Retirement Flashcards
When to select a Money Purchase Pension Plan
- employer wants a stable work force
- employer wants a plan simple to administer and explain
- employees are relatively young and well paid
Requirements to use a Money Purchase Pension Plan
- must have stable cash flows
- must make fixed contributions
- up to 25% employer deductions
When to select a Target Benefit Plan
- wants an alternative to a defined benefit plan
- wants to provide adequate retirement benefits to older employees
- wants lower costs and simplicity
When to select a Profit-Sharing Plan
- when employers profit margin or financial stability varies from year-to-year
- when employer wants to adopt a qualified plan with an incentive to motivate employees to make the company more profitable
- when employees are young and well-paid
When to select a 401(k) plan
- when employer wants to provide a qualified retirement plan but can only afford minimal extra expenses
- when employees want to increase savings on a tax-deductible basis
When to select a stock bonus or an ESOP
- company wants to broaden ownership of stock, create a market for stock, or provide liquidity for shareholders
- company wants to provide a tax advantage mean to acquire company stock
- employer wants its workers to feel a sense of ownership
When to select a defined benefit plan
- employer wants to maximize contributions to older employees
- an older employee wants to maximize tax-deferred retirement savings for their own benefit
When to select a Cash Balance Plan
- employer is looking for a less expensive and simpler Defined Benefits plan.
Disadvantages of Cash Balance Plans
- older, long-service employees receive lower pension benefits when a DB plan is converted to a Cash Balance Plan.
- lump-sum payout at termination is considerably smaller
When to select a 412(i) plan
- when employer has some need for life insurance
- allows large contributions but lower returns
ADP/ACP Testing Shortcut
- 0-2% = times 2
- 2-8% = plus 2
- times/plus is added to NCHE value
Parent Subsidiary
- One entity (the parent company) owns at least 80% if one or more other entities
Brother-sister
- five or fewer owners of 2 or more entities own 80% or more of each entity
Affiliated Service Group
- apply to service organizations in health, law, accounting, engineering, etc.
Employee Leasing
- reduce the discrimination potential from an employer choosing to lease employees rather than employ.
Defined Benefit Plan Integration
- permitted disparity = lessor of base benefit percentage or 26.25%
- base percentage + permitted disparity = excess percentage
Defined Contribution Plan Integration
- permitted disparity = lessor of base or 5.7%
- base percentage + permitted disparity = excess percentage
PIA Calculation if Social Security is taken before Full Retirement Age (FRA)
- [# of months before FRA/180] x PIA = Benefit
Taxation of Social Security Benefits
- if income + 50% of social security is more than $25,000 (single) or $32,000 (MFJ), social security is taxable at 50%
- if income + 50% of social security is more than $34,000 (single) or $44,000 (MFJ), social security is taxable at 85%
Keogh Plan Deductible Contribution Shortcut (also used for Self-Employed SEP Contribution)
- multiple net schedule c income by 12.12% for 15% contribution
- multiple net schedule c income by 18.59% for 25% contribution
When to select a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP)
- employer wants an alternative to a qualified profit-sharing plan
- employer wants a plan that is easy and inexpensive to install
Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Characteristics
- lessor of 25% (not 100%) of compensation up to $330,000 or $66,000
- easy to adopt by filing Form 5305-SEP
- permits employer contributions only
- must cover all employees over 21 and have worked 3 out of last 5 years. (Part time counts)
- contributions do not beed to be made for employees whose compensation for the year was less than $750