The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on Friday, March 27, 2020. Besides the generalized financial relief afforded to individuals, as well as loans and other concessions for businesses, the massive relief bill for those suffering as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic includes many provisions to help participants and employer sponsors of retirement plans.
The CARES Act gives the DOL the authority to delay deadlines due to public health emergencies. The dates below are in effect as of the date of this publication.
The SECURE Act represents some of the most significant changes to retirement plan law since the passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, over thirteen years ago. The provisions of the Act are broad ranging and span many different effective dates.
Upcoming Compliance Deadlines: Form 1099-R, ADP/ACP Corrective Testing, Employer Contributions, Required Minimum Distributions, Excess Deferral Amounts
The IRS published the final rule regarding participant hardship distributions from defined contribution plans. Hardships get a little easier with expanded qualification rules and streamlined review process. Some of these changes are mandatory, requiring employers to make the changes by Jan. 1, 2020, while others are optional. Though the IRS had issued the proposed regulations in 2018, the final regulations clarify a few key provisions.
Safe Harbor 401(k) Plans can eliminate a host of testing issues for traditional 401(k) Plans. If HCE contributions in your plan have resulted in corrective distributions in the past, you may consider a Safe Harbor plan in 2020. The deadline is quickly approaching, so be sure to contact us before December 1st to make 2020 plan changes.
Every Fall, the coming year's Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) are released by the Internal Revenue Service. The benefit increases counteract the effects of inflation and keep up with the "cost of living." See the limits for 2020.
When it comes to 401(k) plans, plan sponsors have a fiduciary responsibility to distribute a variety of documents and disclosure notices. Imposing this responsibility on plan sponsors helps ensure that participants have the necessary information about the plan provisions and investment options in order to make informed and timely decisions for their personal financial wellness.
The concept of an “open architecture” recordkeeping platform has been trending in the financial industry lately and it’s not hard to see why. For many years, 401(k) providers offered bundled platforms with fixed investment options (consisting of proprietary investments) and provider fees paid through investments (via revenue sharing). Open architecture platforms offer features that increase investment flexibility and reduce conflict of interest.
RPG Consultants was among the first firms in the United States to successfully complete the independent certification process for recordkeepers, and has now earned the certification for the 8th consecutive year. Our CEFEX-ASPPA certification signifies our commitment to adhere to a standard of excellence and a dedication to recordkeeping and administration best practices.