THELEN LLC DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION 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 THELEN LLC DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION 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).

THELEN LLC DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION 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 THELEN LLC DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN may include:

• This Plan is a “Target Benefit Plan”, where an annual contribution is determined by a formula to calculate the amount needed each year to accumulate (at an assumed interest rate) a fund sufficient to pay a projected retirement benefit (the “target benefit”), to each participant upon reaching retirement. The Plan's obligation is to pay whatever benefit can be provided by the amount in the Participant’s 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.