Newsletters
![Components of Defined Contribution Plan Compliance-Testing](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-winter-newsletter-components-of-defined-contribution-plan-compliance-testing.jpg)
Components of Defined Contribution Plan Compliance-Testing
Plans must be tested each year to ensure that they are compliant with the laws governing retirement plans. To understand the testing performed for your plan, it may be helpful to review some of the terms that are commonly used.
![Cost of Living Adjustments for 2024](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-cost-of-lving-adjustment.jpg)
Cost of Living Adjustments for 2024
Save More for Retirement in 2024 On November 1, 2023, the IRS announced the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) affecting the dollar limitations for retirement plans for 2024. In October, the Social Security Administration announced a modest benefit increase of 3.2%....
![New Plan Year Checklist](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/2023NewPlanYearChecklist.png)
New Plan Year Checklist
Each year, a great deal of attention is paid to the upcoming year end work: census gathering, compliance testing, 5500s, oh my! But the year-end also brings with it a host of items that may need attention before the year closes. Below are a few action items that may need to be considered. Changes were made for…
![Cost of Living Adjustments for 2023](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/2023CostofLivingAdjustment.png)
Cost of Living Adjustments for 2023
Save even more for retirement in 2023 due to record breaking increases in limits. On October 21, 2022, the IRS announced the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) affecting the dollar limitations for retirement plans for 2023. Retirement plan limits increased well over the 2022 limits, the largest increase…
![Save or Toss? Proper Plan Record Storage a Must!](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/2023ProperPlanRecordStorage.png)
Save or Toss? Proper Plan Record Storage a Must!
As the year comes to a close, you may wonder what plan records must be kept and what items can be tossed. Historical plan records may need to be produced for many reasons: an IRS audit, a DOL investigation or simply questions from participants about their benefits or accounts to name…
![Deadline for CARES Act and SECURE Act Amendments Extended](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/2023DeadlineforCARESAct.png)
Deadline for CARES Act and SECURE Act Amendments Extended
The original due date of the CARES Act and SECURE Act amendments for qualified plans, other than governmental plans, was the last day of the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2022, which means December 31, 2022, for calendar year plans. This has been extended to December 31, 2025, regardless of plan year end. However…
![Q&A Corner](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/QABenefitInsights.png)
Q&A Corner
Q: I didn’t file my 12/31/21 plan year end Form 5500 by 7/31/22, now what?A: Contact your Form 5500 preparer! First, confirm whether or not an extension applies. This would occur with a Form 5558 filed before 7/31, or possibly a special extension or automatic extension. If so, you have until…
![New IRS Pre-Examination Compliance Program Announced](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/IRSBenefitInsights.png)
New IRS Pre-Examination Compliance Program Announced
In June 2022, the IRS began piloting a pre-examination retirement plan compliance program. This is beneficial to plan sponsors because it provides an opportunity for plan sponsors to correct mistakes at a reduced cost and possibly avoid a full IRS examination. Anytime you receive a correspondence from the…
![Form 5500 Insights](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/Form5500BenefitInsights.png)
Form 5500 Insights
Every year, most employers file a Form 5500 for each qualified plan that they sponsor. The purpose of the Form 5500 is to provide required information to the Department of Labor (DOL), but it can also provide valuable insight to the plan sponsor.The Form 5500 has several “types” and the type of form you file will vary based on…
![Timing of Deposits 401(k)/403(b) Deferrals and Loan Repayments](https://www.greatlakespension.com/wp-content/uploads/2021Summer-LookingtoMaximizeSavings.png)
Timing of Deposits 401(k)/403(b) Deferrals and Loan Repayments
One of the questions asked by your TPA during the annual census collection may be whether your participant contributions and loan payments were transmitted within the Department of Labor (DOL) safe harbor time frame.It’s an important question because both the DOL and the Internal Revenue Service…