I wish to prepare the simplest possible election form for my client who does not want an immediate lump sum. The plan provides for in-service distributions at or after normal retirement date, and the participant's normal retirement age is less than 70-1/2. It seems to me that the regulations provide four choices:
1. A life annuity (including C&C and/or COLA if permitted by the plan terms)
2. An annuity certain (including C&C and/or COLA if permitted by the plan terms) for no longer than the participant's life expectancy (in whole years, based on the table in the regulations)
3. and 4. Same as 1 and 2, but as a joint & contingent annuity
My questions:
1. Is the above correct?
2. Can a participant choose to receive more than the required minimum in any year?
If the answer is yes, then the only choice to give the participant would seem to be the one which produces the lowest required minimum, as this would provide the greatest flexibility. Is this correct?
If the answer is no, then offering all four choices would seem to provide the greatest flexibility. Is this correct?
3. If the answer is yes, does choosing a larger than mimimum distribution in any given year affect the required minimum in subsequent years?
4. What, if anything, would change if normal retirement age were greater than 70-1/2 (e.g., participation began at age 68)?
Thanks in advance.