Did you know that you can deduct pension contributions made by September 15, 2018 from your 2017 taxes? In most years that helps with managing cash flows, but this year it could have major tax consequences. With the corporate tax rate decreasing for most companies from 35% in 2017 to 21% in 2018, deducting pension […]
A recent study by Employee Fiduciary examined the negative aspects of automatic employee enrollment in 401(k) plans, particularly for smaller plans. Only 8.7% of small business plans (average of 25 participants with assets of $1M) automatically enroll eligible employees as opposed to 68% of larger plans. Why the contrast when automatic enrollment is traditionally seen as an […]
If you’d like to move to a 401(k) for 2018, you must notify employees by 11/2 As your business or that of your clients has grown, you may be thinking it’s time to upgrade your retirement plan from a SIMPLE-IRA to a 401(k) Plan. The issue is that you can’t switch mid-year as IRS rules […]
GASB 74 is required for plan level financial reporting while GASB 75 is required for employer or plan sponsor level financial reporting for municipal entities subject to GASB reporting that offer OPEB (medical, dental & life insurance for former employees & retirees) type benefits. GASB 74 – key issues to consider Are you prefunding your OPEB benefits […]
S-Corporations, Distributions, W-2 Wages, Self-Employment Tax, 401k & Pension Plans & their interaction – it’s all about balance. So, you’ve talked to your accountant & they tell you to minimize your W-2 wages to limit your self-employment taxes. Then, you talk to your investment advisor and they explain the advantages of tax-qualified retirement plans such […]
Generally 401(k) deferrals & contributions are allowed, but there are exceptions. The biggest issue to consider is whether or not the member/owner is providing material services that are income producing for the LLC. Here is the basic checklist or list of things to consider: Under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(c)(1), the IRS states that “employee” […]
Pay attention to the language in your employee handbook! In summary judgement this week, US District Judge Lynn Adelman in Milwaukee dismissed a suit filed by General Electric (“GE”) retirees claiming the plaintiffs have “not shown that they were cognizably harmed by GE’s fiduciary conduct with respect to the plans.”. In 2012, GE eliminated its […]
Vanguard Group recently issued their 110 page “How America Saves 2017” report on the behavior of defined contribution plan participants in the plans that they record-keep. The trend toward professionally managed options – primarily target-date funds – continues with 53% of participants using such accounts in 2016 (46% were in a single target-date fund). This is […]
So, you’re an employer who generously offers medical benefits to your retirees. If so, you’ve seen prescription drug prices skyrocket over the last several years – increasing by an average of 14% per year from 2011-2015 and continuing through today. Prescription drug spending by retirees enrolled in the Medicare Part D program has been growing […]
We had a great “Lunch-n-Learn” session on May 24th with PARS & Vanguard to help demystify the coming changes to OPEB accounting standards for municipal entities as it relates to their retiree medical programs. GASB 74 & GASB 75 represent a significant change from the current standards and we shared the key points about how […]
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