401(k) Glossary of Terms

Retirement plan terms are confusing and full of technical jargon. Don't sweat it – we've got your back. Here's an extended list that will help you better understand the sometimes-confusing world of retirement plans. This glossary is updated periodically to reflect changes in limits and legislation.

  • 12(b)1 Fee
    An annual marketing or distribution fee is charged by a mutual fund. The legal maximum for this fee is 75 basis points (0.75%) of assets managed.

  • 3(21) Fiduciary
    A paid investment fiduciary that provides investment recommendations and advice. Commonly referred to as an Advisor.

  • 3(38) Fiduciary
    A fiduciary that has discretion overinvestments to select, monitor or replace.

  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
    The retirement savings plan is offered by corporations to their employees. It is named after a section of the IRS revenue code and offers tax benefits to both the employer and employee.

  • 403(b) Retirement Plan
    A retirement plan for certain public school employees, other educational institutions, and other tax-exempt organizations. These plans are not organized under ERISA law.

  • 404(a)(5)
    Participant disclosure rules under ERISA require employers to provide information to employees at least annually regarding the fees they personally pay for their retirement plan.

  • 404(c)
    This applies to 401(k) and 403(b) plans, allowing individual participants to direct the investment of their accounts. Generally, diversified investment options with varying risk and return features are available from which the individual may choose.

  • 408(b)(2)
    Disclosure requirement under ERISA for fiduciaries. In brief, a service provider to an ERISA plan that claims to be a fiduciary must disclose such status as well as a description of its services and fees.

  • 501(c)(3)
    A nonprofit organization approved by the IRS as a tax-exempt charitable entity.

  • 5500 – also known as Form 5500
    An annual report provided to the IRS disclosing the financial condition of a covered retirement plan, including investments and fund operations.

  • Active Investment Manager
    A professional investment manager that is tracking portfolio performance and makes buy, hold, and sell decisions.

  • Actual Contribution Percentage (ACP) Test
    An annual test is required by the IRS to compare the average employer contributions to highly compensated versus non-highly compensated employees. It is referred to as a non-discrimination test verifying that employer contributions do not favor highly compensated individuals. Together with the ADP Test, these are known as non-discrimination tests.

  • Actual Deferral Percentage (ADP) Test
    An annual test is required by the IRS to compare average salary deferrals of highly compensated versus non-highly compensated individuals. Together with the ACP Test, these are known as non-discrimination tests.

  • Administrator
    Manages the day-to-day processes associated with a retirement plan, such as ensuring that funds are collected and distributed appropriately. The Administrator can be a person or Board of Trustees associated with the plan, but frequently a third party with specialized skills and knowledge of the retirement regulatory framework, known as a Third Party Administrator or TPA, is hired to perform these duties.

  • After-Tax Contribution
    Money paid into a retirement account after income tax deductions.

  • ADV – also known as Form ADV
    The mandatory form required for Investment Advisors to register with the SEC as well as states when applicable. The Form consists of three parts and details the firm, its officers, investments, and total assets under management. It is available as a public record.

  • Annual Defined Contribution Limits
    The federal government limits the dollar amount an individual may contribute to their retirement accounts. These limits are typically increased each year.

  • Asset Allocation
    The division of funds among a variety of securities (like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) in order to achieve an investment objective.

  • Automatic Contribution Arrangement
    Allows an employer to automatically enroll an employee into the company retirement plan unless the employee actively opts out. Also known as Automatic Enrollment.

  • Automatic Enrollment
    Allows an employer to automatically enroll an employee into the company retirement plan unless the employee actively opts out. Also known as Automatic Contribution Arrangement.

  • Benchmark
    A standard or unchanging portfolio is used to compare a managed portfolio based on risk and return parameters.

  • Beneficiary
    A person or entity you choose to receive your financial assets when you die.

  • Blackout Period
    A time when participants cannot access their retirement funds or make changes. This may occur due to a company merger or retirement vendor change. It does not mean that retirement assets are unsecure.

  • Bond Investment
    Bonds are debt securities that may provide principal and interest. Often thought of as "less risky" than equity securities, they have their own disadvantages and risks.

  • Cash Balance Plan
    Even though cash balance plans fall under the defined benefit retirement category, they have similar characteristics to a defined contribution plan. A cash balance plan defines the retiree benefit in terms of an account balance as opposed to a benefit to be received.

  • Catch-Up Contribution
    Additional retirement contribution limits the federal government allows for employees 50 and older. Also known as the Catch-Up Provision.

  • Cliff Vesting
    A retirement vesting plan is where employees receive full benefits from their retirement plan account at a designated time in the future rather than gradual vesting over time.

  • Compliance Testing
    ERISA-mandated annual plan reviews to ensure a qualified retirement plan is being fairly administered with respect to all employees, regardless of compensation level.

  • Contingent Beneficiary
    The person or entity that is next in line from the primary beneficiary to receive retirement benefits.

  • Contribution Limits
    Annual employee limits on retirement contributions are imposed by the government. Employers also have stated annual maximums for individual accounts.

  • Control Group
    A set of companies with shared ownership that can pool the assets of the companies into one retirement plan. A control group is subject to non-discrimination testing.

  • Corrective Distribution
    Occurs when the retirement plan has failed IRS annual testing. It is a taxable event for the participant.

  • Cross-Testing
    In a cross-tested plan, contributions and benefits are based upon the future value of the benefit and, in some cases, may create a favorable outcome with non-discrimination testing.

  • Custodian
    Tracks assets moving into and out of the retirement plan, securely holds assets and values all assets within safekeeping at regular intervals.

  • Deferral Rate
    The percentage of an employee's paycheck that is contributed to their retirement plan.

  • Deferred Compensation Plan
    A retirement plan that withholds a portion of employee pay and contributes it to a retirement plan.

  • Defined Benefit Plan
    A pension retirement plan largely funded by employers that offer a guaranteed benefit to the employee upon retirement.

  • Defined Contribution Plan
    A pension retirement plan that is typically co-funded by employers and employees. This type of retirement fund does not guarantee a specific benefit upon retirement but rather allows contributions to be invested and grow over time on a tax-deferred basis.

  • Department of Labor (DOL) and Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
    The DOL is responsible for regulating the provisions outlined by ERISA. EBSA is a division of the DOL tasked with enforcing ERISA.

  • Designated Roth Contribution
    Roth contributions are after-tax contributions to a Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b) retirement plan.

  • Direct Rollover
    Transfer of an individual's retirement account from one employer to another.

  • Discrimination Testing
    Testing is required by the government to ensure a retirement plan is administered fairly to all qualifying employees regardless of compensation.

  • Diversification
    Investing in a variety of assets in an attempt to reduce risk for any given level of return.

  • Dollar Cost Averaging
    The strategy of investing a fixed dollar amount into an asset portfolio at regular intervals.

  • Elective Deferral
    Employee compensation that is withheld and invested in a retirement account.

  • Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS)
    An IRS system that allows plan sponsors to correct certain retirement plan errors.

  • Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
    The federal law outlines the minimum standards allowed for a voluntarily established retirement plan.

  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
    Gives employees an ownership interest in their company with company stock shares.

  • Employer Matching Contribution
    A contribution an employer chooses to make in their employees' retirement plan.

  • Equity Security
    Company ownership interest is represented by stock shares.

  • ERISA Plan Audit
    Many retirement plans subject to ERISA are required to have annual financial statement audits by an independent qualified public accountant.

  • Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)
    A pooled investment similar to a mutual fund. ETFs can be traded on exchanges intraday similar to stocks.

  • Expense Ratio
    The internal fees associated with owning a mutual fund or EFT are expressed as a percentage of the investment.

  • Fiduciary – also see Named Fiduciary

    Service provider owes a duty of care and trust to the retirement plan and puts beneficiaries of service interests ahead of their own.

  • Force Out
    A terminated employee with less than a $5,000 vested balance in their company retirement plan may be forced to take their money out of the plan.

  • Forfeiture
    Employees most frequently face a retirement forfeiture by leaving an employer prior to being fully vested in the retirement plan. Forfeited funds can be used by the employer to pay retirement expenses, reduce a future employer contribution, or increase employee contributions.

  • Frozen Plan
    An inactive retirement plan whereby the employer is not making further contributions. Frozen plans are typically a defined benefit scheme.

  • Funding Contributions
    Funds earmarked for retirement contribution.

  • Gap Analysis
    A quantitative tool used to illustrate whether an employee is tracking their retirement savings goals.

  • Gateway
    Profit sharing test threshold that needs to be satisfied prior to other qualifying tests.

  • Glide Path
    Formula for calculating how a retirement investment portfolio should change over time as an individual move toward retirement age.

  • Hardship Withdrawal
    Participant distribution due to a financial burden. The funds are not expected to be paid back. Should the individual be able to pay back the distribution within 60 days, there are no financial penalties; otherwise, there may be penalties if the participant is under age 59 ½ as well as tax consequences.

  • Highly Compensated Employee (HCE)
    Used for discrimination testing of retirement plans. The IRS defines HCEs by compensation, ownership, and sometimes by compensation ranking (within the top 20%). The objective of the IRS is to ensure those defined as HCEs are not benefitting more from a qualified retirement plan than their lower-paid employees.

  • Income Fund
    A mutual fund or ETF that emphasizes current income over capital appreciation.

  • Index
    Tracks the performance of a group of assets in a standardized way. They are typically used to capture the performance of a certain segment of the market.

  • Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
    A retirement account that allows an individual to save money in a tax-advantaged way.

  • Individual Retirement Account Rollover
    The act of transferring funds from either an employee-sponsored retirement plan or another IRA while preserving the preferential tax treatment of the funds.

  • In-Service Withdrawal
    An employee withdrawal from their employer-sponsored retirement account while still employed by the employer.

  • Investment Advisor
    Person or firm engaged in the business of providing investment advice and management. Registered Investment Advisors have registered with the SEC or state authority.

  • Keogh Plan
    Tax-deferred pension plan for self-employed individuals.

  • Key Employees

    Defined by the IRS based upon employee ownership and income. Key employees are used to test if a retirement plan is top-heavy.

  • Longevity Risk
    The risk that an individual outlive their retirement assets.

  • Lump-Sum Distribution
    Distribution of a participant's entire retirement balance within a current tax year.

  • Matching Contribution
    Employer contribution made to a sponsored retirement plan for the benefit of the employees.

  • Minimum Contribution
    Although there are no minimum contributions required by law for employee contributions, the employer may require a minimum contribution to receive an employer match.

  • Money Purchase Plan (MPP)
    Qualified retirement savings plan where only the employer makes contributions. The contributions are required to be made annually at a fixed percentage regardless of company profitability.

  • Multiple Employer Plan (MEP)
    Designed for smaller firms to share the costs of administering a retirement plan, an MEP is a tax-advantaged retirement plan offered by two or more unaffiliated companies in a related business.

  • Mutual Fund
    A pooled investment vehicle.

  • Named Fiduciary
    Person or entity responsible for managing a qualified retirement plan under ERISA.

  • Non-Discrimination Rules
    Rules for tax-deferred retirement plans are enforced by the IRS in an effort to ensure a retirement plan is equitable to all employees regardless of their compensation.

  • Non-Elective Contribution
    Contribution employers direct to their sponsored retirement plans regardless of employee contributions.

  • Non-Highly Compensated Employee (NHCE)
    Categorizing employees by their compensation level is used in discrimination testing to ensure employees are treated equally in qualified tax-advantaged retirement plans. The IRS adjusts the compensation levels for NHCE annually.

  • Non-Qualified Plan
    Typically, an employer-sponsored tax-deferred plan is not regulated under the provisions of ERISA.

  • Opinion Letter
    A letter from the IRS verifying the status of a qualified retirement plan.

  • Participant
    An employee taking part in a retirement plan.

  • Participant Contributions
    Contributions made by employees into their retirement plan.

  • Participant Directed Account
    Retirement accounts where participants have the discretion to select their investment options, typically from a menu of investment choices.

  • Passive Investment Management
    Refers to the use of index funds rather than active management strategies that try to beat an index.

  • Plan Administrator
    See Administrator.

  • Plan Fiduciary
    See Fiduciary.

  • Plan Sponsor
    An employer or outside company that sets up a retirement plan for the employees. Responsibilities include determining who qualifies for participation and setting investment options and contribution levels.

  • Plan Trustee
    The individuals or entity that has the primary fiduciary responsibility to ensure a retirement plan is being managed in the best interest of the participants.

  • Plan Vendor
    Entities that are service providers to a retirement plan, serving at the discretion of the Plan Sponsor.

  • Pooled Employer Plan (PEP)
    Similar in cost-sharing strategy to an MEP, employers do not need to be in related areas of business.

  • Portability
    An employee's legal right to retain their retirement benefit when changing employers.

  • Profit Sharing Plan
    A retirement plan that allows employees to participate in the profitability of the firm through discretionary employer contributions.

  • Prohibited Transaction
    Numerous transactions are prohibited by law between a retirement plan and a party in interest.

  • Prudent Investor Rule
    Codified in the Uniform Prudent Investor Act, fiduciaries must act as if the retirement investment was their own. It is a guideline for the standard of care.

  • Qualified Automatic Contribution Arrangement (QACA)
    An automatic retirement enrollment plan. Employees need to opt out of the plan rather than opt-in.

  • Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA)
    The automatic investment alternative for employee retirement funds if the employee fails to select an investment option.

  • Qualified Non-Elective Contribution
    Funds an employer may elect to contribute to a retirement plan regardless of employee contributions.

  • Qualified Plans
    Retirement plans are described in the IRS tax code.

  • Recordkeeper
    Keeps track of plan assets, contributions, and investments. Additionally, they prepare various financial reports and participant statements.

  • Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
    Retirees may be required by law to take distributions from their retirement accounts when they reach a certain age. An actuarial formula is used to determine the amount of the annual distributions.

  • Rollover
    The act of moving funds from an employer-sponsored retirement account to an IRA.

  • Roth 401(k)
    An employer-sponsored retirement plan that is funded with after-tax dollars, allowing withdrawals to be tax-free during retirement.

  • Safe Harbor 401(k)
    A retirement plan that adheres to certain rules in exchange for avoiding IRS non-discrimination testing.

  • Salary Reduction Plan – Cash or Deferred Arrangement (CODA)
    Cash or a salary percentage that employees elect to be deducted from their wages to be invested in the employer-sponsored retirement plan.

  • Service Provider
    The host of vendors may be involved in assisting the Plan Sponsor with the administration of the plan.

  • Self-Directed Brokerage Account
    A link to a brokerage account within a participant retirement account allows an individual to select investments outside the scope of the employer's core investment offerings.

  • Summary Plan Description
    A detailed guide discussing how a retirement plan works and its benefits to the employee is required by ERISA-governed plans to be distributed to participants.

  • Target Benefit
    Contributions to a target benefit fund are based on retirement projections, but unlike a traditional defined benefit fund, the benefit is not guaranteed.

  • Target Date Fund
    Typically, a mutual fund will shift its asset mix over time as an individual age toward retirement.

  • Tax-Free Rollover
    The act of moving retirement assets within federal restrictions, thereby avoiding taxes on the distribution.

  • Third-Party Administrator (TPA)
    Manages the day-to-day processes associated with a retirement plan, such as ensuring that funds are collected and distributed appropriately. The Administrator can be a person or Board of Trustees associated with the plan, but frequently a third party with specialized skills and knowledge of the retirement regulatory framework, known as Third Party Administrator or TPA, is hired to perform these duties.

  • Top Heavy Plan
    Plans where the key employees own 60% or more of a retirement plan asset balance. ERISA retirement plans are required to test for Top Heavy plans annually.

  • Vesting
    The employer-dictated schedule of participant ownership of employer retirement contributions.