amycananaugh wrote:
I now have a question for you guys----I have been suggesting to more and more firms that they shift from a per document per amendment structure of pricing documents to an annual document fee of about $600 for an average safe harbor 401(k) plan. This includes all good faith amendments and required restatements but not discretionary amendments. I would like your thought on this if you will .....
On behalf of my clients, I like getting the one-time document fee out of the way, then moving on. But that really doesn't reflect the nature of the work involved.
I'd personally like to see doc maintenance get easier. Who are we kidding with the constant changes?
Oi vae!
Full Version: Annual Document Maintenance
I recommend posting responses to the following thread, where it was originally posed:
http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?s...36027&st=15
Otherwise, we'll have answers in two places...
http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?s...36027&st=15
Otherwise, we'll have answers in two places...
Man, I missed the good stuff over the weekend before the edits.
fender, if you look at Austin's link and Mike Preston's comments, you'll see that we are not to discuss actual fees. However, I think a discussion of how we package our fees is probably okay (without disclosing any real amounts).
Internally, we have been tossing around the idea for almost 2 years of how to better package our amendments and restatement fees. We are soon to offer clients the option of paying a "small" annual or quarterly amount to cover all IRS-required amendments. An additional option will likely be an option to pay an annual or quarterly amount that covers the next restatement as well (we're still working on those details).
For example, you know the restatements are supposed to be like clockwork every 6 years for most plans, so you could take the risk to set your price now for the next restatement. Suppose you decide to charge $120 for the EGTRRA restatement (obviously, this amount is for illustration purposes only). Then the client could choose to pay you $120 / 6 = $20 per year or $5 per quarter - a small easy to handle fee. Psychologically easier to swallow for some. Easier for budgeting for others. Steadier cash flow for the receiver. All good so far!
Or the client could opt for both the amendment package and the restatement package - perhaps a discount would be included . . . still working through that.
Edited for the letter "e"
fender, if you look at Austin's link and Mike Preston's comments, you'll see that we are not to discuss actual fees. However, I think a discussion of how we package our fees is probably okay (without disclosing any real amounts).
Internally, we have been tossing around the idea for almost 2 years of how to better package our amendments and restatement fees. We are soon to offer clients the option of paying a "small" annual or quarterly amount to cover all IRS-required amendments. An additional option will likely be an option to pay an annual or quarterly amount that covers the next restatement as well (we're still working on those details).
For example, you know the restatements are supposed to be like clockwork every 6 years for most plans, so you could take the risk to set your price now for the next restatement. Suppose you decide to charge $120 for the EGTRRA restatement (obviously, this amount is for illustration purposes only). Then the client could choose to pay you $120 / 6 = $20 per year or $5 per quarter - a small easy to handle fee. Psychologically easier to swallow for some. Easier for budgeting for others. Steadier cash flow for the receiver. All good so far!
Or the client could opt for both the amendment package and the restatement package - perhaps a discount would be included . . . still working through that.
Edited for the letter "e"
QUOTE (J4FKBC @ Jul 23 2007, 07:45 AM) 
Man, I missed the good stuff over the weekend before the edits.
fender, if you look at Austin's link and Mike Preston's comments, you'll see that we are not to discuss actual fees. However, I think a discussion of how we package our fees is probably okay (without disclosing any real amounts).
Internally, we have been tossing around the idea for almost 2 years of how to better package our amendments and restatement fees. We are soon to offer clients the option of paying a "small" annual or quarterly amount to cover all IRS-required amendments. An additional option will likely be an option to pay an annual or quarterly amount that covers the next restatement as well (we're still working on those details).
For example, you know the restatements are supposed to be like clockwork every 6 years for most plans, so you could take the risk to set your price now for the next restatement. Suppose you decide to charge $120 for the EGTRRA restatement (obviously, this amount is for illustration purposes only). Then the client could choose to pay you $120 / 6 = $20 per year or $5 per quarter - a small easy to handle fee. Psychologically easier to swallow for some. Easier for budgeting for others. Steadier cash flow for the receiver. All good so far!
Or the client could opt for both the amendment package and the restatement package - perhaps a discount would be included . . . still working through that.
Edited for the letter "e"
fender, if you look at Austin's link and Mike Preston's comments, you'll see that we are not to discuss actual fees. However, I think a discussion of how we package our fees is probably okay (without disclosing any real amounts).
Internally, we have been tossing around the idea for almost 2 years of how to better package our amendments and restatement fees. We are soon to offer clients the option of paying a "small" annual or quarterly amount to cover all IRS-required amendments. An additional option will likely be an option to pay an annual or quarterly amount that covers the next restatement as well (we're still working on those details).
For example, you know the restatements are supposed to be like clockwork every 6 years for most plans, so you could take the risk to set your price now for the next restatement. Suppose you decide to charge $120 for the EGTRRA restatement (obviously, this amount is for illustration purposes only). Then the client could choose to pay you $120 / 6 = $20 per year or $5 per quarter - a small easy to handle fee. Psychologically easier to swallow for some. Easier for budgeting for others. Steadier cash flow for the receiver. All good so far!
Or the client could opt for both the amendment package and the restatement package - perhaps a discount would be included . . . still working through that.
Edited for the letter "e"
Might I convince you to make your comment in the other thread, as indicated by the wonderful post just before yours?
I'm going to lock down this thread, just in case anybody else wants to continue the discussion here.
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