Leaderboard

If you'd like to use your real name (which is a good idea for many reasons), please do. And feel free to include the name of your company in your "signature" (which is automatically appended to messages you post). By posting interesting questions and helpful answers, you're enhancing your reputation at the same time that you're helping your industry colleagues. But if you'd like to use a pseudonym (which sometimes is a good idea for many reasons), please do that, too. Create a second account by (1) logging out, and then (2) registering as if you're an entirely different person. Enter whatever display name you'd like to use (stand back -- "Benefiticus" is entering the forums), and enter an email address that's different than the one you used with your "real name" account. (Each registered account must have a unique email address.) The email address for your pseudonym account could be a gmail.com email address (they're free), or outlook.com, hotmail.com, etc. -- but it should be a working email address that you check from time to time, so that emails sent by the message board software don't bounce -- e.g. automatic emails that notify you about a new reply that's been posted to a topic you started using your pseudonym account. So you could have two accounts -- an account that displays your real name for ordinary use, and an account that displays a pseudonym for those unusual times when you'd like to post a question or add a reply anonymously. You might want to ask colleagues for advice as to what to do when you discover that your dog ate the client's only signed plan document, or that you are concerned that an employer-client may be putting nonexistent names on the employee census, or that you have serious concerns about industry leaders sometimes balking about tax reform just because it cuts into business ... not gossip, but stuff that is true, needs attention, bothers you, or otherwise "needs to be said" for the good of the realm. Let me know if you'd like details or screen shots. Thanks!

Your plan is either exempt from Top Heavy or it's not. When making a determination as to whether the plan is meets the Safe Harbor ADP exception to Top Heavy, the written provisions are just as important. You're not merely looking at the actual contributions that were made to the plan. You're also looking at whether the arrangements under which they were made are written to meet the ADP/ACP safe harbors. I didn't read each of your points (short attention span ). But, thought these thoughts may help. Good Luck!

Yep, my prior employer would not allow me to use my real name for that reason.

I think you have done very well with the "predictable." In my mind, a SA is to define what happens in the "unpredictable" by defining with written clarity the limits of services provided. That way, when something unexpected (unpredictable) happens, everybody know what the responsibilities of the service provider are, and more importantly are not. I would politely decline. I'd never ever ever let a judge decide what the parameters of services offered are. Very dangerous.

I think Larry Starr has a very unique, and enviable, situation. But for those who do not have the same, I believe very much in service agreements over purchase orders if the purchase order does not contain specifics. Yes it protects the firm, but it also identifies for both parties what is expected from both sides. Truth be told, I would prefer Larry’s situation over an agreement.

I don't think anyone mentioned it, but in addition to the Q and A forum, there is a daily news letter (e.g. click on the tab labeled 'news')

I wouldn't do what I'm doing without this community. It's Invaluable!

Worked like a charm; thanks.

The reason I didn't use my real name when I first started coming around years ago I feared my answers could be interpreted I was speaking for my firm which I am not authorized to do so. It has been clear that isn't an issue. So now it is just what it is.

Does my heart good to see that mention; thanks Bill. And you are very right about lifelong friends. I just wish this board required real names (actually, what is Bill Presson;s real name????? :-) ).

I could not agree more with all of the responses. This is a great forum for discussions/questions from User opinions that I respect (outside of my co-workers opinions).

The worst thing about TPAs is what they know that ain't so. Questions are a path to enlightenment.

I would politely decline. Engaging a consulting firm to provide a service isn't the same as purchasing a product.

No, I don't work alone. We have 80 employees, including 6 enrolled actuaries and some of the most experienced people I've ever had the privilege to work with. But I still like getting others input on my questions and seeing different perspectives on questions we may have never run across. In addition, this (to me) is the updated reincarnation of the old PIX message board. I learned lessons there and made lifelong friends. It's nice to be able to continue that.