What is a 457 deferred compensation plan?
A 457 Plan 1 is a retirement savings plan that allows eligible employees to supplement any existing retirement and pension benefits by saving and investing pre-tax dollars through a voluntary salary contribution. Contributions and any earnings on contributions are tax-deferred until money is withdrawn. Distributions are usually taken after retirement when many participants are typically receiving less income, and may be in a lower income tax bracket than while working. Distributions are subject to ordinary income tax.
1 All references to the 457 plan are to a governmental 457(b) plan.
Why should I participate in the Great-West 457 Deferred Compensation Plan?
You may want to participate if you are interested in saving and investing additional money for retirement and/or reducing the amount of current state and federal income tax you pay each year. Your Great-West 457 Deferred Compensation Plan can be an excellent tool to help make your future more secure.
You may also qualify for a federal income tax credit by participating in this Plan. For more information about this tax credit, please contact your Great-West Retirement Services ® representative.
Is there any reason why I should not participate in the Plan?
Participating may not be advantageous if you are experiencing financial difficulties, have excessive debt, do not have an adequate emergency fund (typically in an easy-to-access account), or if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket during your retirement.
Who is eligible to enroll?
Any employee eligible for the Great-West 457 Deferred Compensation Plan working at least 20 hours per week is eligible to participate in the 457 Plan.
How do I enroll?
If you’ve received a Personal Identification Number (PIN), 2 you can enroll online on this web site by clicking the "Enroll Now" tab. If you have not yet received a PIN, you can order one on this Web site by clicking the "Enroll Now" tab or by calling the KeyTalk® at (800) 701-8255. 3
You may also complete the appropriate paper enrollment forms indicating the amount you wish to contribute, your investment option selection(s), and a beneficiary designation(s). Please sign the form and return it to GreatWest Retirement Services representative or mail it to PO Box 173764, Denver, CO 80217-3764.
2 The account owner is responsible for keeping the assigned PIN confidential. Please contact Great-West Retirement Services immediately if you suspect any unauthorized use.
3 Access to KeyTalk and the Web site may be limited or unavailable during periods of peak demand, market volatility, systems upgrades/maintenance, or other reasons.
What are the contribution limits?
There is a minimum starting contribution amount of $10 per paycheck to participate in the Plan.
In 2010, the maximum contribution amount is 100% of your compensation, less any mandatory before tax contributions to a governmental pension plan, or $16,500, whichever is less. The annual contribution limit will be indexed for inflation in future years. According to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations, the increases can only take place in $500 increments and may not occur every year.
If you are age 50 or older during the 2010 calendar year, you may be eligible to contribute an additional $5,500 to the Plan to catch up. This catch-up contribution, along with the standard limit amount to a total annual contribution of $22,000.
If you are within three years of normal retirement age, you may utilize the Standard Catch-Up provision. With Standard Catch-Up, you may be able to contribute an additional $16,500 in 2010. That amounts to a total possible contribution up to $33,000 in 2010. This Catch-Up provision runs for three consecutive years leading up to but not including your year of retirement.
Although you may be eligible for both catch-up options, you may only participate in one option per year.
What are my investment options?
A wide array of core investment options is available through your Plan. Each option is explained in further detail in your Plan’s fund data sheets. Investment option information is also available through this Web site and KeyTalk at (800) 701-8255. The Web site and KeyTalk are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
® . The SDB account allows you to select from numerous mutual funds not directly available to you in the core investment options in the Plan. There is an annual fee of $50 to participate in the SDB. These securities are not offered through GWFS Equities, Inc. The SDB account is intended for knowledgeable investors who acknowledge and understand the risks associated with the investments contained in the SDB account.
How do I keep track of my account?
Great-West Retirement Services will mail you a quarterly account statement showing your account balance and activity. You can also check your account balance and move money between investment options on this Web site or by calling KeyTalk at (800) 701-8255.
You may also elect to receive your statements electronically with Online File Cabinet ® , which will store statements so you can access, view and print them at any time, at your convenience. You can sign up on this Web site by clicking the Online File Cabinet tab.
How do I make investment option changes?
Use your PIN and Username to access the Web site or you can use your Social Security Number and PIN to access KeyTalk. You can move all or a portion of your existing balances between investment options (subject to Plan rules) and change how your payroll contributions are invested.
How do I make contribution changes?
You can increase, decrease or stop your contribution at any time via this Web site by clicking on the “Change Account” tab, then “Deferral”. You can also make changes by calling KeyTalk. You will need your SSN and PIN. Any changes shall become effective beginning with the first pay period of the subsequent month.
May I roll over my account from my former employer's plan?
Yes. Approved balances from an eligible governmental 457(b), 401(k), 403(b) or 401(a) plan or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) may be rolled over to the Plan. Please check with your Great-West Retirement Services representative regarding any applicable fees on the rollover account.
May I roll over my account if I leave employment with my current employer?
If you sever employment with your current employer, you may roll over your account balance to another eligible governmental 457(b), 401(k), 403(b) or 401(a) plan if your new employer’s plan accepts such rollovers. You may also roll over your account balance to an IRA.
Please keep in mind that if you roll over your 457 Plan balance to a 401(k), 403(b) or 401(a) plan or an IRA, distributions taken from these plans before age 59½ may be subject to the 10% early withdrawal federal tax penalty. Early withdrawal penalties do not apply to distributions from a 457 (b) plan. Please contact your Great-West Retirement Services representative for more information.
When am I vested in the Plan?
Vesting refers to the percentage of your account you are entitled to receive from the Plan upon the occurrence of a distributable event. Your contributions to the Plan and any earnings they generate are always 100% vested (including rollovers from previous employers).
What happens to my account when I die?
Your designated beneficiary(ies) will receive the remaining value of your account, if any. Your beneficiary(ies) must contact a Great-West Retirement Services representative to request a distribution.
Are there any recordkeeping or administrative fees to participate in the Plan?
There are typically no administrative fees to participate in the Plan. This is because the administrative fees for the plan are offset by fund revenue sharing (or reallowances). The revenue sharing requirement to administer your plan has been reduced to 0.13% by Great-West Retirement Services.
Are there any fees for the investment options?
As with all providers, each investment option has an investment management fee that varies by investment option. These fees are deducted by each investment option’s management company before the daily price or performance is calculated. Fees pay for trading individual securities in the underlying investment options and other management expenses.
There are some funds in your Plan that do not pay revenue sharing. These funds have an additional quarterly explicit asset-based fee and only apply to participants who invest in these funds. These fees are subject to change. Please consult your fund fact sheets for the details on these explicit fees.
Funds may impose redemption fees on certain transfers, redemptions or exchanges.
May I take a loan from my account?
Your Plan allows you to borrow the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of your total account balance. The minimum loan amount is $1,000 and you have up to 5 years to repay your loanÂup to 20 years if the money is used to purchase your primary residence. There is also a $50 origination fee for each loan, plus an ongoing annual fee of $25.
How does my participation in the Plan affect my taxes?
Because your contributions are taken out of your paycheck before taxes are calculated, you pay less in current income tax. You do not report any current earnings or losses on your account on your current income tax return. Your contributions and earnings are tax-deferred until withdrawn, usually after retirement.
Distributions from the Plan are taxable as ordinary income during the years in which they are distributed or made available to you or to your beneficiary(ies).
How can I get help choosing my investment options?
Your Plan offers access to three different levels of investment advisory tools and services called Reality Investing ® . You can have Advised Assets Group, LLC (AAG), an investment advisory services firm, manage your retirement account for you. Or, if you prefer to manage your retirement account on your own, you can use online investment guidance and advice tools. These services provide a retirement strategy based on your investment goals, time horizon and tolerance for risk.
For more detailed information, please log into the Web site, by entering your Username and PIN, then click on the “Reality Investing” tab. Or call KeyTalk at (800) 701-8255, enter your Social Security Number and PIN, press “6”, then “3” to speak to an AAG adviser representative.
What fees do I pay to participate in Reality Investing?
While there is no cost to use online investment guidance, there is a $25 annual fee assessed quarterly for online investment advice.
If you choose to have AAG manage your account for you, the annual managed account fee is based on your account balance as follows:
Participant Account Balance
Annual Managed Account Fee
Less than $100,000
Next $150,000, up to $250,000