small businesses, such as a SEP plan. A SEP plan has many of the same advantages of other employer-sponsored retirement plans, but generally is easier and less expensive to maintain.
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