Ensure your 401k retirement plan allows your employees to save the maximum amount allowed by understanding and utilizing ADP/ACP testing.
Defined Contribution Categories
A Defined Contribution plan is a retirement plan in which employees contribute a fixed amount or percentage of their compensation to an individual account under the plan. Contributions are invested on the employee’s behalf and they will ultimately receive the balance in their accounts upon retirement. Examples of defined contribution plans include 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, employee stock ownership plans, and profit-sharing plans. For-profit companies can offer a 401(k) plan to help their employees save for their future by giving them the opportunity to defer pre-tax or after-tax dollars via payroll deduction into their account and select from a diversified investment menu. 403(b) plans provide retirement benefits for employees of public school districts, hospital groups, or 501(c)(3) organizations in these non-profit business sectors. An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is an employee benefit plan that gives workers ownership interest in the company; this interest takes the form of shares of stock. Profit-sharing plans are a way for a company to share profits with its workers and align the financial well-being of workers with the company’s success. 457 plans cover retirement benefits for state and local government employees and some non-profit businesses. There are benefits to Employers for sponsoring retirement plans; research applicable defined contribution articles on the Watkins Ross blog. Our Watkins Ross retirement team has the experience and knowledge to help you design a plan to meet your business goals; connect with us here to learn more.
401(k) Plan Nondiscrimination Testing
Avoid penalties and fees by ensuring your retirement plan meets IRS 401k plan nondiscrimination test requirements.
Retirement Plan Compensation Considerations
Avoid retirement plan compensation definition miscalculations by following these simple steps from Watkins Ross’ experienced retirement plan actuaries.
What Are Controlled Groups and Controlled Group Rules?
Learn more about controlled groups, retirement plan rules, brother-sister controlled groups, and attribution rules in Watkins Ross’ latest article.
402(g) Limit on Elective Deferrals – It’s Personal
Code section 402g limits the amount you can defer to a 401k plan. Did you know it applies at an individual level, not a plan level? Read on to learn more.
In-Service Distributions from Defined Benefit Plans
The Bipartisan American Miners Act of 2019 allows in-service distributions for retirement plan participants to commence at age 59 ½. However, in a defined benefit plan, to receive in-service lump sum distributions at age 59 ½, the distribution must satisfy certain thresholds. Read on to learn more about defined benefit plan lump sum distribution requirements.
Understanding Your Retirement Plan’s Force-out Provisions
Are you aware of your plan’s force-out provisions? How force-out’s are handled is a plan document issue and must be followed.
Getting 401(k) Participants Back in the Game in a Post Pandemic World
There is no doubt the coronavirus has impacted decisions many workers made during 2020. Read on to recover your 401(k) post pandemic.
SECURE Act: Plan Amendment Options
The SECURE Act was signed into law on December 20, 2019. Your plan will require an amendment prior to the end of your 2022 plan year. Below are provisions that you will be able to elect in the plan amendment: Qualified Birth or Adoption Distribution (“QBAD”): A...
The SECURE Act and Part-Time Employees
If your plan requires employees to work 1,000 hours in a 12-month period to become eligible, you’ll soon need to start watching hours more closely. Having this 1,000-hour rule generally excludes those employees who work part-time, seasonal or temporary. ...