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Does a recordkeeper or a common remitter provide the same range of services as a full-service third party administrator?

PlanConnect®

Typical Recordkeeper

Typical Remitter

  • Provides recordkeeping and common remitter services for all 403(b)/457(b) plans

Additional services:

  • Acts as a central point of contact for plan-level information.
  • Provides overall compliance monitoring for plan transactions such as loans, hardship withdrawals, suspensions and reinstatement, distributions, and required minimum distributions.
  • Coordinates investment provider activities.
  • Maintains an employer plan website.
  • Develops and maintains the plan document.
  • Assists in plan design to eliminate compliance issues.
  • Assists and advises plan sponsors regarding eligibility and participation requirements, e.g., universal availability rule.
  • Assists in the calculation of contributions and compliance with legal contribution limits.
  • Calculates participant eligibility for plan enrollment.
  • Maintains administrative forms.
  • Provides an employer manual.
  • Maintains the summary plan description (SPD) for ERISA plans.
  • Prepares annual Form 5500 reporting for ERISA plans.
  • Performs compliance testing including nondiscrimination testing of employer contributions for ERISA plans.
  • Provides online plan management and participant services.
  • Keeps records and maintains accounting of values attributable to each 403(b) or 457(b) plan participant.
  • May keep track of the sources of money, e.g., pre-tax vs. Roth contributions.
  • Usually does not handle compliance services.
  • Captures data from the employer’s payroll.
  • Compares contributions received with expected contributions.
  • Reconciles errors in contributions (exceptions) with the payroll department.
  • Identifies employees eligible for “catch-up” contributions and applies contributions in the proper order.
  • Distributes contributions to investment providers.

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