We will be at local Dauphin County offices throughout the month of November. You can Email Us to see if we will be attending a meeting at your office. If not, you can Schedule a Phone Call to discuss your account. Remember, unlike other voluntary benefits, you can make changes to your Dauphin County, PA Deferred Compensation Plan account throughout the year.
2019 Q4 Tactical Models Report
For the beginning of the quarter, the Plan’s Tactical Models will be remain in their more conservative allocations. If the market environment changes for the better, the models will increase their exposure to high risk category investments. If the market environment deteriorates, the models will either maintain their current allocations or may become slightly more conservative. Use the link below to read the Tactical Forecast Report that reviews the Plan's Tactical Models. If you have any questions or would like to review your account, you can Contact Us.
Update to Loan Interest Rate
PLAN LOAN INTEREST RATE DECREASED FROM 6.25% 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. These new rates take affect August 1, 2019.
THE PRIME INTEREST RATE
You might have heard that the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) decreased its Federal Funds Target Rate (Target Rate) recently. The Target Rate is the suggested range of interest which one bank may charge another for overnight lending. In mid-September, the Fed set the range at 1.75% to 2.00%. This is a decrease of 0.25% over the prior Target Rate. 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 December.
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.
2019 Q3 Intra-Quarter Tactical Model Update
The Plan’s Tactical Models will be moving to more conservative allocation on 8/29/2019. Use the link below to read the intra-quarter Tactical Forecast Report that reviews the Plan's Tactical Models. If you have any questions or would like to review your account, you can Contact Us.
Update to Loan Interest Rate
PLAN LOAN INTEREST RATE Decreased FROM 6.50% TO 6.25%
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. These new rates take affect August 1, 2019.
THE PRIME INTEREST RATE
You might have heard that the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) decreased its Federal Funds Target Rate (Target Rate) recently. The Target Rate is the suggested range of interest which one bank may charge another for overnight lending. In late July, the Fed set the range at 2.00% to 2.25%. This is a decrease of 0.25% over the prior Target Rate. 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 December.
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.
2019 Q3 Tactical Models Report
Use the link below to read the quarterly Tactical Forecast Report that reviews the Plan's Tactical Models. The model allocations are targeted to be updated in mid to late July, and the models will stay in their maximum High Risk Category exposure. If you have any questions or would like to review your account, you can Contact Us.
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 Q2 Tactical Models Report
Use the link below to read the quarterly Tactical Forecast Report that reviews the Plan's Tactical Models. The model allocations are targeted to be updated in mid-January, and the models will move to their minimum High Risk Category exposure. If you have any questions or would like to review your account, you can Contact Us.
2019 Q1 Tactical Models Report
Use the link below to read the quarterly Tactical Forecast Report that reviews the Plan's Tactical Models. The model allocations are targeted to be updated in mid-January, and the models will move to their minimum High Risk Category exposure. If you have any questions or would like to review your account, you can Contact Us.