Blog (4)

COVID-19 and the Markets

We want to take a moment to address the extreme selling that has transpired in the markets throughout the last few days and weeks. It’s too early to say if yesterday’s capitulation-style selling signaled a market bottom, and it is too early to predict what the resulting short-term and long-term damage to the domestic and global economies will be. Our view is that most industries and sectors will recover from the coronavirus sell-off, while the industries that have been most directly impacted by the virus – hospitality, transportation, and tourism – will face a prolonged recovery. The timing and degree of recovery is first and foremost dependent on the spread and subsequent containment of the virus.

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Should You Allow After-Tax Contributions in Your Plan?

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Blog Post

We are all aware of the 401(k) contribution limits set annually by the IRS, but what if you’ve maxed out your contributions for the year and still want to save money for retirement? You could fund a brokerage account separate from your 401(k), but you would face a costly capital gains tax on those earnings. This is where leveraging an after-tax source in your 401(k) comes into play.

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The SECURE Act: What Does It Mean for Your Company’s Retirement Plan?

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Blog Post

Before dispersing for its winter break, Congress passed significant changes to retirement savings law that will affect many of us now and all of us in the future. This new law, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, is part of the massive government spending bill that was approved by Congress on December 19 and signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2019. This bill extensively reshapes the realm of employer-sponsored retirement plans for both employers and employees and enacts the biggest changes to the U.S. retirement system since 2006.

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Are Your Employees Disengaged?

Alp Atabek, AIF®

Alp Atabek, AIF®

Blog Post

It’s a usual weekday morning and you find yourself in an all too common situation that bogs down many executives and managers: Your employees seem unenthused and unengaged at the office. The worst thing you can do is sit there every day, watch this happen, and take no action to determine the root cause. So, what are the best ways to go about re-engaging employees, especially those paramount individuals that you don’t want to lose? Here are a few ideas for you to implement:

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Charitable Giving for Companies

Although tax reform has previously been antonymous with simplification, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2018 did actually simplify things. The simplifications came in the form of limiting or eliminating certain deductions and increasing the standard deduction; however, these changes did make it more difficult to itemize. How does this impact a company or a corporation looking to partake in philanthropic endeavors? The good news is there were no major changes via the new tax law for charitable contributions; however, some of the limitation adjustments have made donors develop a more informed giving process. In this post, we discuss the benefits and various strategies organizations can leverage when engaging charities and non-profit organizations.

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What Type of Fiduciary Should Your Retirement Plan Have?

AdobeStock_94250891-1The retirement plan industry has a problem – jargon. While speaking the language is second nature to those who live every day in retirement plan consulting, it’s important that we act as ambassadors and translate the convoluted acronyms and industry slang, so our partners and retirement committee members have the knowledge they need to manage their plan with confidence.

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What’s the Future of Student Loan Benefits in the Workplace?

Finding the right employees – and keeping them – is becoming increasingly difficult for employers. Unemployment numbers are low which means employees can be more selective in their job searches. Now, more than ever, you must have the right benefits packages in place in order to win in this competitive landscape. And to attract the best and brightest young talent, you have to get creative.

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6 Ways to Protect Yourself as a New Fiduciary

Okay, you have accepted the invitation to become a fiduciary for your company’s retirement plan. Now what? Here’s a simple rule to follow: As a plan fiduciary, you must always act in the best interest of the plan’s participants and their beneficiaries. No exceptions!

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed as you prepare for your first retirement plan committee meeting, so to help we have assembled a few best practices to help you get ready.

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Overcoming Unique Retirement Challenges in the Non-Profit Sector

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Alex Assaley, AIF®

Blog Post

Anyone who works in Human Resources knows the positive effect offering high-quality employee benefit programs can have on a workforce. They attract the best potential candidates for new jobs and foster a sense of loyalty and support among current staff, to name a few. No matter the size or industry, administering employee benefits, particularly the retirement plan, can be a complicated process. While the same basic goal may apply to companies and organizations, non-profit organizations face unique challenges when ensuring their retirement plan benefit is the best fit for employees, as well as the organization. 

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