Team Rewards

In a recent PLR from the IRS, an interesting optional approach to allow an employee to direct their employer contributions to a qualified retirement plan (such as a 401(k) plan) opens the door to some possibilities for employers looking to expand their benefit offerinngs without increasing costs.

Posted on September 18, 2024 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
401(k), 
Administration, 
Blog, 
Combo Plans, 
Defined Contribution Plan, 
Plan Document Services (RPS), 
Profit Sharing, 
Retirement Plans, 
Team Rewards

We're often asked if vitamins of any kind (multivitamin, specific vitamins [such as B12, D, or K for example]) or others are eligible for reimbursement under a health care flexible spending account (FSA) or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).

Posted on June 19, 2024 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Administration, 
Benefit Card, 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
Talent Management, 
Team Rewards

Spousal Incentive HRAs aren't new. But they're getting new exposure as a means of helping employers control health care costs, increasing employee recruiting and retention, and aiding employees when they have choices between two group health plans to elect a spouse's coverage over the employer's.

Posted on June 12, 2024 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards

Given all the recent news about student loans and the impact on both individual lives and the economy as a whole, we thought it was time to review what an employer can do to assist those either currently in post-secondary or technical schools as well as those who have graduated and now have loans.

Posted on April 15, 2024 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
401(k), 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
Defined Contribution Plan, 
Educational Assistance, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Learning and Development, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards, 
Work / Life Balance

Almost every organization that sponsors employee benefit plans must file IRS Form 5500. Of course, there are different rules and requirements for 5500s based on the type of plan being reported. In today’s post, we’re going to look at a few of the common questions that we receive about 5500s.

Posted on February 1, 2024 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
401(k), 
Administration, 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
Cash Balance, 
Combo Plans, 
Defined Contribution Plan, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
HR Compliance, 
IRS Form 5500 Services (BDA), 
IRS Form 5500 Services (RPS), 
Money Purchase, 
Profit Sharing, 
Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA), 
Retirement Plans, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards

401(k)’s and other retirement plans are extremely technical, But by working with a highly skilled Third Party Administrator (TPA), employers can be supported in these tasks, assured their plan is running smoothly, and in compliance with ERISA and IRS regulations.

Posted on October 5, 2023 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
401(k), 
Administration, 
All Articles, 
Blog, 
Cash Balance, 
Combo Plans, 
Defined Contribution Plan, 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
IRS Form 5500 Services (RPS), 
Money Purchase, 
Nonqualified Plans (Executive Compensation), 
Plan Document Services (RPS), 
Profit Sharing, 
Retirement Plans, 
Summary Plan Descriptions, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards

Medicare requires all employers that offer prescription drug benefits to provide an annual notice to all Medicare-eligible plan participants and qualified beneficiaries before October 15th of each year. Here's all you need to know about that filing.

Posted on September 15, 2023 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Administration, 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
HR Compliance, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards

Working with an employee benefits consultancy ensures that you stay informed, minimize costs, and receive sound advice about the wellbeing of your employees. With the ability to walk you through your decision-making process, consultants can ensure that you’re looking at appropriate plans.

Posted on May 30, 2023 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
401(k), 
Administration, 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
Nonqualified Plans (Executive Compensation), 
Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA), 
Team Rewards

Employers that offer prescription drug benefits are required to provide an annual notice to all Medicare-eligible plan participants and qualified beneficiaries before October 15th of each year, the start of the Medicare open enrollment period. Most send it to all participants.

Posted on September 30, 2021 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
HR Compliance, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards

Last year's Consolidated Appropriations Act and this year's American Rescue Plan provided employers optional flexibility for their Dependent Care FSAs. But they also created a potential tax hurdle. The IRS fixed (most all of) it.

Posted on May 11, 2021 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards

The Consolidated Appropriations Act contains many benefit changes, all of which are optional on the part of the employer. We know this is coming long after open enrollment has ended for most plans, but employers will want to pay close attention and decide which (if any) they'd like to adopt.

Posted on December 28, 2020 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
401(k), 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA), 
HR Compliance, 
Retirement Plans, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. It's a mammoth bill of over 880 pages, and contains many employee benefit-related items. This post, the second in the CARES Act series deals with the qualified retirement plan provisions in the Act.

Posted on March 31, 2020 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
401(k), 
Administration, 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
Cash Balance, 
Combo Plans, 
COVID-19, 
Defined Contribution Plan, 
Money Purchase, 
Plan Document Services (RPS), 
Profit Sharing, 
Retirement Plans, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards