HARVARD UNIVERSITY RETIREMENT PLAN is a DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN. This type of plan generally provides participants with a monthly retirement benefit upon reaching a specific age and may be adjusted for early retirement. Benefits paid at the time of retirement are typically calculated using a formula based upon years of credited service and compensation information. Benefits are generally payable to the participant upon reaching "normal retirement age" for the remainder of the Participant's lifetime. Benefits accumulated under this type of plan are often referred to as "accrued benefits".

With this type of plan, the Alternate Payee is usually not awarded a lump sum cash payment from the Plan. Rather, the Alternate Payee’s award is typically made in terms of a monthly benefit payable for either the lifetime of the Participant (a "shared payment") or the Alternate Payee (a "separate interest").

Features of the HARVARD UNIVERSITY RETIREMENT PLAN may include:

• This Plan is in the nature of a “Cash Balance” or similar plan, meaning that the Plan has a “cash balance” formula for determining benefits. For this purpose, a “cash balance” formula is a benefit formula in a defined benefit plan by whatever name (for example, personal account plan, pension equity plan, life cycle plan, cash account plan, etc.) that rather than, or in addition to, expressing the accrued benefit as a life annuity commencing at normal retirement age, defines benefits for each employee in terms more common to a defined contribution plan such as a “single sum distribution amount” (for example, 10 percent of final average pay times years of service, or the amount of the employee’s hypothetical account balance).
• Benefits accrued under this Plan are based partly on the balance of the separate account of the participant.
• Benefits accrued under this Plan are primarily pay related

HARVARD UNIVERSITY RETIREMENT PLAN is a DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN. This type of Plan generally establishes an account for each individual Participant where a defined amount is being contributed by the Participant, the employer or both. Some examples of this type of plan are 401(k), 401(a), Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Savings Plans and Profit-Sharing Plans.

With this type of plan, the Alternate Payee is typically awarded a portion of the Participant's account balance as of a specific date, expressed as either a percentage, or as a specific dollar amount, by way of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). The Plan will establish a separate account for the Alternate Payee and will usually allow the Alternate Payee the opportunity to utilize investment opportunities that are available for other participants in the Plan. This type of plan generally affords an Alternate Payee the ability to receive an immediate lump sum distribution (or withdrawal) upon approval of a QDRO. The Alternate Payee may also choose to transfer the awarded funds to another tax qualified account of his/her choice – for example, to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). It is important for an Alternate Payee to consult with a tax professional before making any transfers or withdrawals, in order to be fully informed as to any potential tax consequences arising from either the timing or nature of the transfer or withdrawal.

Features of the HARVARD UNIVERSITY RETIREMENT PLAN may include:

• This Plan is a “Money purchase” plan, which is similar to a profit-sharing plan, except that the employer contribution amounts are fixed rather than variable. In other words, the Employer is required to make annual contributions to each employee’s account regardless of the company's profitability for the year.
• This Plan is an “Age/service weighted” or “new comparability” or similar plan. An “Age/service weighted” plan is a plan where allocations to the Plan on behalf of a Participant are based on age, service, or age and service. “New comparability” or similar plans are where allocations to the Plan are based on participant classifications. Classification(s) consists entirely or predominantly of highly compensated employees; or the plan provides an additional allocation rate on compensation above a specified threshold, and the threshold or additional rate exceeds the maximum threshold or rate allowed under the permitted disparity rules of Code section 401(l).
• This Plan permits Participants to direct the investment of his or her retirement accounts.
• This is a plan where Participant-directed brokerage accounts are provided as an investment option
• This is a plan that provides for total or partial participant-directed account(s). In other words, this Plan uses a default investment account for participants who fail to direct assets in their account.

DISCLAIMERS

The Plan features and descriptions presented are provided only as examples and general descriptions a particular type of plan. Participants and Alternate Payees should ALWAYS review the applicable Summary Plan Description for a detailed description of the specific terms and options for the specific Plan in question.

The information provided on this page is based upon the most recent Plan tax filings available. The terms of a specific plan may have changed since the most recently available tax filing, and as a result, these descriptions and features may not be current. SimpleQDRO makes no representations as to accuracy of these descriptions.

SimpleQDRO is neither the administrator, nor a representative of this Plan. SimpleQDRO provides this information merely as a courtesy and makes no warranties as to the current status or accuracy of these descriptions.