Our Services.
OUR SERVICES
Benchmarking, Design, Implementation, Communications, and Plan Management
Vinings assists our clients to efficiently manage their executive benefit programs and plan funding. We employ best practice plan design and peer analysis tools. We help companies to efficiently communicate and manage plans, secure their key executives’ benefits, and maximize after-tax funding through prudent tax-minimization strategies. We provide our clients with the confidence that the strictest standards of financial analysis and due diligence are being utilized.
Total Rewards Strategy
Ongoing Plan
Management
Retirement Plan
Strategy / Design
Security Risk &
Funding Strategy
Plan & Funding
Implementation
TAXABLE TRUST FUNDING STRATEGY AND AUDITS
Benchmarking Tax Efficiency and Best Practices
BENEFIT FUNDING ANALYSIS
Liability Determination
Asset Allocation Optimization
Tax Minimization Strategies
Hedging Strategies
Plan Change Impact
FUNDING IMPLEMENTATION
Selection: Money Managers, Trustees, Insurance Carriers
Product Placement
Installation & Funding
Requirements
Benchmarking Design/Implementation
Crossover Strategy Planning
ASC 715, OPEB, AND VEBA SERVICES
Consolidated ASC 715 Funding Management
Contribution Allocation Strategy
Funding and Investment Analysis
Tax Minimization Strategy
Creation & Assessment
Investment Policy Creation
VEBA Consolidation
Captive Assessments
TRUST PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Asset/Liability Matching
Annual Audit/Reconciliation
Yield/Duration Optimization
After-Tax Benchmarking
Asset Reallocation
NON-QUALIFIED PLAN TRUST FUNDING
COLI/BOLI Audits
Performance Reconciliation
Product Evaluation
Financial Optimization
Carrier Negotiations
Expert Witness & Litigation Support Services
TRUST FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Tax Minimization Strategies
Funding Vehicle Review
Asset Allocation Optimization
Duration Analysis
Liquidity Planning
Section 409A Compliance, Process Audits, 401(k) Audit RFPs
Vinings has a team of senior compliance consultants providing top tier compliance and retirement risk management services. Our services are available on an as-needed, project, and/or ongoing basis.
We provide clients with the critical skills and expertise required to establish, maintain and enhance a balanced and effective retirement compliance operational risk management program. We help organizations demonstrate a commitment to a strong retirement risk management culture.
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 created Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section Section 409A after Enron, AIG, and other companies abused their NQDC plans.
Section 409A significantly changed the deferral rules and taxation of nonqualified plans. Section 409A regulates a broad range of nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements. Its reach extends beyond traditional elective deferral plans and impacts numerous other arrangements, including but not limited to:
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans
Employment Agreements
Bonus Plans
Incentive Awards
Equity Plans
Severance Plans
Perquisites
Post-termination Health Benefits
The primary focus of Section 409A is to restrict when distributions from executive deferred compensation arrangements can be made and when the plan benefits are taxable. Violations may occur if the plan documents/agreements are not 409A compliant. Further, violations may occur if the company and/or administrator actions are inconsistent with the terms of the relevant and compliant written plan.
Violationsresultwith taxation and penalties to the participant: all benefits/accounts become immediately taxable, even if not yet received. The additional penalty includes a 20% tax on the total account balance plus interest from the date of deferral.
Vinings has developed a pre-audit servicetoreviewourclients plans that are subject to 409A regulations. During our process, we:
1. Research contracts to identify any potential documentation issues
2. Review payroll processing and participant elections to identify operational issues
3. Assess and analyze possible remedies for non-compliance
4. Assist in developing efficient operational processes to avoid future non-compliance
EXECUTIVE/SALES INCENTIVE AND SEVERANCE PROGRAMS
Specialized Long Term Incentive (LTI) Plans, Severance Plans and Funding
Vinings is experienced in designing programs to attract, reward and retain key talent. Our process includes peer company analysis, analyzing current LTI program efficiency, designing LTI strategies using combinations of company stock or phantom stock, cash, and deferred compensation components.
We help you devise continuation pay plans in the event of a company closing or an individual's end of employment. Your plan may include lump sum or scheduled payments, job training or transfer options and medical coverage.
These features, and others, require forethought and assurance that your plan meets and legal disclosure or reporting requirements.We develop funding strategies for these programs that will provide security to plan participants and assure money has been set aside to make future payments. Vinings provides detailed financial analysis and projects cash flow, P&L and balance sheet impact to the plan sponsor responsible for designing funding solutions.