A non-qualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plan, also known as a 409(a) plan, is an employee-sponsored program for deferring income used by corporations to attract and retain senior executives. It is not a qualified retirement plan, like a 401(k), which is covered by the Employment Retirement Security Income Act (ERISA).
If you are eligible to participate in an NQDC plan, you can postpone taking a portion of your compensation until a future date – which means you can delay paying income tax on these earnings until a time when you expect to be in a lower tax bracket, typically retirement. Many high-earning eligible executives who are already saving as much as possible via their 401(k)s use an NQDC plan as a way to defer additional compensation, above and beyond traditional retirement savings.
However, when you choose to participate in an NQDC plan, you are subject to the provisions of your company’s plan and your money is generally not accessible until the date you originally elected, so the decision is not without risks.
Here are five questions to ask yourself before deciding whether to participate, how much to defer, and when you plan to take your distributions.
1. What are your future cash requirements?
Think about potentially significant expenses you may encounter in the future and estimate your liquidity requirements before deciding how much of your compensation to defer. For example, do you have a child about to enter college? Is your home due for major repairs? Or might you need to provide financial assistance to an elderly loved one? Keep in mind that a longer deferral period is potentially better for the investments and tax deferral but there is greater risk that something unexpected could occur in your personal life, leading to a need for these funds.
2. How financially healthy is your company?
When you participate in a non-qualified plan, you are considered an “unsecured creditor” of the company — and if your employer were to go bankrupt, the compensation you’ve deferred is at risk. A longer time horizon exposes you to a greater possibility that competitive pressures or other variables might negatively impact your employer.
One way to assess your employer’s financial health is to look at the financial health of its competitors, the competitive pressures it faces, and the long-term outlook for the industry in which your company operates. In addition, a deeper dive into the firm’s performance can give you a better perspective. Look at your firm’s:
• History of headcount reductions, high turnover, etc.
• Recent financial performance and projections
• Funding status
If you see any red flags, you may want to reconsider deferring.
Disclosures
Mason Investment Advisory Services, Inc. (“Mason”) is an independent investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about Mason, including our investment strategies, fees, and objectives, is included in the Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.
This communication is not intended as a recommendation or as investment advice of any kind. It is not provided in a fiduciary capacity and may not be relied upon for, or in connection with, the making of investment decisions. Nothing herein constitutes or should be construed as an offering of advisory services or an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. All content is provided for informational or educational purposes only.
