§457(b) Non-Governmental Deferred Compensation Top Hat Accounts
If you are a highly compensated top decision-maker in a non-governmental tax exempt organization, you may have access to this retirement savings opportunity.
A §457(b) Deferred Compensation Top Hat plan provides top executives with a means to supplement their retirement savings on a tax-deferred basis.
As a plan participant, you may fund your account with pre-tax payroll deductions and/or contributions may be made by your employer.
However, with non-governmental §457(b) deferred compensation top hat plans, the deferred compensation is considered to be an asset of your employer
until it is paid out to you at retirement, when ordinary income taxes will apply.
Salary deferrals may be made to a non-governmental §457(b) in addition to making the maximum contribution allowed to another employer-sponsored retirement plan
[i.e. §401(k) / §403(b)]. This means you can save up to twice the normal maximum contribution limit each year by contributing to both plans.
Furthermore, catch up contributions may be made to a non-governmental §457(b) account in the three years immediately preceding the attainment of “normal”
retirement age. This deferral allows for up to twice the normal maximum contribution limit.
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Therefore, if you take advantage of all these opportunities, you could bolster your nest egg near the end of your career by deferring up to three times the
normal maximum contribution limit to your retirement accounts.
How do §457(b) Non-Governmental plans operate?
- Your employer determines the features of the plan including investment options and optional plan features such as normal retirement age and a default distribution method.
- You decide how much you wish to invest each pay period, how your contributions will be allocated among the available investment options, and later, how your assets will be distributed.
The Legend Group establishes the plan in accordance with your employer’s instructions and directs your contributions to the appropriate investments. When you decide to begin withdrawing from your account, Legend distributes your funds as you advise.
Non-Governmental §457(b) Deferred Compensation Top Hat Plan Considerations
- Unlike most other employer-sponsored retirement plans, your deferred compensation is not set aside in a trust for your benefit. Instead, it remains an asset of your employer until it is distributed to you. This means that your deferred compensation will be exposed to your employer’s general creditors until distribution.
- Participants are eligible to take distributions only upon the attainment of age 70½, separation from service (which can be limited to retirement age) or in the event of an unforeseeable emergency as defined by the IRS. Required minimum distributions must be taken beginning at age 70½.
- Non-governmental §457(b) accounts may not be rolled into another type of tax-deferred retirement plan, nor to an IRA—even after separation from service.
1Certain restrictions apply to the Retirement Catch-up.
Ask your Legend Advisor to help you determine how much you can defer.