Logo for SYM Financial Advisors featuring the text "SYM" in large green font and "FINANCIAL ADVISORS" in smaller gray font. There is a graphic of two green, swooping lines beneath "SYM." The background is white.

retirement plans

Image of the U.S. Capitol building against a clear blue sky with the text "THE SECURE ACT 2.0" written on the right side.

What’s in the SECURE 2.0 Act?

How will the Secure 2.0 Act affect your retirement? The original SECURE Act was signed into law on December 20th, 2019. Its “sequel,” the SECURE 2.0 Act, was just enacted at year-end on December 29th, 2022. Both pieces of legislation seek to reform how Americans prepare for retirement while juggling current spending needs. How, when, or will each of us retire? How can government incentives, regulations, and safety nets help more people safely do so—or

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A hand writes "401(K) PLAN" in red marker on a whiteboard. Below the text are the numbers 1, 2, and 3, indicating a list. The SYM Financial Advisors logo, with green text and a leaf graphic, is displayed at the bottom left, promoting their expertise in 401k plans for business.

3 Reasons to Provide an Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan

As open enrollment approaches, you may be wondering if it’s time to add a retirement plan to your employee benefits package. Or, you might simply want to provide more information about what is currently available to your employees. While employer-sponsored retirement plans offer numerous benefits to employees, there are some serious benefits to focus on from the employer’s perspective. When it comes to retirement plans, there are a few key things to keep in mind.

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Image of Tom Ackmann, Senior Retirement Plan Advisor at SYM Financial Advisors, smiling. A quote reads, "Understand that as your business evolves, your retirement plans evolve, too." Branding in top left corner reads "The Owner's Corner.

Retirement Plans and How to Make Them Work with Tom Ackmann (podcast)

Tom Ackmann is a principal and senior retirement plan advisor at SYM Financial Advisors, an RIA firm with a long history of serving plan sponsors and their employees. He previously worked as the Vice President of Baden Retirement Plan Services and the Vice President for Ascensus. At SYM, Tom leads a team that advises over 100 corporate clients and 10,000 participants. Tom holds a degree in Communications/Political Science from Concordia University Chicago. Tom joins me

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Two 3D human figures are depicted; the one on the left holds a red X, while the one on the right holds a green checkmark. Below them, text reads "ELIGIBLE OR NOT???" suggesting a comparison or decision-making scenario regarding eligibility.

How 401k Eligibility Changes with The SECURE ACT

Background on 401k Eligibility Prior to the passage of the SECURE Act, employers could exclude long-term part-time employees (LTPT employees) that worked fewer than 1,000 hours per year from employer 401k contributions.  This was done by implementing a one year of service waiting period requirement.  The “one-year service” was defined as a 12 consecutive month period where the employee worked at least 1,000 hours. How 401k Eligibility Changes with The SECURE Act The SECURE Act

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A magnifying glass with a wooden handle rests on top of a stack of books with aged, yellowed pages, placed against a dark background. The scene is softly lit, highlighting the texture of the book covers and the glass, evoking an atmosphere reminiscent of thorough fiduciary investigation.

The Difference between a 3(21) and 3(38) Fiduciary

Retirement plan advisors can serve in a 3(21) or 3(38) fiduciary capacity or in some cases, both. The needs and desires of the plan sponsor dictate the specific arrangements. Such decisions are normally predicated upon risk mitigation versus risk avoidance. While some plan sponsors want assistance with their fiduciary responsibilities but elect to maintain discretion and control of their plan’s investment menus, others will choose to shift fiduciary responsibilities to a third party due to

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Illustration showing eight people in business suits walking in line. One person breaks away, holding a red balloon, and floats above the others, suggesting innovation or thinking outside the box amid discussions of the secure act. All characters carry briefcases against a blue background.

Business Owners and the SECURE Act

For the first time since the passage of the Pension Protection Act (PPA) in 2006, Congress forwarded and the president signed a major piece of retirement legislation. Referred to as the Setting Every Community up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act), the law includes a number of provisions that will undoubtedly change the retirement landscape. Although it is early and specific details are scant, we thought we would take the opportunity to comment on a

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