Articles — Ascensus

The Sarbanes-Oxley Blackout Notice and Its Requirements

What is a Sarbanes-Oxley blackout notice? What is a blackout period? What information must be included in the blackout notice? What are the potential consequences of not providing a timely blackout notice?

expert, IRAAscensusNovember 21, 2019Compliance & Operations, IRA, Beneficiary, Distribution, Q&A

Ready for an RMD Refresher?

For the next few months your organization may see an increase in RMD questions and transactions. Take a few minutes now to learn (or relearn) some basic RMD rules.

3 Complex Issues with Naming IRA Beneficiaries

An IRA owner’s decision to select a beneficiary appears simple, but complex issues may surface. Learn more about three key issues so that your organization can be prepared.

IRAAscensusOctober 17, 2019Compliance & Operations, IRA, Beneficiary

2020 Taxable Wage Base Announced

The U.S. Social Security Administration has announced a cost-of-living increase for 2020 to several of its benefit amounts, including the Social Security taxable wage base.

Employer Plan, IRAAscensusOctober 17, 2019Compliance & Operations, Guidance & Legislation, IRA, Retirement Plan, SEP Plan, IRS

Hardship Distributions Made Easier

The IRS recently issued final regulations that make retirement plan assets more accessible to those experiencing financial hardship. Employers should become familiar with the revised hardship requirements.

Spread the Word on the Saver’s Credit to Bolster Plan Participation

One 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.

HSA Eligibility and What Makes a Health Plan HSA-Compatible

Who can establish an HSA? What are the requirements for a health plan to be considered HSA-compatible? If health plan coverage begins midmonth, when would someone be HSA-eligible?

HSA, expertAscensusOctober 17, 2019Compliance & Operations, HSA, Contribution, Eligibility, Q&A

Employers Should Use Caution When Excluding Certain Employees from a Plan

Can employers exclude certain employees from a 401(k) plan? What should they consider? What if excluding a class of employees causes a plan to fail coverage testing and how can a plan failure be corrected if a group of employees was improperly excluded?

5 Important HSA Questions Employers Ask Before Choosing an HSA-Compatible HDHP

With employee benefits open enrollment coming up, and more employers choosing to offer high deductible health plans, you may be fielding more HSA questions from employers. Here are the answers to five important questions they may be asking.

HSAAscensusSeptember 19, 2019Compliance & Operations, Business Insights, HSA, Contribution, Q&A, Reporting

Lawsuits Filed Against SEC Regulation Best Interest Rule

Two lawsuits have recently been filed seeking to invalidate the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s new fiduciary standards.

Employer Plan, IRAAscensusSeptember 19, 2019Guidance & Legislation, IRA, Retirement Plan, Fiduciary, Investment

Going Back to School with an Education Savings Account

The back-to-school season may be a good time to remind clients that a Coverdell ESA is an easy, affordable way for them to begin saving to help pay for education expenses—and to answer any questions they may have.

ESAAscensusSeptember 19, 2019Compliance & Operations, Coverdell ESA, Contribution, Distribution, Q&A

The Key to Better Plan Participation? Communicate.

If 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.

How to Distribute an IRA When the Primary Beneficiary Dies

How are beneficiary payouts affected when a primary beneficiary dies after the IRA owner? How about when a primary beneficiary dies before the IRA owner?

IRA, expertAscensusSeptember 19, 2019Compliance & Operations, IRA, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Beneficiary, Distribution, Q&A

Multiple Factors Affect the New Comparability Profit Sharing Formula

What is the new comparability profit sharing formula? Find out how an employee’s compensation, plan document provisions, and changes in the employer’s workforce affect the calculation.

Employer Plan, expertAscensusSeptember 19, 2019Compliance & Operations, Retirement Plan, Contribution, Q&A

Knowing When Not to Report HSA Transactions

Incorrectly reporting HSA transactions may cause the IRS to pay more attention to your organization (and not in a good way). To prevent being audited and potentially penalized by the IRS, it’s important that you and your staff understand the HSA reporting requirements—including when not to report certain transactions.

HSAAscensusAugust 15, 2019Compliance & Operations, HSA, IRS, Distribution, Excess Contribution, Reporting

The SIMPLE IRA Plan: a Retirement Plan for Small Employers

A 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.

Why Business Owners Should Try to Boost Participation in Their Retirement Plans

Are your business owner clients and their employees getting the most out of their retirement plans? You can provide good customer service by suggesting that your clients become more familiar with the benefits of increased plan participation.

DOL Issues Final Regulations for Multiple Employer Plans

The DOL has issued final regulations on multiple employer plans, under which more than one employer may be treated as a single employer for purposes of retirement plan participation.

Employer PlanAscensusAugust 15, 2019Compliance & Operations, Retirement Plan, DOL, Regulations