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About West Harrison, NY

West Harrison is located in the lower east region of New York known for its long history and beautiful green hills. Major attractions include Horton Grist Mill and Merritt's Hill. Each year in the summer months there are several camps and activities. Among the biggest companies in West Harrison are PepsiCo Corporate Offices and USI Holdings Corporation. The biggest schools here are Fordham University Westchester Campus and Briarcliff High School. One of the best places to visit when you are in West Harrison is Horton Grist Mill, built during the Revolutionary War. Famous persons from West Harrison include singing cowboy and actor Tex Fletcher.

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Best Businesses in West Harrison, NY

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Not So PEPpy? Think Group of Plans

Despite predictions by some that 2021 would begin with an explosion of Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) as a result of the passage of the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement), that does not seem to be the case, so far. Certainly there are many PEPs out there to choose from, but even at this early date in the calendar year it does not look like the prediction from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that 3,200 firms would apply to administer PEPs Pooled Plan Providers (PPPs) is coming true. Instead, eyes are again turning to the horizon this time, to the 2022 plan year when Form 5500 filings become available for another option, the Group of Plans (GoP). I discussed the GoP option in an earlier blog, but given present circumstances, it seems like a good time to revisit the subject. After all, the GoP resembles a PEP in some significant ways so if it looks, feels and smells like a PEP, why isn’t it a PEP? A PEP allows unrelated employers that meet certain requirements (including having the same PPP) to join together and participate in a single retirement plan, thus lowering fees and receiving higher levels of service. Allow me to underscore that a PEP is a single plan. A GoP allows employers related or unrelated to file a single Form 5500 for multiple defined contribution plans again, to help cut down costs and receive higher levels of service. The plans making up the GoP must have the same trustee, administrator, fiduciaries, investments and plan year in order to be considered a GoP. Again, note the difference: a GoP is not a single plan, like a PEP, but does file a single 5500 filing. (“Group” is, after all, a singular noun.) Which brings up another acronym: the Single Employer Plan (SEP). This is of course a solid option as well, but by its very definition, an employer may not realize the collective bargaining power that the economies of scale can afford them in a GoP, PEP, or multiple employer plan (MEP). Another not insignificant detail when it comes to costs is that a SEP can pay thousands of dollars – or more, if it is large enough in audit fees. Those fees usually would be less with a PEP, and potentially could be even less than that with a GoP. Keep in mind that if you intentionally keep a PEP small so as to run less risk of an audit, you may be missing out on the aforementioned benefits of scale. Regardless of the type of plan that best suits the needs of a plan sponsor SEP, PEP, GoP, or MEP outsourcing fiduciary duty to a reputable third party can save time, money and hassle. A third-party administrator (TPA) is, by design, someone who can keep track of all of the regulations, deadlines, changes, and other ins and outs of a plan that someone who is busy actually running their business may miss. As 2021 continues to evolve, and the GoP ship, as it were, comes more fully into view, we will be sure to provide updates on the situation. Source: https://www.pentegra.com/current-thinking/retirement-industry-trends-and-marketplace-expertise/not-so-peppy-think-group-of-plans/

An Action Plan for Preretirees

As someone saving for their retirement, you may want to periodically revisit your investing and financial strategies as well as your timetable for retirement. Even if retirement is still several years away, you can see how well various assumptions you may have made about retirement are holding up. Here are some issues you should consider as a preretiree. Is Your Employment Secure? Job losses have been significant and many employees have had their hours and wages reduced. While it may be difficult to assess your future job security, it may make sense in this climate to seek out additional sources of income. Do you have a skill or talent that can generate extra income? For example, can you find part-time work doing coding or bookkeeping for small businesses? The gig economy has suffered but work may be available. Save and invest what you earn from part- time work. Do You Have an Emergency Fund? If you don't have an emergency fund and you are still employed, consider setting aside part of your wages to fund one. This will help you deal with unanticipated expenses without having to use a credit card or borrow from your retirement plan. Try to aim for saving enough money to cover three to six months' worth of expenses. Should You Maximize Your Social Security Benefits? You may want to consider delaying taking Social Security benefits for as long as you can afford to do so. You can start collecting Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but you won't be eligible for the full benefit amount. You also can postpone signing up for Social Security until after your full retirement age (FRA) -- the age at which you'll be eligible for full benefits -- in which case your benefit increases (8% per year up to age 70 for those born in 1943 or later). FRA is based on the year in which you were born. To see how this works, assume you were born in 1960. Here are the numbers: Age 62: receive 70% of your monthly benefit (the minimum amount) Age 65: receive 86.7% of your benefit Age 67: receive 100% of your benefit Age 68: receive 108% of your benefit Age 69: receive 116% of your benefit Age 70: receive 124% of your benefit (the maximum amount) Can You Save More? If you have a job and an emergency fund, you should try to boost the amount you save. Living below your means involves cutting down on discretionary expenses. Look for places you can reduce your spending. And look into selling household items, jewelry, or clothes you no longer want on the online marketplace. Most online sales sites charge a small commission. Again, use any money you generate for savings or to pay down debt. Are Your Investments Sufficiently Diversified? Diversification1 is an important investing strategy that involves spreading your money among a variety of funds or portfolios that hold different investments in different asset classes. The thinking is that spreading out your investments helps you manage risk in your portfolio since one asset class may rise at the same time as another one declines. However, the severe volatility in the stock market has forced many investors to revisit how they allocated their investments. You may need to reevaluate your asset allocation1 in light of your particular risk tolerance, time frame, and investment goals. For example, recent events may have convinced you that you are taking on more investment risk than you are truly comfortable with. You may be drawing closer to your anticipated retirement date and might want to focus on asset preservation rather than asset growth. Should You Stop or Reduce Your Retirement Plan Contributions? You may be tempted to preserve cash by reducing or eliminating what you contribute to your retirement plan. However, you should think carefully before doing so. The money you contribute to your plan is intended to provide for those years when you will be retired and no longer drawing a regular paycheck. You'll want your money to work 24/7 on your behalf for as many years as possible to take advantage of compounding. Reach Out to a Professional These are unusual and stressful times. If you think you would benefit from the input of an expert, consider contacting a financial professional. Source: https://www.pentegra.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/An-Action-Plan-for-Preretirees.pdf