Meet Hannah Lorentz 

Meet Hannah Lorentz, Admin Associate

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF  

I grew up in rural Minnesota near Dent, surrounded by the serene countryside. Being the only girl between two brothers, I quickly learned to keep pace with them. My childhood was filled with activities like fishing, hunting, chopping firewood, exploring the woods, biking, and building forts. During my high school years, I was deeply involved in various pursuits such as music, theatre, competitive speech, and even had a stint as a drummer and vocalist in a rock band for approximately nine years. Our band performed at numerous events including street dances, bars, and county fairs. As the sole female member, I took on the responsibility of band manager, arranging gigs across Central Minnesota. This experience played a significant role in shaping my ability to engage with diverse individuals and my fondness for small-town establishments. In 2015, I relocated to Moorhead to pursue higher education at MSUM, where I successfully obtained a degree in Business Administration. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING AT HEARTLAND TRUST?  

My favorite thing about Heartland Trust is the people who work here. There isn’t a day that passes that I don’t smile, laugh or share a story with someone. They are always happy to teach me new things and go above and beyond to make me feel welcome. I look forward to growing relationships with my coworkers! 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?  

In addition to tackling home remodel projects and watching my perennials bloom, I love going to live music, singing karaoke, trying new recipes & restaurants, and road trips to just about anywhere! I enjoy anything vintage/antique and hunt to find the perfect additions to my Pyrex & Vintage Christmas collection.   

IF YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?   

If I could meet one person it would be Dolly Parton. She was a pioneer for women in country music, fashion, and a brilliant musician. I would love to sit down with her and hear about some of her favorite performances and accomplishments.  

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE RECIPE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? 

My favorite recipe is super easy, but never fails! I grew up with my mom making homemade dumplings in several soups from scratch (my favorites are homemade chicken dumpling soup or vegetable beef stew)! 

Mix together: 

1 cup flour 

1 egg 

1 tsp salt 

1/4 cup milk or less (enough to make a sticky dough consistency)  

Mix well and use a spoon to drop a golf ball sized dumpling in your soup at a low boil. Let boil for 8-10 minutes and enjoy! 

 

 

 

Heartland TrustMeet Hannah Lorentz 
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HTC Team News and Honors

Anniversaries 

At Heartland Trust, our relationships go beyond colleagues; we consider ourselves a family. Supporting our team and contributing to their futures are integral parts of our mission. Thank you to these team members for being a part of Heartland Trust. 

  • Mary Carlson ( Senior Administrative Associate) Celebrating 12 Years in April 
  • Jace Gilleshammer ( IT Coordinator)- Celebrating 2 Years in June 
  • Kari Skauge ( Director of Compliance) – Celebrating 3 Years in June 
  • Missy Zarak ( Trust Officer) – Celebrating 5 Years in June 

Announcements:  

We are delighted to announce that Kevin Wangen, Wealth Management Officer, has achieved success in obtaining the CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM) certification. It is worth noting that, on average, individuals typically dedicate one to two years to complete the CFP® course. Kevin’s accomplishment underscores his dedication and commitment to professional excellence. 

Congratulations to Gabe Benson, Jon Benson’s son for achieving a historic milestone by becoming the first Concordia College student to qualify for the NCAA Golf Meet! This is truly an incredible honor. Gabe attended the event which was held in Las Vegas in May.  

Events:  

  • Heartland Trust proudly supports the Kiwanis Pancake Feed. Pictured: Jen Johnston (Jen serves as a director for the Kiwanis board) 

  • Heartland Trust was honored to be a sponsor for the West Fargo Exchange Club  24th Annual Fun Night. The West Fargo Exchange’s Core Values are family, community and country. Pictured: Jana Samek (Jana serves as board member)  

  • Heartland Trust is a continual supporter of the Village Bowl for Kids’ Sake Event! Pictured: Front: Mary Fridgen, Kayla Kranda Back: Kevin Wangen, Tim Rensch, Jace Gilleshammer, Kari Skauge 

  • Team Member Ethan and his wife Abby welcomed a new member to their family. Meet Beau!  

  • Jill McAndrew is a valued cornerstone of Heartland Trust! On May 8, we marked a significant milestone as we celebrated her 50th birthday.

Additional Information:

Our office will be closed the following days: 

Wednesday, June 19th

Wednesday, July 3rd at 12:00pm

Thursday, July 4th

Monday, September 2nd

Market Update 

Join us for the semi-annual Heartland Trust Market Update on Thursday, July 18th at 3:00 PM. Please send an email to info@heartlandtrust.com or call 701-235-2002 to get on the invite list to receive the Zoom link. Feel free to send in any questions you may have as well. 

The market update is a 30-minute presentation hosted by Dustin Sobolik and Kevin Wangen from the investment committee at Heartland Trust. 

Chamber Bridge Highlight 

Heartland Trust President, Brian Halverson was featured in the March-April FMWF Chamber Bridge Magazine as a voice of vision. You can view the article below!  

View Article

Online Statements 

Looking for a convenient and eco-friendly way to manage your accounts? View your statements online! By signing up, you not only streamline your banking experience but also contribute to reducing paper waste. 

Here’s why you should make the switch: 

  • Instant Access: View your statements anytime, anywhere, with just a few clicks. 
  • Enhanced Security: Enjoy encrypted digital statements for added protection of your financial information. 
  • Environmentally Friendly: Reduce paper consumption and support sustainability efforts. 

Get in touch to discover more, and we’ll gladly help you enroll! 

Heartland TrustHTC Team News and Honors
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HTC Team News and Honors

Employee Highlights

Soup Cookoff

We thoroughly enjoy our culinary events at HTC! To kick off the new year, we hosted a soup cookoff. 

Our winners:  

1st Place: Jace Gilleshammer (knoephla) 

2nd Place: Kayla Kranda (lasagna)  

3rd Place: Maureen Jelinek (chicken enchilada) 

Lasagna Soup 

1lb Italian chicken sausage 
1/2 onion, chopped 
2 crushed cloves garlic 
4 T chopped fresh parsley 
1 T tomato paste 
6 cups chicken broth 
2 cups marinara sauce 
2 bay leaves 
Fresh cracked black pepper 
6oz broken lasagna noodles or mini farfelle 
8oz ricotta cheese 
 
1. Heat large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, spray with oil, and add sausage; cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks with a wooden spoon about 4-5 minutes. 
2. Add chopped onion and crushed garlic and cook 2-3 minutes. 
3. Add the parsley, tomato paste, broth, marinara sauce, bay leaves and fresh black pepper and bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer about 30 minutes. 
4. Add the pasta and cook uncovered according to package directions.  
5. Once the pasta is cooked stir in ricotta cheese. 


Chicken Enchilada 

  • 2.5 lbs Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs (I use a rotisserie chicken 😊) 
  • 28 oz Green enchilada sauce 
  • 24 oz Chicken broth (I use chicken stock) 
  • 1C Half & Half or heavy cream (I used 1/2&1/2) 
  • 2C Monterey jack cheese 
  • 4 oz cream cheese (cubed and softened) 
  • 4 oz Green salsa (Mrs Renfro’s is my go-to) 
  • Salt & pepper to taste 
  • 1 bunch of cilantro 
  • 1 small can of hot green chilis 

In a 6-quart slow cooker add chicken breast or thighs, green enchilada sauce, and chicken broth.  Cook on Low 6-8 hours. 

Remove chicken and shred.  Add shredded chicken, jack cheese, cream cheese, half & half, and green salsa to slow cooker.  Turn slow cooker to warm and stir until cheeses are melted.  Add hot sauce or additional salsa to taste. 

Serve and enjoy!  Delicious topped with avocado, cilantro, green onion and sour cream.   

Knoephla Soup 

  • 8 ounces bacon chopped 
  • 2 tablespoons butter 
  • 1 med sized onion chopped (approx 1 cup) 
  • 3 carrots chopped 
  • 3 celery stalks chopped 
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped finely 
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour 
  • 2 bay leaves 
  • 10 cups low-sodium chicken broth  
  • 3 large potatoes cut into cubes 
  • 1-1/2 cup heavy cream 
  • 1 Tablespoons of Salt 
  • 1 teaspoon of pepper 

Knoephla Dumplings 

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour 
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder 
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt 
  • 2 teaspoon chopped parsley 
  • 2 teaspoon chopped dill 
  • 2 teaspoon chopped thyme 
  • 1 cup milk 
  • 1 egg 

Put bacon in a stockpot or Dutch oven and cook on medium to low heat, stirring often. Once the bacon is crispy use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel. 

Discard about half of the bacon grease, leaving 3 tablespoons in the pan. Add butter to the 3 tablespoons of grease and melt on medium-low heat. 

Add the chopped onions, carrots, and celery and increase the temperature back to medium heat. Cook until the onions are soft, 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds 

Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously, then add the chicken broth, bay leaves, and potatoes. Increase the heat to high and bring to a bowl, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the potatoes are soft. 

While the soup simmers, prepare the Knoelpha. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and herbs. 

Whisk the egg and milk in a small bowl or measuring cup. Then fold into the flour. 

Once combined, knead for 5 minutes by hand on a floured surface, or knead using the dough hook of your electric mixer on low speed. 

Roll dough ½” thick, then slice into ½” squares.  Drop into boiling water for 2-3 minuets to ensure they are fully cooked, then use a slotted spoon and transfer into soup (after blending) 

OPTIONAL- once soup has simmered for 20-30 mins I use an immersion blender (you could also work in batches and use a blender) to make the soup creamy rather than chunky. This is purely preference (Remove the bay leaves before blending) 

Stir in heavy cream and cook until heated through. Taste the soup and add additional salt and pepper. Keep in mind potatoes need a lot of salt. Don’t be surprised if it needs another tablespoon of salt.  

Top with bacon to serve. 

Chili Cookoff

We concluded 2023 with a chili cookoff, sampling eight different varieties of chili 

1st Place:  Ethan Linder 

2nd Place: Lori Theis 

3rd Place: Gary Hanson 

Festival Of Trees

Heartland Trust sponsored and decorated two trees for the 23rd annual Fraser, Ltd. Festival of Trees. This event supports programs for local children, youth, and adults on their life’s journey towards independence.

Annual Heartland Open House

*Welcome committee: Mary Fridgen, Kayla Kranda, Amy Remmick and Ethan Linder* 

HTC hosted its annual open house on Thursday, December 7! It was a pleasure to bring together our clients, vendors, and partners to celebrate the holiday season! 

Save the Date for 2024- Thursday, December 5th!  

Annual Ugly Sweater Contest

Celebrate Brian’s Prairie Business 2024 40 Under 40

The annual awards honor young professionals in the Dakotas and western Minnesota, each under the age of 40. These nominees come from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds who have made significant impacts in their chosen professions and communities.

Quotes:

Quote from Steve Halverson (Heartland’s Chairman of the Board)

“Brian is perfectly suited to manage the Heartland Trust Company.  His client centered attitude aligns perfectly with our core values that were set 34 years ago.  Brian is perfect to carry out our mission: “to provide a lifelong commitment to the well-being of the clients we serve”.

Quote from Gary Hanson (Heartland’s Chief Financial Officer)

“Since assuming the role of President in 2018, Brian has brought innovation and forward-thinking to Heartland Trust. His leadership has driven the implementation of new systems and essential software needed for our future growth.”

Read the full article here.

Anniversaries

At Heartland Trust, our relationships go beyond colleagues; we consider ourselves a family. Supporting our team and contributing to their futures are integral parts of our mission.

  • Sheryl Bernier ( SVP and Board Member)- Celebrating 34 years in January
  • Denise Lies ( RS Senior Operations and Compliance) – Celebrating 31 years in January
  • Jill McAndrew- (Operations Associate)- Celebrating 19 years in January
  • Jan Nelson (Trust Officer) – Celebrating 11 years in January
  • Jana Samek ( VP/ Director of Retirement Services)- Celebrating 7 Years in January
  • Jen Johnston ( Trust Officer)- Celebrating 7 Years in January
  • Michelle Hoppe ( Trust Officer Associate) -Celebrating 6 Years in February

Giving Hearts Day

Each year, Heartland Trust donates funds to a charity of each employee’s choice. Our mission, “To provide a lifelong commitment to the well-being of those we serve,” is reflected in our dedication to giving back to our communities.

List of all the charities who received a Giving Hearts Day Gift:

  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley
  • Hospice of the Red River Valley  
  • Churches Untied for the Homeless
  • Great Plains Food
  • Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN
  • 4 Luv of Dog Rescue
  • Memory Café
  • DMF Enough with the Stigma
  • DMF 4-6-3 Foundation
  • Arthritis Foundation of North Dakota
  • Grace Lutheran School 
  • West Fargo Area Education Foundation
  • Park Christian School
  • Badges of Unity Fund
  • Jeremiah Program Fargo-Moorhead
  • Bio Girls
  • Lend A Hand Up
  • St. Gianna & Pietro Molla Maternity Home
  • Red River Zoo
  • Cat’s Cradle
  • Kitty City
  • Veterans Memorial Cemetery
  • Landon’s Light
  • American Society of Suicide
Heartland TrustHTC Team News and Honors
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HTC Team News and Honors

Employee Highlights


We will be celebrating the holidays and you’re invited to join us. Our Holiday Open House will be held from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, December 7, at the Avalon Events Center, 2525 9th Ave. S., Fargo. Hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, and beer will be served.

Two of our team members celebrate milestone birthdays this quarter. Kayla Kranda, our Director of Operations, turned 40 in October and Brian Halverson, our President and CEO, turns 40 in November. Happy birthday! 

Heartland Trust sponsored and decorated two trees for the 23rd annual Fraser, Ltd. Festival of Trees. This event supports programs for local children, youth, and adults on their life’s journey towards independence.

Steve Halverson, Chairman of the Heartland Trust Board, was recognized for his service on the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. Steve served on the board from 2017-23. It is the governing body for The Chamber and is comprised of 19 business and community leaders.

Heartland TrustHTC Team News and Honors
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What’s a Required Minimum Distribution?

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are amounts that the federal government requires you to withdraw annually from certain tax-deferred retirement accounts. These accounts are called tax-deferred for a reason. Participants accumulate earnings on their contributions tax-free over the years, postponing the payment of taxes, not eliminating them. The purpose of RMD rules is to have these taxable accounts distributed so they are not held tax free over the lifetime of the account owner and then left as an inheritance.

Kevin Wangen, Wealth Management Officer

Kevin Wangen, Wealth Management Officer

When do I have to take my required minimum distribution?

The federal government recognizes that people are living longer and staying in the workforce longer. As a result, Congress has been adjusting the start date for RMDs. In 2019, the RMD age was raised from 70.5 to 72. With the passing of the SECURE 2.0 Act at the end of 2022, that age was raised to 73. In 2033, that age is set to bump up again to 75.

Birth Year RMD Beginning Age First RMD
1950 72 2022
* 2023
1951 73 2024
1952 73 2025
1953 73 2026
1954 73 2027
1955 73 2028
1956 73 2029
1957 73 2030
1958 73 2031
1959 73 2032
1960 75 2035

*There were no RMDs that began in 2023 due to SECURE 2.0 changes

What accounts require RMDs?

Not all retirement accounts have RMDs. Original owner Roth IRAs are exempt from RMDs (if certain conditions are met) since taxes were paid when the money was contributed. Roth 401(k) and 403(b) accounts are still subject to RMDs, however, there is proposed legislation to remove this requirement as soon as 2024. The following accounts are still subject to RMDs:

  • 401(k)
  • 403(b)
  • 457
  • Traditional IRAs
  • Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs
  • Simplified Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs
  • Profit sharing plans
  • Other defined contribution plans

You may be exempt from taking an RMD from an employer-sponsored retirement plan if you are still working and less than a 5% owner of the company, either directly or indirectly. Once you begin taking your RMD from an account, you must take them annually for life, even if you go back to work at the same employer. This rule does not affect the RMD status of any other accounts you may have.

How much do I need to withdraw for my RMD?

Each year the amount needed to satisfy your RMD changes according to your age. The calculation starts with taking the year-end balance for each tax-deferred retirement account, finding your age on the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, and dividing the balance by the number from the chart. Please note that there is a separate chart for IRA owners whose spouses are more than 10 years younger and for IRA beneficiary account owners who are not the spouse of the IRA owner.

You must calculate the amount from each separate account from which an RMD is due. You may be able to aggregate the distribution from your IRAs and only withdraw from one. Defined contribution plans (401(k), 401(b), 457, etc.) require you to withdraw the RMD from each plan separately. Check with your accountant, financial advisor, or the custodian of your account to be sure.

The IRA custodian or retirement plan administrator may calculate the RMD, however, the account owner is ultimately responsible for taking the correct amount.

What happens if I don’t take my RMD?

There are stiff penalties for not taking your RMD in time. The penalty used to be 50% of the RMD amount not taken, however, that was lowered to 25% in 2023. Needless to say, it is important to take your RMDs in the year in which they are due to avoid this excise tax.

Anything else I should know about RMDs?

RMDs are not required from Roth IRAs for the owner of the account. If you are the beneficiary of a Roth IRA, you are subject to RMD rules.

You don’t need to take your RMD as one lump sum, you can take multiple distributions through the year to satisfy the amount.

You can also take more than the RMD amount, however, the excess amount does not apply to future years’ RMDs.

In the first year you are eligible for RMDs, you must take it by April 1 of the year after. Subsequent years after that are due by December 31 of that year. For example, if you turned 72 in 2022, your 2022 RMD was due by April 1, 2023. Your 2023 RMD is due by December 31, 2023.

If the RMD was not taken or, if less than the total due was taken, the penalty may be reduced from 25% to 10% if it is corrected within two years. If there was a reasonable error and steps were taken to remedy the shortfall, the IRS may waive the penalty. Please see your tax advisor for more information.

You are not able to roll your RMD amount into another tax-deferred account. You can invest it in a brokerage or other taxable account. Any gains or losses will be treated as they normally are from these types of accounts.

Required minimum distributions can be complex when you have multiple different types of retirement accounts. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We’re always here to help.

Kevin Wangen – Wealth Management AssociateWhat’s a Required Minimum Distribution?
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HTC Team News and Honors

Team News and Honors

This spring and summer have been full of celebrations for the HTC team.

 

Amy Remmick (RS Operations and Compliance) and family celebrated their daughter Emily’s wedding in May.

Jan Nelson (Trust Officer) celebrated her 60th birthday in May. To help celebrate, her family and friends gathered for an evening food and music.

Denise Lies (Senior RS Operations and Compliance) and family celebrated their oldest son Tyler’s graduation from Carlson School of Management – University of Minnesota. 

Jana Samek (Director of Retirement Services)  and family celebrated their oldest daughter Taya’s graduation from West Fargo High School.

Missy Zarak (Trust Officer) and family celebrated granddaughter Jocelyn’s kindergarten graduation from Badlands Elementary School in Watford City, North Dakota.

 

Heartland Trust Company participated in the Hillsboro Dollars for Scholars scholarship program. Congrats to Heartland’s scholarship winner, Cole Hebl! Hillsboro Dollars for Scholars raised over $123,100 for the 2023 scholarship program with 35 graduates receiving scholarships.

 

( Hillsboro Dollars for Scholars President, Jim Murphy, Cole Hebl, Heartland Trust  Vice President and Director of Business Development, Jon  Benson)

 

Stay Connected
Here are two additional ways you can stay connected with HTC. Follow our LinkedIn page and leave us a Google review. We are grateful for all the ways our clients share our story with others.

 

 

 

 

With heavy hearts, we share that Ty Jochim passed away on July 6. Ty joined Heartland in March as a wealth management officer, and we cherish the short time we had with him. His friendly and easygoing nature made him fit in with our team immediately, and we are deeply saddened by his untimely death. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts.

 

 

 

Heartland TrustHTC Team News and Honors
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Meet Amy Remmick

Amy Remmick

Amy Remmick

Amy Remmick, Retirement Services Operations and Compliance, has been at HTC for two years. She enjoys going on new adventures with her family. And, she has a never-goes-wrong recipe to share.

Tell us about yourself.

Born and raised in north-central Wisconsin, we moved to Fargo in 1993 with our 2-year-old and 6-week-old daughters. We transferred to the area with Case Corporation, intending to spend our required one year here and then move back to Wisconsin to be near our family. As our year ended, we decided that Fargo was a great place to continue raising our girls and have been here ever since.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Family is our first priority, and we love going on new adventures together. My husband and I can often be found at the lake spending time on the water or hiking. During the winter months, we spend our weekends ice fishing, winter camping, and following college hockey. We are always on the hunt for something new and fun to do.

Tell us about your favorite life experience.

I witnessed the birth of my first grandchild. I am so blessed and feel that there could hardly be any greater experience than watching your baby give birth to her first baby.

What is your favorite movie/play/book?

The movie Elf. It’s a mindless, goofy holiday movie that simply makes you smile.

What was the first car you owned?

A silver/blue Dodge Omni. I can’t recall the year of the car, but I know that once we finished carving holes in the interior doors and rear window area, the Alpine stereo that we installed was worth more than the car itself. It was the greatest, and we loved driving around town listening to any Rush song.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

My baby brother Patrick. Yes, we’ve met previously, but our family has had so many life experiences after his passing in 2007. I would love to chat with him about all of them. He was the best storyteller, and you always left a visit with him with sore abs from laughing so much. This world needed more people like him in it.

How long have you been at Heartland Trust and what is your favorite part?

I have just rounded the two-year mark. This time has flown by and I feel privileged to be a part of the Heartland Trust Company family. I admire the dedication that this team has to making HTC the best that it can be, and truly feel the support we give to each other is the foundation for our success.

Do you have a favorite recipe you would like to share?

I sure do.

  • Pick up your cell phone.
  • Download the Food Dudes app.
  • Place order.
  • Wait for the food to be delivered … and tip well.
Heartland TrustMeet Amy Remmick
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When Does a 401(k) Plan Require a Plan Audit

Jana Samek

Jana Samek

Jana Samek, VP/Director of Retirement Services

In 1974 Congress passed the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) which governs 401(k) plans. It requires any private employer that establishes and maintains a 401(k) plan to meet certain standards in order to benefit from the tax advantages of the plan. One standard that must be met for larger plans is a plan audit.

A plan audit is a review of a company’s qualified retirement plan by a third party Independent Certified Public Accountant. The audit ensures the plan is adhering to Department of Labor and ERISA regulations.  Auditors review information provided on a plan’s Form 5500 and financial statements to verify accuracy. They determine whether the plan fulfills its fiduciary responsibilities and whether an employer is operating its plan correctly. They also identify possible operational errors and potential fraud risks.  

How do you know if your 401(k) plan will require a plan audit?

Administrators of a 401(k) plan subject to ERISA must file an annual report called the Form 5500. This publicly available return provides statistical and financial information about the plan.

The plan will file as either a “large plan” or a “small plan.” Generally, a large plan covers 100 or more eligible participants; a small plan covers less than 100 eligible participants

How those participants are counted, however, is complex.

With the passing of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act), the DOL decided to count participants with account balances at the start of the plan year, rather than counting those who are eligible to participate. This affects plans beginning on or after January 1, 2023. This change in counting methodology allows smaller plans that formerly were required to have an audit to waive the requirement. This reduces the expenses for small plans and encourages more small employers to offer a retirement savings plan to their employees.

The DOL regulations also include an 80/120 Rule that allows a plan to continue filing as either a large or small plan even when the participant count fluctuates. For example, if a plan has been filing as a small plan and its participant level rises above 99 but not above 120, it may continue to file as a small plan. If the count does not exceed 120, there is no limit on the number of years an employer may use this exception. Once the plan count exceeds 120 participants at the beginning of the year, it will be subject to the large plan audit requirements.

A plan eligible for the 80/120 rule usually takes advantage of it because it means less costly filing fees and it allows them to avoid the plan audit requirement.

Once a small plan files as a large plan, it cannot subsequently file as a small plan using the transition rule, even if the participant count drops below 100. If the participant count drops below 80, then the plan must file as a small plan. Why is the magic number 100 yet 80 and 120 are the limits? A newly established plan with a participant count greater than 99 must file as a large plan.

For large plans requiring an audit, the audit report must be attached to the completed Form 5500 and must be electronically filed with the IRS by the end of the seventh month following the plan year-end (July 31 for calendar year-end plans). An extension may be filed if needed to extend the filing date by two-and-a-half months behind the regular deadline (October 15 for calendar year-end plans).

If a large plan does not include an independent audit report with the Form 5500 filing, it is treated as if the Form 5500 was never filed. This can result in significant monetary penalties assessed by both the IRS and the DOL and may affect your plan’s qualified status.

 

References:

401(k) Plan Audit Requirement (401k-plan-audit.com)

401(k) Plan Audit Requirement (401k-plan-audit.com)

What To Know about IRS Annual 401(k) Audit Requirement | Human Interest

What is the Large Plan Audit Requirement – Leading Retirement Solutions

Small Plan or Large Plan? Does My Plan Need an Audit? – Hawkins Ash CPAs

ASPPA QKA References

Fact Sheet: Changes for the 2023 Form 5500 and Form 5500-SF Annual Return/Reports | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)

Jana Samek, Relationship Manager – Retirement ServicesWhen Does a 401(k) Plan Require a Plan Audit
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Confidence in Strength

Brian Halverson
Brian Halverson – President & CEO

The recent news of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank failures should not be too surprising to anyone who understands the timelines and the ways they were conducting their business.

SVB and Signature did not utilize proper risk management and had client bases that were concentrated in riskier industries such as venture capital financing and cryptocurrency. A perfect storm led to the demise of these institutions: rising interest rates, a slowdown in venture capital activity, and clients who reduced their exposure to riskier assets.

As a trust company, we are NOT a broker-dealer. Nor are we a traditional bank that accepts client deposits and lends them out. Our clients’ assets are NOT reflected on our balance sheet. Heartland Trust is entrusted with our clients’ assets and maintains good stewardship on their behalf. As a trust company, we are regulated and routinely examined by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. We are required to have a certain amount of our own assets pledged on our balance sheet. These funds come from our own revenue and commitments from our shareholders.

The assets we manage are ALWAYS our clients’ assets. They are NEVER ours to use in any way shape or form. We are a financial institution that maintains assets and invests funds on behalf of those we work for. This is the way we have done business since our founding and the way we will continue to operate. I get to tell the wonderful story of HTC and how strong our business is. We are proud to have been chosen by the individuals, families, charities, foundations, and businesses that make up our client base. The entire team of professionals at Heartland makes us so strong. We appreciate your confidence in us to help you along life’s journey.

Jace GilleshammerConfidence in Strength
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HTC Team News and Honors

We have celebrated two promotions this year. Jana Samek was promoted to Vice President/Director of Retirement Services. Dustin Sobolik was promoted to Vice President/Director of Investments. Congratulations Jana and Dustin!

Jana Samek
Jana Samek
Dustin Sobolik
Dustin Sobolik

HTC team members enjoyed a St. Patrick’s Day Crawl through our office to celebrate the March holiday.

We enjoyed stops at:

  • Gary’s Irish Tap
  • Amy’s 4- Leaf Trivia
  • Mary’s Pub Dublin Sliders Shop
  • Kevin’s Clovergreen Country Club
  • Jen’s Snacks O’ the Irish, and
  • Jill’s Shamrock Hoops

Heartland has some of the most creative team members in town!

Join us in July for Heartland Trust’s semi-annual Market Update webinar. For more details or to get on the invite list, give us a call at 701-235-2002 or send us an email at info@heartlandtrust.com. Dustin Sobolik, Director of Investments at HTC, will give a 45-minute review of the market in 2023 and what to watch for the rest of the year.

Heartland TrustHTC Team News and Honors
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