ACG Blog

Taking too long to deposit an employee’s salary deferral contributions into a 401(k) plan is a big no-no. We hear all kinds of excuses why plan sponsors take too long to make their deposits. Reasonable as they may sound to the person making them, the...

On February 9, 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 was passed into law, which ended the government shutdown by raising the debt ceiling for the next two years. Sandwiched deep within were changes to rules that govern hardship distributions in 401...

It is generally the case that the more compensation one earns, the bigger the contributions and benefits he may receive from a qualified retirement plan. The limits on salary deferrals in 401(k) plans, annual additions in defined contribution plans, ...

The IRS, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) and Social Security Administration (SSA) have announced 2019 contribution and benefit limits and other numbers of interest. Many of these can be found here. Most limits and thresholds will see mode...

There was a time when a good friend convinced me to go with a car lease instead of a purchase. I never had leased a car, but she pointed out all of the great reasons why leasing was better. I ran out and leased a high-end SUV for three years. When my...

This is the first in a two-part series about deductible contribution limits to qualified retirement plans.  The second part next week will cover arrangements that include defined benefit plans.  Contributions made by a business to a qualified retirem...

As both a career professional in the retirement plan field and a citizen observer reading media coverage about 401(k) plan sponsors having to defend themselves from an onslaught of “excessive fee” litigation in recent years, it seems clearly evident ...

Most qualified retirement plans need a fidelity bond.  This has been the rule for more than 40 years. Even so, it is not the kind of thing the typical plan sponsor spends a lot of time focusing on. A what bond? Fidelity who? We run across a number of...

The  ADP test  for 401(k) plans is like a mosquito:  it is annoying and has no known benefit to society.  The worst outcome of a failed ADP test is you have to  refund  excess contributions to  Highly Compensated Employees .  At a minimum, you’ve was...

Here’s a public service announcement for all plan sponsors of 401(k)s.  Remember the quote from "Jerry Maguire," “Help me help you?”  It’s been 22 years since that movie, but it still holds true today. Third party administrators (TPAs) are the people...