Services | Employee Benefits: Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A.

THF provides full service plan administration, tax return preparation, and consulting services to small and mid-sized companies. More specifically, THF provides the following employee benefit services:

Consulting On Specific Employee Benefit Issues

We answer questions on design, operation, and reporting matters related to most employee benefit plans. Internally, we provide legislative and regulatory updates in the form of our Client Alerts, as dictated by events and developments.

Qualified Retirement Plan Design

We feel that the care that goes into the design of retirement plans is the most important element that influences the ultimate success of the plan. Each employer has unique demographics, in-house capabilities, financial resources, and benefits philosophies. THF works closely with you and your organization to clearly define your objectives and translate them into an appropriate retirement program.

Qualified Retirement Plan Administration

We provide plan administrative services for all types of defined contribution plans whether profit sharing, 401(k), age-weighted, cross-tested, target benefit, or money purchase. Our services include full service balance-forward work on an annual basis. We can provide all aspects of the recordkeeping and administrative processes or any portion of the processes, as needed to meet our client's needs.

Qualified Retirement Plan Documents

We contract with the SunGard (formerly, Corbel & Co.) document processing system. This is the largest non-prototype document provider in the country. Because of our relationship with SunGard, we can easily create documents to meet your specific objectives. Also, because we have retirement plan specialists examining the intent of the plan, they will not blindly request document information, but will draw to your attention any overlooked opportunities in the plan's design.

Cafeteria Plans

Our described services for qualified retirement plans are also available for cafeteria plans, (e.g., design, consulting, and documents). We have tools called "POP"-Kits available. A POP-Kit is a package for establishing a "Premium-Only Plan" that comes with fill-in-the-blank style documents and administration forms. It is ideal for the employer who wants a simple, inexpensive cafeteria plan.

Welfare Plans

Consulting on the tax and ERISA issues concerning welfare plans is an important part of our practice. In the tax area, we offer advice on the taxability of benefits and assistance with the nondiscrimination rules. With regard to ERISA, we are very familiar with the Form 5500 filing requirements and audit requirements for plans. We also review documents for compliance with ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and can provide information on health care cost containment.

Non-Qualified Plans

Since many benefit matters cannot be handled through a qualified retirement plan, we are also familiar with the design, documentation, and operation of non-qualified retirement plans. Our experience covers classic deferred compensation, excess benefit plans, incentive compensation, and non-qualified pensions, phantom stock, stock appreciation rights, ISOs, IRC §83, IRC §457, etc. We provide advice regarding the administration of these arrangements, but do not provide recordkeeping services for these programs.

Other Fringe Benefits

We assist clients with tax and ERISA issues for other fringe benefits (health, life, time-off, etc.). We analyze total fringe benefit packages for design, cost effectiveness, and technical compliance.

Audited Financial Statements

We perform audits of a Plan's financial statements in accordance with accounting principles and auditing standards generally accepted in the United States.


	\| ASSURANCE \| EMPLOYEE BENEFITS \| INTERNAL CONTROL REVIEW \| PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING \| \| TAX SERVICES \| IT SERVICES \| OTHER SERVICES \|
		THF provides full service plan administration, tax return preparation, and consulting services to small and mid-sized companies. More specifically, THF provides the following employee benefit services: Consulting On Specific Employee Benefit Issues We answer questions on design, operation, and reporting matters related to most employee benefit plans. Internally, we provide legislative and regulatory updates in the form of our Client Alerts, as dictated by events and developments. Qualified Retirement Plan Design We feel that the care that goes into the design of retirement plans is the most important element that influences the ultimate success of the plan. Each employer has unique demographics, in-house capabilities, financial resources, and benefits philosophies. THF works closely with you and your organization to clearly define your objectives and translate them into an appropriate retirement program. Qualified Retirement Plan Administration We provide plan administrative services for all types of defined contribution plans whether profit sharing, 401(k), age-weighted, cross-tested, target benefit, or money purchase. Our services include full service balance-forward work on an annual basis. We can provide all aspects of the recordkeeping and administrative processes or any portion of the processes, as needed to meet our client's needs. Qualified Retirement Plan Documents We contract with the SunGard (formerly, Corbel & Co.) document processing system. This is the largest non-prototype document provider in the country. Because of our relationship with SunGard, we can easily create documents to meet your specific objectives. Also, because we have retirement plan specialists examining the intent of the plan, they will not blindly request document information, but will draw to your attention any overlooked opportunities in the plan's design. Cafeteria Plans Our described services for qualified retirement plans are also available for cafeteria plans, (e.g., design, consulting, and documents). We have tools called "POP"-Kits available. A POP-Kit is a package for establishing a "Premium-Only Plan" that comes with fill-in-the-blank style documents and administration forms. It is ideal for the employer who wants a simple, inexpensive cafeteria plan. Welfare Plans Consulting on the tax and ERISA issues concerning welfare plans is an important part of our practice. In the tax area, we offer advice on the taxability of benefits and assistance with the nondiscrimination rules. With regard to ERISA, we are very familiar with the Form 5500 filing requirements and audit requirements for plans. We also review documents for compliance with ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and can provide information on health care cost containment. Non-Qualified Plans Since many benefit matters cannot be handled through a qualified retirement plan, we are also familiar with the design, documentation, and operation of non-qualified retirement plans. Our experience covers classic deferred compensation, excess benefit plans, incentive compensation, and non-qualified pensions, phantom stock, stock appreciation rights, ISOs, IRC §83, IRC §457, etc. We provide advice regarding the administration of these arrangements, but do not provide recordkeeping services for these programs. Other Fringe Benefits We assist clients with tax and ERISA issues for other fringe benefits (health, life, time-off, etc.). We analyze total fringe benefit packages for design, cost effectiveness, and technical compliance. Audited Financial Statements We perform audits of a Plan's financial statements in accordance with accounting principles and auditing standards generally accepted in the United States.