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Does Your Plan Have A Proper Fiduciary Structure?

Does Your Plan Have A Proper Fiduciary Structure?

By Jeff Chang Recently, we have dealt with an "epidemic" of retirement plans, both very large and very small, that all have the same problem – the lack of a proper fiduciary structure.  Why? As with so many personnel and benefits-related programs, new managers and new...

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Indian Tribal Government Retirement Plans

Indian Tribal Government Retirement Plans

This post discusses some of the interesting and special rules and laws that govern the retirement plans established by Indian tribal governments (ITGs). Concerns over state and local government sovereignty caused Congress to exempt the plans of state and local...

Governmental Plans and Required Beginning Dates

Governmental Plans and Required Beginning Dates

Like their private sector counterparts, governmental retirement plans (e.g., defined benefit, 401(a), 457(b), and 403(b)) are all subject to the general retirement plan rules pertaining to “required minimum distributions.” The good news is that several recent law...

SECURE 2.0 Impacts on Governmental Plans

SECURE 2.0 Impacts on Governmental Plans

This post highlights many of the significant law changes affecting governmental retirement plans that are part of the recently adopted Secure 2.0 Act of 2022 (the Act). The table below simply highlights “what” is changed, “when” the change takes effect, and “whether”...

Can Your Hospital District Have a 403(b) Plan?

Can Your Hospital District Have a 403(b) Plan?

Of California’s more than 75 public healthcare districts, a significant number of them maintain Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 403(b) plans. The question is: of those that have them, are they “eligible” to have them? We raise this issue because we have become...

When “Public” Does Not Refer to “Governmental”

When “Public” Does Not Refer to “Governmental”

Recently, a retirement plan advisor asked whether a “public” charity was “governmental” and eligible to maintain a non-ERISA retirement plan. This post explores some of the terminology that is used by the IRS, and in the retirement industry, and how one does not...

Multiple Plans May Result in Excessive Participant Loans

Multiple Plans May Result in Excessive Participant Loans

Having more 457(b) or 401(a) plans than you really need can create administrative headaches, cost participants unnecessary fees, and sometimes result in “excessive” participant loan situations. If an employee participates in a 457(b) or 401(a) plan, it is likely that...

The Proper Timing of 457(b) Deferral Elections

The Proper Timing of 457(b) Deferral Elections

Although many people think that governmental section 457(b) plans and private sector 401(k) plans are the same – because they both allow pre-tax deferrals of similar amounts of income – they are not the same. Due to their differing origins, their rules and...