Join us for free educational seminar...

Here to There

Wednesday, May 22, 2019 5:30-6:30 pm

Location: Fort Hunter Centennial Barn

Light refreshments will be served at 5:00 PM

Spend a Casual Evening with our panel as we answer and discuss your questions relevant to you or your aging parents:

• Planning from here to there

• Staying Home - continuum of care and aging in place for yourself and your loved ones

• Ways of paying for care

• Preparing your final arrangements

Questions and RSVP’s may be sent in advance to bobbi@seniorhelpers.com

* Panel of experts *

Stephen Hetrick – Retirement Collaborative LLC (Deferred Compensation Plan)

Bobbi Emanuel — Owner of Senior Helpers

Debbie Dare, CLTC, LTCP — Independent Long--Term Care Broker

Graham Hetrick – Dauphin County Coroner

 

Upcoming Changes to the Plan's Investment Options

As part of the Dauphin County, PA Deferred Compensation Plan’s ongoing due diligence process, the investment options in your retirement plan are monitored over time. The objective of this monitoring is to offer investment choices with strong performance relative to peers, low volatility and consistent style. Based upon this monitoring, the Plan will make changes to the available investments on the week of 06/03/2019. Information regarding these plan changes were distributed with your pay check and you can also download it using the button below.

2019 Increase to Maximum Payroll Deduction

  • The 2019 contribution limits were just updated, and the 457(b) contribution limit increased from $18,500 in 2018 to $19,000 in 2019.

  • There is no change to the 50 and older catch-up contribution, which remains at $6,000. If you are 50 years or older in 2019, you will be able to contribute a maximum amount of $25,000 in 2019.

  • The Special 457(b) Catch-Up Contribution will increase to $38,000 in 2019.

If you would like to max out your payroll contribution, don’t forget you must add Dauphin County’s employer contribution of $4 per year. Also, when you submit your payroll deduction change, it will take place the first pay of the following month. To have your payroll deduction updated for January, you must submit your payroll deduction change by the end of December 2018.

Payroll deduction changes can be made on the Alerus participant website or by contacting HR. If you have questions regarding your account or payroll deductions, please Contact Us.

Update to Loan Interest Rate

PLAN LOAN INTEREST RATE INCREASES FROM 6.25% TO 6.50%

The Dauphin County, PA Deferred Compensation Plan offers participants the opportunity to take loans against their account value.  So that you do not fall behind with your retirement income goals, you are required to pay interest on the loan.  The plan's loan interest rate is 1% plus the prime interest rate. The key point is that you are paying yourself the interest.  Essentially, you are acting as your own bank.  Below is more information on how the loan interest rate is calculated and the plan's loan provisions. Changes to the loan interest rates only affect new loans.

THE PRIME INTEREST RATE

You might have heard that the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) recently raised its Federal Funds Target Rate (Target Rate) again.  The Target Rate is the suggested range of interest which one bank may charge another for overnight lending. In December, the Fed raised its Target Rate by 0.25%.  The Fed does not set the prime interest rate. However, once the Fed establishes the Target Rate, then U.S. banks take action to set the rate for their best or "prime" customers. Generally, a bank's prime rate is linked to the Target Rate and moves in lockstep with it. Each U.S. bank can determine its own "prime" rate that it offers customers. However, there is no central authority which sets "prime."

The loan interest rate is based upon the prime interest rate.  The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) publishes the prime rate, which is determined by surveying the thirty largest banks in order to come up with a consensus amount.  The WSJ reports changes to the prime rate when the surveyed banks have adopted a new rate, which occurred when the Fed raised its Target Rate in September when it moved from 5.25% to 5.50%.

PLAN LOAN PROVISIONS

Any active employee may borrow money from his/her account for any reasonable purpose. Provisions of the loan program are as follows:

  • You may borrow up to half of your total vested account balance for any purpose, with a minimum loan of $1,000 and a maximum loan of $50,000.

  • The maximum number of loans a participant may leave outstanding at any time is two.

  • You may choose a repayment schedule of up to five years, except if the loan is used to acquire your principal residence (up to 15 years). All loans will be paid back through payroll deduction.

  • The interest rate charged on your loan will be 1% above the prime interest rate. All interest that you pay on your loan is credited to your account.

  • A one-time, non-refundable fee of $75 plus a $25 per year administrative fee will be deducted from your loan proceeds.

  • It may take three to four weeks to process your loan application, so plan accordingly.

If you have questions regarding the plan loan provisions, Contact Us.

Update to Loan Interest Rate

PLAN LOAN INTEREST RATE INCREASES FROM 5.75% TO 6.00%

The Dauphin County, PA Deferred Compensation Plan offers participants the opportunity to take loans against their account value.  So that you do not fall behind with your retirement income goals, you are required to pay interest on the loan.  The plan's loan interest rate is 1%+ the prime interest rate. The key point is that you are paying yourself the interest.  Essentially, you are acting as your own bank.  Below is more information on how the loan interest rate is calculated and the plan's loan provisions.

THE PRIME INTEREST RATE

You might have heard that the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) recently raised its Federal Funds Target Rate (Target Rate) again.  The Target Rate is the suggested range of interest which one bank may charge another for overnight lending. In September, the Fed raised its Target Rate by 0.25%.  The Fed does not set the prime interest rate. However, once the Fed establishes the Target Rate, then U.S. banks take action to set the rate for their best or "prime" customers. Generally, a bank's prime rate is linked to the Target Rate and moves in lockstep with it. Each U.S. bank can determine its own "prime" rate that it offers customers. However, there is no central authority which sets "prime."

The loan interest rate is based upon the prime interest rate.  The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) publishes the prime rate, which is determined by surveying the thirty largest banks in order to come up with a consensus amount.  The WSJ reports changes to the prime rate when the surveyed banks have adopted a new rate, which occurred when the Fed raised its Target Rate in September when it moved from 5.00% to 5.25%.

PLAN LOAN PROVISIONS

Any active employee may borrow money from his/her account for any reasonable purpose. Provisions of the loan program are as follows:

  • You may borrow up to half of your total vested account balance for any purpose, with a minimum loan of $1,000 and a maximum loan of $50,000.

  • The maximum number of loans a participant may leave outstanding at any time is two.

  • You may choose a repayment schedule of up to five years, except if the loan is used to acquire your principal residence (up to 15 years). All loans will be paid back through payroll deduction.

  • The interest rate charged on your loan will be 1% above the prime interest rate. All interest that you pay on your loan is credited to your account.

  • A one-time, non-refundable fee of $75 plus a $25 per year administrative fee will be deducted from your loan proceeds.

  • It may take three to four weeks to process your loan application, so plan accordingly.

If you have questions regarding the plan loan provisions, Contact Us.

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