Retirement Planning Services

You've worked very hard to get where you are today. Your steadfast commitment to professional success continually yields ample returns on many levels financial and otherwise. In short, your immediate needs, concerns and priorities - as well as those of your employees - are addressed quite sufficiently.

But how confident are you looking down the road 10, 15 or 20 years? How well have you - and your employees - planned for a future without regular paychecks? And, most importantly, will you be able to enjoy the comfortable retirement you so richly deserve?

They're tough questions - about a very serious issue. That's why Merrimack provides a comprehensive array of retirement planning services. Since 1983, we've been helping clients establish financial goals and execute sound strategies for reaching them.

And we can help you, too.

Our retirement planning services include:

•		Creative Pension Design for the business owner
•		Employee Education and Enrollment Meetings
•		Asset Allocation Formula and Strategies
•		Investment Management to meet retirement goals
•		Compliance Assistance
•		Full Plan Administration Services
•		401(k) Plans
•		Profit-Sharing Plans
•		Defined Benefit Plan Design
•		401(b) Plans
•		Select Executive Retirement and Compensation Plan Design

How Business Owners Save Three Times More, Tax Free

How to potentially triple your contributions to a deductible retirement program. Creative Retirement Planning.

At a moment when many have watched as their retirement savings lessen dramatically, The Merrimack has been helping business owners increase their tax deductible retirement savings dramatically without impacting the business bottom line.

How Merrimack Can Help
Recent changes in the IRS tax code have dramatically increased the amount employers can contribute for their owners tax-free in retirement programs without the same level of employee contributions that was necessary before. In fact, now a business owner may more than triple their own retirement contribution...while maintaining the total retirement plan contribution for other employees.

1.New Comparability Plans
Unlike "standardized" plans which require the employer contribute the same percentage of salary for all eligible employees New Comparability Plans may allow the business owner to contribute a higher percentage for himself/herself than other employees. This can result in the business owner receiving a much greater percentage of the retirement plan contribution "pie" than standardized plans.

2.Defined Benefit Pension Plans
These plans best fit business owners age 40 or older who would like the opportunity to contribute up to 100% of their income on a tax-deductible basis to a retirement plan!! Contributions to this plan are typically made on an annual basis to meet the funding requirements necessary to provide annual income benefits to employees at a selected retirement age. These contributions may vary based upon a change in plan design to provide flexibility of retirement plan contribution to the business.

Creative Retirement
You and other key company executives make a huge difference in people's lives. For example, you provide challenging opportunities, fulfilling responsibilities and generous benefits to employees. In addition, your successful business operation continually helps support the local economy. So isn't it time you did more for yourself?

With our Creative Retirement program, you can raise your personal stake in the company retirement plan while lowering total plan outlay. In fact, the program enables you to save more for retirement using tax-deductible dollars.

In essence, by allowing a business to increase company contributions for the owners of the company - and simultaneously minimize legally-required contributions for other employees - Creative Retirement provides you with a "bigger slice of the pie." The hypothetical charts below illustrate how a Creative Retirement program could impact your retirement investment holdings and increase your retirement wealth.

401(k) Plans
Given today's turbulent stock market conditions, you probably wonder from day to day what will happen next — and what you should do — especially when it comes to retirement investments.

While it's impossible to predict market performance, there are ways to proactively manage retirement programs to maximize return potential - all of which begin with a thorough review of existing plans. That's why, when it comes to assessing your current 401(k) Plan for performance and compatibility with company goals, Merrimack follows a very disciplined and focused approach.

For example, we address the critical issues head-on by raising pointed questions like: Are your employees being charged excessive investment and administrative fees? Does your 401(k) Plan sponsor provide meaningful and timely counseling services? And does your sponsor help determine the optimal retirement plan structure for you and other key employees?

Our goal in conducting such in-depth analyses is simple: To ensure that you and your employees optimize investment potential.

Our 401(k) Plan Mission: Taking the Guesswork Out of Your Retirement Plan

Plan Sponsor Responsibilities Whether you are considering the adoption of a new retirement plan or changing providers for an existing plan, you have an important task ahead. For many of your employees, an employer-sponsored retirement plan will be their only source of retirement savings and they are relying on you to make good decisions regarding their retirement plan.

As a plan sponsor, you need to consider and monitor a number of variables to meet your responsibilities as fiduciary:

•		Provider evaluation and selection assistance
•		Investment Policy Statement design consultation
•		Assistance in selecting and monitoring your plan's investment portfolio
•		Plan design solutions that meet your company's needs
•		Participants education program
•		Investment consulting for participants

Our Firm's Qualifications
Leverage our firm's considerable experience and resources to help make your plan a success. Our qualifications include:

•		Investment Advisory Representative
•		Managing retirement plans since 1983
•		Advise over 350 retirement plan clients
•		CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Chartered Financial
		Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Life Insurance Underwriter (CLU)

As your retirement plan advisor, our firm's job is to ensure that your interest and those of your plan participants receive the attention they deserve.

Plan Provider Evaluation and Selection

•		Needs Assessment:
		Not all plan sponsors have the same needs. Not all service providers offer the same services. Therefore, it is our firm's job to help you identify what your unique needs are and then find the provider that is best suited to meet those needs.
•		Provider Search:
		Once we have clearly identified your needs, we will begin the process of finding a suitable provider. Because of our firm's independent status, we are not tied to any one provider. That means we can find the best provider for your plan. In the initial search, our firm will identify between three and five providers that appear to be a good fit for your organization.
•		Evaluation and Selection:
		We will determine the most appropriate plan sponsor. After we have all the facts and figures, we will be in a position to compare their capabilities to your unique set of needs. Ultimately this process will allow you to make a final selection in which you can feel confident.

Implementation Services

•		Investment Portfolio:
		Designing your investment portfolio as well as documenting your selection is an important part of sponsoring a retirement plan. All of this can be accomplished through an Investment Policy Statement, which our firm can help you create and maintain.
•		Plan Design Review:
		Our firm can help you make sure your plan takes full advantage of ERISA rules regarding plan design. As your employee base changes, you may find the need to adjust the design of your plan. Our firm will be there to answer questions and help implement desired changes.
•		Transaction Assistance:
		Changing providers can be a complex and difficult task if it is your first time. Our firm works with service providers to help ensure a smooth transition. As with any change, communication is the key. Our firm can help you get everyone involved on the same page, to avoid unwanted surprises or disappointments.

Ongoing Maintenance and Annual Review

•		Employee Communication:
		As you know, good communication doesn't happen by accident. A successful employee communication program requires planning. By working with the service provider, our firm can help you design a plan that creates informed and confident participants.
•		Portfolio Review:
		Annually, our firm will review your portfolio of investment options and make sure they continue to meet the requirements established in your Investment Policy Statement. As needed, our firm makes recommendations for additions or deletions to your portfolio.
•		Re-Enrollment Meetings:
		Effective re-enrollment meetings can help keep participants up-to-date on plan market changes. Providing a forum on a semi-annual basis can ease participants concerns. As part of our firm's services, we will work with you to plan effective re-enrollment meetings that address current topics of concern.

Select Executive Retirement Plans
In today's highly competitive business world, the value of dedicated, industrious employees can't be overstated. So retaining them - and attracting them in the first place - is always a top priority.

That's why you should consider Select Executive Retirement Plans. They represent an innovative way to reward key employees through customized retirement offerings. In addition, they let you reduce long-term tax liability and deduct more money than you contribute - resulting in a net profit.

Merrimack can help you develop an effective Select Executive Retirement Plan. In essence, by utilizing alternative funding methods, you're not required to make equal contributions to all employee retirement plans. Instead, you can contribute more toward your own retirement fund — and the funds of those key executives whom you designate.

Many small- and medium-sized companies find such plans to be powerful incentives when it comes to retaining first-rate employees ... as well as recruiting first-rate candidates.