The U.S. life insurance industry is changing. As Valmark Financial Group Chairman, Larry Rybka, said in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, “In 33 years, I have never seen more changes come more quickly to the life insurance products we sell.”
Non-Governmental 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plans and the COVID-19 Economy
Internal Revenue Code Section 457 provides tax-advantaged treatment for certain nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Included are both 457 plans and 457(b) plans. The focus of this update is the non-governmental 457(b) Top Hat plan.
Further Insights on COVID-19 and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans
Deferred Compensation News is pleased to provide this Fulcrum Partners report, prepared and originally published by Principal Life, a member of the Principal Financial Group®. With socioeconomic and regulatory landscapes changing day by day and sometimes hour by hour, both plan providers and plan participants are faced with new and unexpected issues.
Rabbi Trusts in the COVID-19 Economy, a Whitepaper PLUS FAQs
Last week, we shared our most recent whitepaper, “Rabbi Trust: An Important Element of a Nonqualified Executive Benefit Plan during Times of Financial Stress” plus an important blog post update, “COVID-19 and the Unforeseen Emergency under IRS 409A” here on the Deferred Compensation News. In case you missed the link to read or download this report, we’re resharing it here: #ICYMI.
Does Furlough Constitute a Separation from Service Under IRC 409A
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought operational challenges and financial strain to businesses in every sector. While some organizations have terminated employees, other businesses have been able to furlough some of, or all, their workforce instead. How the employer handles the furlough is important for many reasons, including how the guidelines of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (IRC 409A) impact decisions made by both employer and employee.
COVID-19 and the Unforeseen Financial Emergency Under IRC 409A
Internal Revenue Code Section §409A (IRC 409A) regulations govern the design and administration of nonqualified executive benefit plans. Nonqualified executive benefit plans have very specific rules on the form and timing of participant distributions and, generally, offer little flexibility on changing the form or timing of the distributions following the submission of the election form. One of the exceptions in the 409A regulations for altering previously submitted distribution elections is addressed under the unforeseeable emergency provisions.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Your Medical and Retirement Plans
IslerDare is a legal firm dedicated exclusively to the representation of management in all aspects of labor, employment and employee benefits law. We frequently share their insights here on the Deferred Compensation Blog, and are pleased to provide you this link to their timely newsletter, “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Your Medical and Retirement Plans,” and the excerpt featured below, which specifically addresses current IRS positions on issues that could result from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Fulcrum Partners Shares AALU Estate Planning Report from Heckerling Institute
On February 20, 2020, AALU released highlights from the 54th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning. The full AALU report is available as a PDF here: 54th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning.
March Compliance Calendar for Retirement Plans and Other Benefit Plans
Here is a checklist of 2020 compliance deadlines, covering retirement plans along with other health and welfare benefit plans. Thank you IslerDare PC for providing this information. Here are key March Deadlines for 2020: Date Action By March 1: File DOL1 Form M-1 for MEWA2s By March 2: Provide 2019 ACA3 information reporting returns (Forms 1095-B and 1095-C) to individuals By March 15: …
Updates Related to Key Performance Metrics and Executive Compensation
The following is an update in which Attorney Mike Melbinger, Partner, Winston & Strawn, does the heavy lifting in reviewing ongoing interpretive releases issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the topic of Key Performance Metrics in Management’s Discussion and Analysis, the Financial Condition and Results of Operations (the “MD&A”).
