retirement plans

SECURE 2.0 Changes That Apply to Workplace Plans

Wednesday, January 04, 2023
In our December 28 and January 2 Slott Report articles, we focused mostly on the provisions of the new SECURE 2.0 law that apply to IRAs. But many of the law’s changes are directed towards workplace plans, such as 401(k)s.Here’s a rundown of the most important plan changes:
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The Most Controversial Part of the New IRS Regulations

Monday, March 07, 2022
The part of the new IRS SECURE Act regulations causing the most reaction is the one requiring annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) for some IRA or workplace plan beneficiaries subject to the 10-year payment rule.Under the SECURE Act, IRA or plan beneficiaries who are not “eligible designated beneficiaries” (EDBs) are subject to the 10-year rule. (EDBs are surviving spouses; children of the IRA owner or plan participant who are under age 21; disabled or chronically ill individuals; and anyone not more than 10 years younger than the owner/participant.)
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How Governmental 457(b) Plans Differ from Top Hat 457(b) Plans

Wednesday, December 01, 2021
Many sections of the tax code are confusing, but section 457(b) is one of the major offenders. Within that section are the rules for two different types of company retirement plans -- governmental plans, and “top hat” plans for management employees of tax-exempt employers like hospitals.
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A Roundup of Recent DOL and IRS Retirement Plan Guidance

Monday, July 06, 2020
There’s been a flurry of recent government regulation of company retirement plans. Here’s a quick summary:Electronic Disclosure of Retirement Plan DocumentsOn May 27, 2020, the Department of Labor published a final regulation making it easier for employers to issue retirement plan notices to participants electronically. Notices can be posted on a website or mobile app or delivered via email. Employees who prefer hard copies can opt out of electronic delivery and receive paper disclosures instead.
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Active Participation

Monday, December 02, 2019
Jenny earns a salary of $1,000,000. She is single and is not an active participant in a company retirement plan. Jenny can contribute $6,000 to a traditional IRA and deduct the full amount on her taxes. Benny, also unmarried, has a modified adjusted gross income of $76,000. He participates in a 401(k) at work. Benny can make a $6,000 contribution to a traditional IRA, but he is not allowed to deduct it. What gives? A person making a million can deduct an IRA contribution, but the person with a MAGI of $76,000 cannot? Is this another example of the rich getting richer?No, not really. The key factor driving eligibility for a deduction of a traditional IRA contribution is not salary or MAGI, but participation (or lack thereof) in a company retirement plan. When a person or their spouse is an “active participant” in a company retirement plan for any part of the plan year,
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