Retirement Plans Flashcards
Defined benefit vs defined contribution
DB: employer assumes risk
DC: employee assumes risk
Defined benefit: pension plans
1) Defined benefit pension plan
2) Cash balance pension plan
Defined Contribution: pension plan
1) money purchase pension plan
2) target benefit pension plan
Profit sharing plans
No mandatory funding
All are defined contribution plans
Ex: profit sharing, stock bonus plan, ESOP, 401k, thrift plan, age based profits sharing
Qualified plan eligibility
Age 21 and 1 year of service
Qualified plan coverage tests (ACP test)
Needs to pass 1 of 3 tests to qualify
1) average benefits test
2) ratio test
3) safe harbor test
Average benefits test
Avg benefits of NHC / avg benefits of HC
Needs to be at least 70%
Safe Harbor Test
More than 70% of NHC are covered
Ratio % test
% of NHC covered / % of HC covered
Needs to be at least 70%
Highly compensated employee
At least 5% owner OR
comp in excess of $150k (unless top 20%)
Key employee
At least 5 % owner
At least 1% owner and comp over $150k
Officer and comp over $215k
Top heavy plans
60% of benefits attributable to key employees
Top heavy
Defined contribution plans
Employer must provide non key employees a contribution of at least 3% of comp
Top heavy
Defined benefits
Employer must contribute 2% per years of service (20% max) x annual comp
Vesting schedule must increase
Defined contribution plan
Vesting
Deferrals 100% vested
Noncontributory: 2-6 graduated or 3 year cliff
Defined benefit plan
Vesting
3-7 year graduated
Or 5 year cliff
Covered comp for Qualified plans
$330k