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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.a. Adopt resolution allowing participants to borrow funds from the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan 6 .a. • Central Contra Costa Sanitary District �f BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITION P Board Meeting Date: August 18, 2016 Subject: ADOPT RESOLUTION ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO BORROW FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT'S 457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN Submitted By. Initiating Dept./Div.: Thea Vassallo, CPA, CMA Administration / Finance Finance Manager REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED FOR BOARD ACTION: • A. Sasaki—Deputy General Manager Y44 Roger S.&ley General Manager ISSUE: The District's ICMA-RC 457 Deferred Compensation Plan does not currently allow participants to borrow funds from the Plan. The Deferred Compensation Committee (DCC), comprised of District employees, has recommended that a loan feature be added to the 457 Plan. BACKGROUND: This matter was first brought to the attention of the DCC by employees inquiring about the possibility of borrowing funds from the 457 Plan. In February 2016, the DCC began the conversation with Retirement Plan Specialist, Kim Hammond of ICMA-RC. At that time, Ms. Hammond confirmed that the loan program could be administered easily online through use of the Automated Clearing House (ACH). The loan agreement could be set up between the employee and ICMA- RC directly. She stated that most agencies that allow loans limit residential loans to 20 years or less and generally allow loans for any reason, since they are not restricted under the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. Another option would be to place restrictions on use of funds for such things as purchase of a primary residence, education, or unreimbursed medical expenses. However, if that were the case, the burden of review, setting criteria, administration, and approval would be shifted to the District. Ms. Hammond also explained,that if a participant takes out a loan, closes their bank account, and defaults on the loan, the District's plan is protected, as the employee's account balance secures the loan. A default would trigger a taxable event for the participant and they would receive a 1099 for tax reporting purposes from ICMA-RC. When asked about safeguards against potential program abusers, Ms. Hammond stated that the abuses could be controlled by limiting the number of loans, and the District would have the option to rescind the loan program at any time. Loans would be reported to the District as part of ICMA-RC's monthly statement and reviewed by the Page 1 of 4 POSITION PAPER Board Meeting Date: August 18, 2016 Subject-' ADOPT RESOLUTION ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO BORROW FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT'S 457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN Finance Manager. Loan activity would be reviewed by the DCC as part of their annual review. The attached "Employer Guide to Direct Loans with ACH Debit Loan Repayments" (Attachment 1) provides additional information, including plan sponsor responsibilities. Advantages to the employee of adding a loan feature to the District's 457 Plan include the following: 1) 457 loans are not recorded on the borrowers' credit report, 2) borrowers do not need to meet lending requirements, 3) interest rates are competitive and interest is paid back to the borrowers' account, and 4) the application fee may be minimal compared to other borrowing methods. Disadvantages include the following: 1) lost opportunity cost for compounding on the money; 2) repayment of the loan is with after-tax dollars; 3) double taxation (because participants are taxed again when funds are withdrawn in retirement); 4) inability to repay the loan results in a distribution, subject to ordinary income tax; 5) the fees payable may be a more expensive option than borrowing from the bank or credit union. In June 2016, the DCC reviewed the results of the District's survey of 14 agencies in California (Attachment 2). As indicated in the chart, eight of the 14 agencies surveyed allow loans from their employees' 457 plans, and six allow loans from their employees' 401 plans. The DCC recommended that loans be available from the District's 457 Plan only, since those monies are 100% employee contributions. In July 2016, the DCC met with ICMA-RC representatives Kim Hammond and Michele Martin, Managing Vice President, Western Region, to conduct the annual review of the 457 Plan as a whole and discuss the DCC's recommendations. Based on the DCC's discussion with the District's ICMA-RC representatives and the survey taken of other agencies, the DCC recommends that the District consider adopting a resolution (Attachment 3) to make 457 loans available to employees. The Loan Guidelines Agreement and Application, filled out according to consensus of the DCC and Administration Committee, is attached (Attachment 4) and a summary of its provisions is set forth below. The bullets are the features recommended by the DCC and Administration Committee; the italicized wording offers explanatory notes and/or indicates less restrictive options allowed by the IRS and ICMA-RC. Eligibility and Loan Source • Loans allowed from 457 Plan only • Account balance used to determine maximum loan will include Roth Account (Other options are to allow loans on the 401 and not include the Roth Account as a source for loans under the plan.) Page 2 of 4 POSITION PAPER Board Meeting Date: August 18, 2016 Subject ADOPT RESOLUTION ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO BORROW FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT'S 457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN Loan Purpose • Loans will be allowed for all purposes (Choices are "All Purposes"or"Hardship Only." Hardship only would require more of an administrative burden for the District as mentioned above. The IRS allows for emergency withdrawals and this would be for situations in addition to the allowable hardships under the IRS regulations.) Maximum Number of Loans • 1 at a time (IRS allows up to 5 maximum.) Loan Amount • Minimum $1,000 • Maximum $50,000 or half the value of the participant's 457 account (Per IRS regulations.) Length of Loan e 5 years maximum for all loans except primary residence loans • 10 years maximum for primary residence loans (While the maximum repayment period for a residential loan can be up to 30 years, the maximum recommended by the DCC is 10 years.) Loan Repayment Method • Repayment method —ACH debit only (ACH minimizes District administrative burden and loan monitoring. Other options are payroll deduction or a choice of either.) Repayment frequency—'monthly ACH debit (In accordance with the District's payroll frequency. Participant sets up auto payment with I CMA-RC directly.) Loan Interest Rate • Non-residential loans at the prime rate plus 0.05% • Primary residence loans at the Federal Housing AdministrationNeterans Affairs (FHANA) rate Other Provisions • Security/collateral — participant's account balance • Separation of Service o Outstanding loan shall be due and payable by a participant upon distribution of their entire account balance. o if the loan is not paid at separation of service, the employee should continue paying through ACH debit. If the loan is defaulted, ICMA-RC will Page 3 of 4 POSITION PAPER Board Meeting Date: August 18, 2016 Subject-" ADOPT RESOLUTION ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO BORROW FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT'S 457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN send the participant and the District several notices when an offset from the participant's account takes place for the balance of the unpaid loan; ICMA-RC will issue a 1099 for the current loan balance plus accrued interest. The DCC confirmed with ICMA-RC representatives on July 15, 2016 that ICMA-RC will enforce this action. • Reamortization allowed (change in terms) — 5 year maximum, differs for residential • Refinance allowed (new loan replacing outstanding loan) • Reduction of loan — upon death, unpaid loan amount settled by account balance and becomes a taxable distribution • Deemed (default) distributions — calendar year quarterly • Fees —.$50 application fee, and $50 annual fee deducted from account ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS: Do not allow loans from the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. This is not recommended, as offering a loan program has been requested by a number of employees and is a benefit commonly provided by many other government agencies. FINANCIAL IMPACTS: None. ICMA-RC would assume the administration of the program, with minimal support required from District staff, and all loan fees would be paid by the borrower. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Administration Committee reviewed this item at its August 8, 2016 meeting and consulted with ICMA-RC's Michele Martin. Following discussion, the Administration Committee recommended that the Board take the necessary steps to allow participants to take loans from their 457 Deferred Compensation Plan under the terms outlined above. RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION: Adopt a resolution allowing participants to borrow from the District's 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, and authorize District staff to implement the loan agreement with ICMA-RC as soon as practicable after Board approval. Attached Supporting Documents: 1. Employer Guide to Direct Loans with ACH Debit Loan Repayments 2. Results of Multi-Agency Survey re:Deferred Comp Loan Plans 3. Proposed Resolution 4. Loan Guidelines Agreement and Application Page 4 of 4 ATTACHMENT 1 EMPLOYER GUIDE TO DIRE(T LOANS WITH A(H DEBIT LOAN REPAYMENTS C ARC Building Retirement Security The purpose of this guide is to provide plan sponsors with the procedures to administer their loan program. If you have any questions,please contact the Client Services Team at 800-326-7272. PROCESS PARTICIPANT ICMA-RC PLAN SPONSOR RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY Requesting a New or Participants can go online(Account Online loans requested None Refinanced Loan Access) to apply for a new loan via Account Access are or refinance an existing loan.(A processed systematically. *If the employer wants to refinanced loan allows a participant to assist a participant with loan borrow an additional amount,which Loan requested through modeling, it can be accessed is added to an existing loan balance.) an Investor Services through EZLink under the Representative are Participant Info tab, then Participants can speak to an Investor processed systematically. Loan Modeling Services Representative by calling 800- 669-7400 and apply for a new loan or Completed Direct Loan/ refinance an existing loan. Refinance Forms received in good order by 4:OOpm Participants can also request that Eastern Time*will a Direct Loan/Refinance Packet be processed within 3 be emailed,faxed,or mailed.The business days. completed form needs to be returned to ICN1A-RC as instructed in the *Ifthere is an early close packet. of the New York Stock Exchange, all requests must be received in good order by the adjusted closing time. Starting Loan The participant will receive the loan ICMA-RC will initiate None Payments check along with the Disclosure monthly ACH Debits Statement,Promissory Note,Truth- from the participant's in Lending Rescission Notice and financial institution. Amortization Schedule for his/ her records. Presentment of the check for payment constitutes an acknowledgement that the participant has received and read the loan disclosure materials provided and agrees to the terms of the loan. PROCESS PARTICIPANT ICMA-RC PLAN SPONSOR RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY •• Advance Loan Advance Loan Repayments are not ICMA-RC will apply the None Repayments available through Account Access. increased loan payment amount to the loan.The The advanced payment must be a increased payment will be multiple of the payment amount(i.e., applied to both interest if the payment amount due is$50.88, and principal.There is no the payment sent to ICMA-RC is penalty or additional fee. $101.76 [$50.88 x 21 or$152.64 [$50.88 x 31,etc.). Extra payments are applied forward to the principal and interest as stipulated in the amortization schedule.Please note that the next regularly scheduled loan payment is still due as scheduled. Advanced loan payments to do not allow participants to skip subsequent loan payments. Participants can mail either a Cashier's Check or a Money Order to: For 457 plans: Vantagepoint Transfer Agents—457 c/o M&T Bank P.O.Box 64553 Baltimore,MD 21264-4553 For 401 plans: Vantagepoint Transfer Agents—401 c/o M&T Bank P.O.Box 64668 Baltimore,MD 21264-4668 The reference line on the check must include the plan number,the par- ticipant's reference code and the loan number.No personal checks will be accepted by ICMA-RC. EMPLOYER1 O DIRECT LOANSDEBIT LOAN PROCESS PARTICIPANT .. . PLAN . .• • RESPONSIBILITY .O B RESPONSIBILITY Advance Loan Payoff Participants may go online to Account The loan payoff will be None Access to pay off their loans via ACH systematically processed Debit. accordingly. Reamortized Loans** Participants can call Investor Services Upon receipt of None Services at 1-800-669-7400 and the completed loan request a Loan Reamortization reamortization form in Packer.The completed form with good order,the request the participant's signature must be will be processed and returned to ICMA-RC. the loan documentation (including the new `*Reamortized loans Reamortization of a loan allows a amortization schedule) is are not available on- participant to request a change in mailed to the participant. line through Account the terms of an existing loan,such Access as interest rate,length of repayment period,and frequency of payments. Note:A loan may not be reamortized to extend the length of the loan repayment to more than five years from the date the loan was originally made, or in the case of a loan to secure a primary residence, beyond the number ofyears specified by your plan's loan guidelines. Suspend Loan Loan payments can be temporarily Upon receipt of the loan The employer must contact Repayments suspended,if needed,when a payment suspension ICMA-RC(in writing) to participant has been granted a leave of authorization from the provide notification of the absence from his/her employer. employer in good order, participant(s)who is(are)on ICMA-RC will process a leave of absence from work The maximum loan payment the request.This will and to authorize temporary suspension is one year.Loan prevent the loan(s) from loan repayment suspension. suspension due to active military duty- becoming delinquent can be suspended for the duration of during the leave of The maximum loan the active military service. absence period. repayment suspension is one year.Loan suspension due to Note:Suspended loan payments do not When ICMA-RC active military duty can be change the terms of the loan. When the is notified that the for the duration of the active participant returns to work,he/she can participant has returned military service. either catch-up their loan payments to work,the loan will be via an advance loan repayment or reamortized accordingly. The employer must notify reamortize the loan. Reamortization ICMA-RC when the will not allow the participant to exceed The loan repayment cycle participant returns to work. the applicable maximum term of the will begin again on the loan. date the leave of absence Note:Suspended loan is ended.The loan payments do not change the payments are expected to terms of the loan. When the resume upon participant's participant returns to work, return to wo& he/she can either catch-up their loan payments via payroll deduction or reamortize the loan.Reamortization will not allow the participant to exceed the applicable maximum term of the loan. PROCESS PARTICIPANT ICMA-RC PLAN SPONSOR RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY Delinquent Loans A loan can become delinquent when ICMA-RC will mail The employer has a fiduciary ICMA-RC has incorrect bank account the participant a letter responsibility to monitor information on file or there are if the bank information delinquent loans. insufficient funds in the participant's provided by the bank account. Several notices are participant rejects during The delinquent loan mailed to the participant to prevent a the prenote process,or if notice will only show the delinquent loan. a payment rejects. participants who were recently mailed a notice A prenote reject letter is sent when A delinquent loan notice based on the delinquency ICMA-RC has incorrect bank account is then mailed at 30- interval processed. (i.e. Ms. information on file.A payment day,60-day and 90-day Jones might be on the list reject letter is sent when a payment intervals,if no action is this week for a 30-day loan rejects due to insufficient funds in the taken by the participant. delinquency,but on the next participant's bank account or incorrect ICMA-RC will also report,if she is not yet at the bank account information. mail the employer a 60-day interval,she may not delinquent loan report appear on the report.This If no action is taken to restart that identifies participants does not mean the loan is no payments,a participant will then be who were recently mailed longer delinquent.) mailed a delinquent loan notice at a delinquent loan notice. 30-day,60-day and 90-day intervals The participant is expected to make the loan current.The participant can send a cashier's check or money order(as noted above in Advanced Loan Repayments) for the delinquent amount to make the loan current. Participants also have the option to reamortize their loans by contacting Investor Services at 800-669-7400 for a Loan Reamortization Packet. (When participants call Investor Services [as instructed in the delinquency letter], they will be advised of these options.) EMPLOYER1 I DIRECT1 DEBIT LOAN PROCESS PARTICIPANT ICMA-RC PLAN SPONSOR RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY Correcting/Changing The participant should correct/ When a participant None Bank Information confirm their bank information confirms the bank through Account Access when they information,ICMA-RC receive a prenote reject letter or reactivates the current payment reject letter.The participant bank information.When should also use Account Access to a participant corrects update their bank information if there the bank information, is a change to the account from which ICMA-RC deactivates loan payments should be made. the old bank information and activates the new If the participant does not have information(for a internet access, the Automatic correction). Bank Account Debit Authorization Form for Loan Repayments can A catch-up loan be submitted to have the bank repayment for the total information confirmed or corrected by amount of any payments ICMA-RC. missed, if applicable, is processed upon receipt of updated bank account information. Deemed Distributed A loan typically becomes a deemed ICMA-RC reports the It is a plan sponsor's Loans distribution when scheduled pay- deemed distributed loan fiduciary obligation to ments are not made in adherence with to the IRS on a form properly manage the the granted cure period*. If the total 1099-R. retirement plan and its amount of all delinquent payments benefits.Mismanagement of is not received by the end of the cure your loan program may be period,the loan is deemed a distribu- considered failure to meet tion.The current loan balance plus this fiduciary obligation and any accrued interest up to the date of may expose a plan sponsor the deemed distribution is now taxable to litigation,in addition to the participant. to being in violation of applicable laws and The deemed distribution is a taxable regulations. Employers,as event. However,it is not an actual plan sponsors and fiduciaries, benefit payment.The outstanding have an obligation to comply loan balance and accrued interest with plan document and are reported on the participant's loan guideline requirements statement.The loan continues to applicable to participant be considered outstanding until it loans. Loan repayments is repaid or"offset."An offset will must be made in accordance occur when the participant has a with the plan document distributable event based on current and plan loan guidelines as plan settings. reflected in the promissory note. The participant will be required to repay any outstanding deemed dis- tributed loan balance before they can become eligible for a new loan. Repay- ment of a deemed distribution will not change or reverse the taxable event once it has occurred. *The maximum allowable cure period is the end of the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which the pay- ment was due. PROCESS PARTICIPANT ICMA-RC PLAN SPONSOR RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY .• Overpayments/ None When a loan is paid off or None Refunds offset,any overpayment will be refunded to the participant. EMPLOYER1 O DIRECT LOANSDEBIT LOAN ICM/RC Building Retirement Security I(MA RETIREMENT CORPORATION 117 NORTH CAPITOL STREET,NE WASHINGTON,D(20002-4240 800-326-7272 WWW.ICMAR(.ORG BRCO00-160-0208-1969-862 Deferred Comp Loan Research ATTACHMENT 2 June 2016 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Agency Do employees have 457 Does the agency have a 401a Are loans allowable Are loans allowable on 401a? option? plan? on 457? City of Millbrae- Kenneth Spray,City No No N/A N/A of Millbrae City of San Diego-Gilda Smith, Yes Yes No No Employee Savings Administrator, gcsmith@sandiego.gov Contra Costa Water District(CCWD)- Yes Yes Yes Yes Sonja Stanchina, HR Supervisor, sstanchina@ccwater.com Delta Diablo-Theresa Harris Yes Yes Yes Yes theresah@deltadiablo.org Dublin San Ramon Services District- Yes No Yes N/A Karen Vaden,vaden@dsrsd.com East Bay Municipal Utility District Yes Yes No Yes (EBMUD)- Dhanyale Dunbar, HR Tech, ddunbar@ebmud.com Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District- Yes Yes No Only for managers hgaumann@fssd.com Deferred Comp Loan Research June 2016 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Agency Do employees have 457 Does the agency have a 401a Are loans allowable Are loans allowable on 401a? option? plan? on 457? Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District- Yes No No* N/A Susan McGuire,smcguire@Igvsd.org Napa Sanitation District-Jeff Tucker Yes No Yes N/A 707-258-6000 Novato Sanitary District- Yes Yes Yes Yes LauraC@novatosan.ocom Oro Loma Sanitary District-Arlene Yes Yes Yes Yes Wong arlene@oroloma.org San Francisco Public Utilities Yes No No No at this time, but San Commission (SFPUC)- Francisco Deferred sfersconnect@sfgov.org Compensation Plan (SFDCP) is in the process of developing a loan program to be implemented in the near future. Union Sanitary District-Maria Buckley Yes Yes. They have three plans: 1) Yes Yes mariab@unionsanitary.com GM, 2)Work Group Mgrs, 3) Professional Staff. All in the plan must agree to contribute the same amount,you cannot stop contributions once you have started. Deferred Comp Loan Research June 2016 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Agency Do employees have 457 Does the agency have a 401a Are loans allowable Are loans allowable on 401x? option? plan? on 457? West County Wastewater District- Yes No Yes N/A Lisa Adamson ladamson@wcwd.org * Per Susan McGuire,Administrative Services Manager at Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District,they considered but decided not to offer loans due to administrative issues in tracking repayment and remitting, and "saving people from themselves." When she was in public accounting she used to audit 401k plans and would see people taking out small loans (—$1k)then having multiple loans etc.She said it can become a headache from the employer's point of view and be a detriment to employees since they are out of the market with their loan balances. Loan Summary 457 401 Yes 8 6 No 5 2 N/A. 1 5 Managers On - 1 Tota14 14 ATTACHMENT 3 RESOLUTION NO. 2016-033 A RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO BORROW FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT'S 457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN WHEREAS, the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (the "Employer") has employees rendering valuable services; and WHEREAS, the Employer has established a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan #303896 for such employees that serves the interest of the Employer by enabling it to provide reasonable retirement security and financial options for its employees by assisting in the attraction and retention of competent personnel; and WHEREAS, the Employer has determined that permitting participants in the retirement plan to take loans from the Plan will serve these objectives. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District hereby approves the Loan Guidelines Agreement and allows participants to borrow funds from the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of August 2016, by the Board of Directors of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District by the following vote: AYES: Members: NOES: Members: ABSENT: Members: Tad J. Pilecki President of the Board of Directors Central Contra Costa Sanitary District County of Contra Costa, State of California COUNTERSIGNED: Elaine R. Boehme, CMC Secretary of the District Central Contra Costa Sanitary District County of Contra Costa, State of California Approved as to form: Kenton L. Alm, Esq. Counsel for the District ATTACHMENT 4 Bc SRC BUILDING PUDIIC SECTOR LOAN GUIDELINES AGREEMENT RETIREMENT SECURITY The purpose of this agreement is to establish the terms and conditions under which the Employer will grant loans to participants.You should consider each option carefully before making your selections because your selections will apply to all loans made while the selection is in effect.If you later change any provision,the changes will apply only to loans made after the change is adopted.Loans in existence at the time of any future changes will continue to operate under the guidelines that were in effect at the time the loan was originally made. Please read the instructions and carefully complete all sections of this agreement. ®New Loan Program ❑Amendment to Loan Program I. EMPLOYER PLAN INFORMATION Name of Plan (Enter the complete Employer name,including state):Geer ra 1 Contra roc;tA Sarni to=r Di-'tri Ct Plan Type: U 457 Deferred Compensation Plan ❑401(a)Money Purchase Plan ❑401 Profit-Sharing Plan ICMA-RC Plan Number: 3 0 3 8 9 6 II. ELIGIBILITY&LOAN SOURCE Loans are available to all active employees,except those with an existing loan in default. 401 Plans—If your 401 plan is funded by a combination of Employer and Employee contributions,you must specify whether one or both of the following can be used as a source for participant loans.(Select one or both options below) ❑Employer Contribution Account(nested balances only) ❑Participant Contribution Accounts(pre-and post-rax,ifapplicablr,including Employee Mandatory,Employee Voluntary,Employer RoBooer, and Portable Benefits Accounts,but excluding the Deductible Employee Contribution/Qualified Voluntary Employee(.'attribution Account) Roth Assets(ifopplicable)—If your 457 or 401(k)plan allows Roth contributions,a participant's Designated Roth Account balance will be included when calculating the amount a participant is eligible to borrow. However,you must specify whether or not a participant's Designated Roth Account can be used as a source for participant loans. (Select one option below) ❑A participant's Designated Roth Account will not be available as a source for loans under the plan(default option) K A participant's Designated Roth Account will be available as a source for loans under the Plan. Note:If Roth assets are available as a source for loans,a loan that is deemed distributed will not satisfy the requirements for a qualified(tax-free) distribution of Roth assets. This may result in participants paying taxes on asset,that would otherwise be available tax free. III. LOAN PURPOSE Loans are available for the following purposes and must be requested in the corresponding method(select one): ®All Purposes—With this option,participants can request a loan for any reason. Participants will be able to request new loans or refinance existing loans using the Online Loans option. ❑Hardship Only—With this option,loans shall only be granted in the event of a participant's hardship or for the purpose of enabling a participant to meet certain specified financial situations.Participants will need to complete the loan application form for your plan and obtain your approval(Online Loans it not available). The employer shall approve the participant's loan application after determining,based on all relevant facts and circumstances that the amount of the loan is not in excess of the amount required to relieve the financial need,as defined by the employer.For this purpose, financial need shall include,but not be limited to:unreimbursed medical expenses of the participant or members of the participant's immediate family,establishing or substantially rehabilitating the principal residence of the participant,or paying for a college education (including graduate studies)for the participant or his/her dependents. LOAN IMPLEMENTATION PACKAGE FOR 457/401 PLAN SPONSORS 1 7 REV 7/2015 LOAN GUIDELINES AGREEMENT IV. APPLICATION PROCESS The loan application process will vary depending on the option you selected in Section III above(Loan Purpose). (A)ALL PURPOSES • Online Loans—Participants can request a new loan or to refinance an existing loan using the ICMA-RC websire at www.icmarc.org(Online Loans). • Direct Check Issuance—ICMA-RC sends loan documents with the loan check to the participant.When the participant endorses the check,that endorsement signifies acceptance of loan terms. (B)HARDSHIP ONLY • Paper Application—A loan application must be completed,signed by the participant and approved by you,the employer. • Check Issuance--Upon receipt of an approved loan application,ICMA-RC will prepare the required loan documents(i.e.,the promissory note and loan disclosure statement),and send them to the employer with the loan check. – The loan check may not be given to the participant until the loan documents have been signed by the participant.Because the promissory note is considered a plan asset,all loan documents must be completed and preserved for at least the life of the loan.The employer should retain the original loan documents and send copies of all documents to ICMA-RC The loan amount will generally be redeemed from the employee's account on the same day as either ICMA-RC receipt of a loan request/ application(complete and in good order),if it is submitted prior to 4:00 p.m.ET on a business day.If not,the loan amount will be redeemed on the next business day following submission.The loan check for an all purpose loan is generally issued on the next business day following redemption,and will be mailed directly to the employee.The loan check for a hardship loan will be sent to the employer. The employee's presentment of the loan check for payment constitutes an acknowledgment that the employee has received and read the loan disclosure information provided by ICMA-RC and agrees to the terms therein. V. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LOANS(SELECT ONE) Participants may receive one loan per calendar year.Please specify whether participants may have only one(1)or up to five(5)loans outstanding at one time. ®One(1).Participants may have only one(1)outstanding loan at a time. ❑Five(5).Participants may have up to five(5)loans outstanding at one time. ❑Other.Participants may have up to (enter 2,3,or 4)loans outstanding at one time. VI. LOAN AMOUNT Maximum:The maximum amount of all loans to a participant from the Plan and all other plans of the Employer that are either eligible deferred compensation plans described in section 457(6)of the Code or qualified employer plans under Section 72(p)(4)of the Code (e.g.,401(a)plans)shall not exceed the Lesser of (1) $50,000,or (2) One-half of the value of the Participants interest in all of his or her Accounts under this Plan. When calculating the maximum amount a participant is eligible m borrow from his/her account,the lesser value of(1)or(2)above must be reduced by the participant's highest outstanding loan balance over the past 12 months. Minimum The minimum loan amount is$1,000. A loan cannot be issued for more than the maximum amount.The participant's requested loan amount is subject to downward adjustment without notice due to market fluctuation between the time of application and the time the loan is issued. Loan amounts will be taken pro-rata from all of a participant's investments. LOAN IMPLEAEN1A11ON PACKAGE FOR 4571401 PLAN SPONSORS I B REV 1/2015 LOAN GUIDELINES AGREEMENT VII. LENGTH OF LOAN Loans must be repaid in substantially equal installments of principal and interest over a period that does not exceed five(5)years. Principal Residence Loans If the participant will be using the loan to purchase a principal residence,the five(5)year time limit may not apply.Participants can repay a principal residence loan over a period of up to 30 years.Please specify the maximum repayment period for principal residence loans from your plan below. Maximum repayment period for principal residence loans= 10 (Entera number ofyears,up to 30) VIII. LOAN REPAYMENT PROCESS Specify the repayment method(s)and repayment frequency your plan will use.Note that loan amounts plus interest,minus applicable fees paid to ICMA-RC,are repaid to participant accounts and not to ICMA-RC.You can allow repayments to be made via payroll deduction and/or ACH payments from a participant's bank account.Loan repayments must be made at least monthly(457)or quarterly(401). Repayment Method(Select One): ................................................................................................................................................................................... ❑Payroll deduction only. EACH debit only.* ❑Employee may choose either payroll deduction or ACH debit' `ACH Payment Rejected Fee—If a loan repayment scheduled to be paid via ACH debit is rejected due to insufficient funds,invalid bank account information,or account closure,a fee will be charged to the participant's account. The fee is$20 far the first occurrence and$50 far each subsequent occurrence. Repayment Frequency(Select One): ................................................................................................................................................................................... Repayments through payroll deduction will be sent via check or wire by the Employer to ICMA-RC on the following cycle(choose one): ❑Weekly(52 per year) ❑Eli-weekly(26 per year) ❑Semi-monthly(24 per year) ®Monthly(12 per year) Initiating Repayments: • ACH debits from the employee's designated bank account will begin approximately one month following the date the employee's signed ACH authorization form is received and processed by ICMA-RC,or,in the case of online loans,approximately one month following the date the loan check has been cleared for payment. Debits will normally be made on a monthly basis. • Payroll deduction should begin within two payroll cycles following the employee's receipt of the loan. Employees using this method must notify the Employer immediately so that repayments will begin as soon as practicable,on a date determined by the Employer's payroll cycle.Failure to begin payroll deduction in a timely manner could lead to the employee's loan entering delinquency status. Investment of Loan Repayments All loan repayments are invested according to the instructions the participant has on file for the investment of contributions to his/her account. Additional Loan Repayments and Early Pay-Off A participant may pay off all or a portion of the principal and interest early without penalty or additional fee.Extra payments are applied forward to both principal and interest as specified in the original repayment schedule,unless the additional payment is for the full balance due.Please note that no payment date may be"skipped"even if the employee has made a large payment or submitted multiple payments. LOAN IaPLEaEN1AnuN PAENAGE FOR 457/401 PLAN SPONSORS 1 9 REV 7/2015 LOAN GUIDELINES AGREEMENT VIII. LOAN REPAYMENT PROCESS (coanxuw) Loans in Default Participants using the ACH repayment option may default on their loans for lack of repayment more frequently than those using the payroll deduction method.For this reason,you may choose to require that certain participants use the payroll deduction repayment method. Multiple Loans If a participant has multiple loans outstanding from the plan,each loan repayment must be separately reported to[CMA-RC. Former Employees and Leave of Absence Former employees and employees on a leave of absence must repay their loans on the same schedule that would have applied had they continued employment. Your plan may allow terminated employees to continue to repay their loans either through ACH,or by giving/sending you a check each repayment period(see the Acceleration section).If you allow terminated employees to repay loans by giving/sending you a check,you will include the repayment amounts in your next regular employee contribution remittance to ICMA-RC. In certain situations,employers may suspend loan repayments for a period of time for employees on a leave of absence or military leave. Please refer to Treasury Regulation section 1.72(p)-1,Q&A-9 for more information. Repayments Must Continue In implementing a loan program you should be aware that some employers have had to contend with the inability of some participants to repay their loan(s).You should be aware that you may not stop taking loan repayments from the employee's paycheck—even if the employee asks that repayments be stopped.Failure to payroll-deduct loan repayments on schedule could both jeopardize the eligibility or qualification of the entire plan as well as create a taxable event for the participant.Likewise,if an employee is repaying the loan through ACH debit of his/her bank account,and the employee fails to make payments,this could jeopardize the eligibility of your retirement plan.Employers are ultimately responsible for ensuring that loans are repaid according to the loan terms. IC:MA-RC:will notify both you and the employee if a payment has not been received. IX. LOAN INTEREST RATE The loan interest rates are set for non-residential loans at the prime rate plus 0.5%,and for principal residence loans at the FHA/VA rate. The interest rate for new loans fluctuates from month-to-month.The rates for the following month are determined on the last business day of the month using www.moncycafe.com/library/primerate.htm(prime rate)and www.citimortgage.com(principal residence rate). When a new loan is approved,the interest rate is locked in and remains constant throughout the life of the loan. X. SECURITY/COLLATERAL At the time a loan is taken,50 percent of the participant's account balance or the amount of the loan,whichever is less,will be used as collateral for the loan. XI. ACCELERATION (SELEa ONO Please specify whether participants who have separated from service will be able to continue loan repayments until they have withdrawn their entire account balance from the plan,or if outstanding loans will be due and payable at the time the participant separates from service. All outstanding loans shall be due and payable by a participant upon: ❑Separation from service.All loan repayments must stop following an employee separating from service. ®Distribution of his/her entire account balance.Employees can continue making loan repayments until they have withdrawn their entire account balance. Outstanding loan balances that are not repaid will be reported as distributions to the participant.See the Deemed Distributions section for additional information. LOAN IMPLEMENTATION PACKAGE POR 457/401 PLAN SPONSORS 1 10 REV 7/2015 LOAN GUIDELINES AGREEMENT XII. REAMORTIZATION Reamortization changes the terms of an outstanding loan(e.g.,repayment period, interest rate,frequency of repayments).Any outstanding loan may be reamortized. Reamortization cannot extend the repayment period beyond five(5)years from the date the loan was originally issued.Or, in the case of Principal Residence Loans,beyond [the number of years specified in Section VIII years from the date the loan was originally issued. Participants can use a loan amortization form to request that an outstanding loan be reamortized. Upon processing the request,a new disclosure statement will be sent to the employer for endorsement by the participant and approval by the employer.The executed disclosure statement must be returned to the plan administrator within 10 calendar days from the date it is signed.The new disclosure statement is considered an amendment to the original promissory note;therefore a new promissory note will not be required. Note.A loan reamortization will not be considered a new loan for purposes ofealculating the number of loans outstanding or the one loan per calendar year limit. XIII. REFINANCE Refinancing involves a new loan replacing an employee's outstanding loan.The refinanced loan must be repaid over a period that does not exceed five(5)years from the date when the original loan was issued. Actively employed participants with one(1)outstanding loan may elect to refinance the outstanding loan for an additional amount, subject to the loan amount limitations outlined in Section VE, provided that the participant has not yet taken out a loan during the calendar year. Participants with multiple outstanding loans, and those who are no longer employed, are not eligible to refinance an existing loan. Note.Principal residence loans are not eligible for refinanre. XIV. REDUCION OF LOAN If a participant dies prior to full repayment of the outstanding loan(s),the outstanding loan balance(s)will be deducted from the account prior to distribution to the beneficiary(ies).The unpaid loan amount is a taxable distribution and may be subject to early withdrawal penalties.The participant's estate is responsible for taxes and penalties on the unpaid loan amount, if any.A beneficiary is responsible for taxes due on the amount he or she receives.A Form 1099 will be issued to both the beneficiary and the estate for tax reporting purposes. XV. DEEMED DISTRIBUTIONS A loan will be deemed distributed when a scheduled payment is still unpaid at the end of the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which the payment was due.When a loan is deemed distributed,the principal balance and any accrued interest is repotted to the IRS as a taxable distribution.However,since the participant received the loan amount previously,no money is actually paid to the participant as part of a deemed distribution. The loan is deemed distributed for tax purposes,but it is not an actual distribution and therefore remains an asset of the participant's account. Interest continues to accrue.The outstanding loan balance and accrued interest are reported on the participant's account statements. Repayment of a deemed distribution will not change or reverse the taxable event. The loan continues to be outstanding,and to accrue interest,until it is repaid or offset using the participant's account balance.An offset can occur only if the participant is eligible to receive a distribution from the plan as outlined in the plan document. Participants are required to repay any outstanding loan which has been deemed distributed before they can be eligible for a new loan.The deemed distribution and any interest accrued since the date it became a taxable event is taken into account when determining the maximum amount available for a new loan.New loans must be repaid through payroll deduction. important Note. The employer is obligated by federal regulation to comply witb the loan guideline requirements applicable to participant loans,and to ensure against deemed distribution by monitoring loan repayment,,regardless of the method of repayment,and by advising employees if loans are in danger ofbeing deemed distributed. The tax-qualified status or eligibility of the entire plan may be revoked in rases of frequent repayment delinquency or deemed distribution. To assist plan sponsors whose plan options include loans,ICMA-RC will provide reports of participants with payments delinquent by 30 to 89 days,90 or more days but not yet deemed,and those whose loans have been deemed distributed. ICMA-RC is committed to supporting employers who request assistance with their loan programs in order to reduce the number of delinquent loans and decrease the occurrence of deemed distributions. LOAN INHENENTATION PA(RAtE FOR 457/401 PLAN SPONSORS ( II REV 7/2015 LOAN GUIDELINES AGREEMENT XVI. FEES Fees may be charged for various services associated with the application for and issuance of loans.All applicable fees will be debited from the participant's account balance and/or from the participant's loan repayments prior to crediting the repayment of principal and interest to the participant's account. XVII. SIGNATURES The Employer has the right to set other terms and conditions as it deems necessary for loans from the plan in order to comply with any legal requirements. Employer certifies that all terms and conditions will be administered in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner. In Witness Whereof, the employer hereby caused these Guidelines to be executed this day of 20 0.7 frb,AlamA MonrA Via, EMPLOYER By: Title: Attest: LOAN IMPUMENTATION PAtrAGE Fot 451/401 PLAN SPONSONs 1 12 REV 1/2015