Ask the Experts

“I work as an administrator in my local church—recently hired in this position after working in the same position for another church of the same denomination.

“Our firm sponsors an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) 403(b) plan that has a two-year service requirement (100% vested after two years) in which the hours-counting method...

“I work at a private tax-exempt hospital that sponsors a 403(b) plan, a 457(b) plan, and a 457(f) plan.

“I read in an Ask the Experts column that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires plan sponsors to retain plan documentation for at least six years,...

“I work for a firm that recently took over as third-party administrator (TPA) for the retirement plans of a large private tax-exempt 501(c)(3) hospital.

“I work for a third-party administrator (TPA) firm that has a new private tax-exempt client which started a 403(b) plan last year intending it to be not governed...

“I have received so many emails etc. on tax reform, including articles that conflict with each other, that I am on information overload! Should I be worried?”

“I work for a denominational church entity where ministers can exclude a portion of their compensation from taxable income as parsonage (housing) allowance.

“We are a 501(c)(3) private tax-exempt hospital that  sponsors a 403(b) plan. We have an employee who has been here for many years whom we are forced to...

“We are a private tax-exempt organization that currently uses a recordkeeper-provided document for its 403(b) plan. The document consists of a generic base plan document, along with an...

“I work for a denominational church plan sponsor. Our plan permits contract exchanges (we have some inactive vendors in the plan to which we permit transfers to the...

“Do the Experts have any Treats for us this Halloween, or only Tricks?”

“How do we determine which expenses are appropriate to be reimbursed from plan assets, and which expenses should not be reimbursed?”

“We are a private tax-exempt hospital that sponsors a 457(b) plan for select management or highly compensated employees. Though all participants have been informed of the credit risk...

“As we are preparing to finalize our 2016 Form 5500s in time for the extended deadline, a colleague of mine has stated that there are some questions on...

“I am new to the 403(b) world, having come from the 401(k) arena. I am quite familiar with mutual funds, but can the Experts explain what exactly is...

“I work for a denominational church plan sponsor who maintains a 403(b) plan. We have a clergy member who has NOT taken a vow of poverty, but who...

“I have a question regarding the ‘cure’ period after which a retirement plan loan would go into default in relation to a military leave of absence.

“I read an Ask the Experts column from a few years ago which stated that, if we hired someone older than 70 ½, that they would need to...

“I read with great interest your recent Ask the Experts column about one-time irrevocable elections for 403(b) plans.