Part-Time Employees in 401(k) Plans

February 9, 2016    3015    3015   

Part-time employees may play an important role in your business, which can be a good thing for your bottom line - and can allow welcome flexibility for your employees, too. Many companies, from manufacturing to health care, are reaping the benefits of a multifaceted work force.

Determining Retirement Plan Compensation

December 17, 2015    2402    2402   

It might not surprise you to hear that the IRS has some fairly complicated rules governing compensation levels and retirement plan contributions. In fact, the IRS reports that a good number of plan sponsors get this key issue wrong - a mistake that can cost both time and money.

A Plan Fiduciary's Responsibilities

October 20, 2015    2469    2469   

The term “fiduciary” gets used a lot these days; sometimes, we suspect, without a true understanding of what the term means and how fiduciary responsibility applies to our industry. It’s a corner of the retirement plan industry that can be a little murky.

The IRS is Back with Some Brand New Corrections

September 9, 2015    2178    2178   

When we work with you as your third-party administrator, we commit to keeping your retirement plan compliant and error-free. And we take that commitment seriously. But as the saying goes, mistakes happen, even with the best intentions and cross-check systems in place. And there are more than a few challenges to keeping a retirement plan on the rails and moving forward. IRS compliance is one sure way to avoid running off the track. 

The Best Plan to Drive Your Retirement Needs

June 1, 2015    2526    2526   

Excuse me, can you tell me what kind of car is best for me? It is impossible to answer that question without getting more information…how will the car be used? The same is true when selecting a retirement plan.

Timing is Everything

February 1, 2015    2454    2454   

As you can see, trying to keep track of all these overlapping deadlines can be as challenging as following Abbot and Costello's "Who's On First?" routine (if you aren't familiar with it, it's worth the time to look it up online).

Hardship Distributions from 401(k) Plans

October 1, 2014    2415    2415   

Hardship distributions are a valuable component of many 401(k) plans.

Cross-Testing: The Right Tool for Many Jobs

August 1, 2013    2366    2366   

A well-designed cross-tested plan can be a very effective tool for satisfying a variety of company objectives, but it also comes with a few more moving parts.

Under Control or Out of Control

June 1, 2013    2107    2107   

Before considering how to plan around/take advantage of related group status, the first step is to be sure which companies are/are not “related” based on the rules we have highlighted in this article.

When Good Loans Go Bad

April 1, 2013    2265    2265   

As you can see, the participant loan rules can be challenging even in good economic times. With all of the potential missteps that can occur, it is important to work with knowledgeable service providers that have strong checks and balances designed to properly administer participant loans.