orientation presentation fresno county employees’ retirement association location: 1111 h street...

Orientation PresentationFresno County Employees’ Retirement Association

Location: 1111 H Street Fresno, CA 93721

Phone: (559) 457-0681

Stop Mail #: 40

Web Address: http://www.fcera.org

Intranet Address: E-services Department Sites

Retirement Association. Revised 1/2/13

Type of Plan Defined Benefit

– Lifetime benefit – defined by laws adopted by the County and type of membership, age at retirement, years of service and final compensation.

– Benefit is not based on contributions made to the plan

Membership Membership is mandatory if working 50% or

more of full time.– If 60 years of age or older at the time you

are hired you will contribute unless you elect to not participate

– Membership is optional for elected officials

– Once election is made it is IRREVOCABLE

Types of Membership

SAFETY- Deputy Sheriffs Correctional Officers

Criminologists Criminal Investigators District Attorney Investigators

GENERAL- Anyone who is not a Safety Member.

Level of Membership Tier 1 (1 year Final Compensation Average)

– General - offers 2.5% @ 55 (GCS 31676.14 + 31627)

maximum of 3.2733% @ 60

– Safety - offers 2.5% @ 50 (GCS 31664 + 31627)

maximum of 3.2748% @ 55

Tier 2 (1 year Final Compensation Average)– General - offers 2.0% @ 55 (GCS 31676.16)

maximum of 2.4180% @ 63

– Safety - offers 2.2902% @ 50 (GCS 31664.2)

maximum of 3.0% @ 55

Level of Membership (continued) Tier 3 (3 year Final Compensation Average)

– General - offers 2.0% @ 55 (GCS 31676.15)

maximum of 3.1336% @ 65

- Safety – Not offered

Tier 4 (3 year Final Compensation Average)

- General – offers 1.67% @ 57.5 (GCS 31676.1)


- Safety – offers 2.0% @ 50 (GCS 31664)


Level of Membership (continued)

Tier 5 (3 year Final Compensation Average)

– General – offers 2.0% @ 62 (GCS 7522.20) maximum of 2.5% @ 67

– Safety – offers 2.5% @ 55 (GCS 7522.25 (d)) maximum of 2.7% @ 57

Level of Membership (continued) Final compensation average used in retirement calculation:

– Tier 1 and Tier 2 – one year final compensation average– Tier 3 and Tier 4 - three individual years final compensation

average– Tier 5 - consecutive three year final compensation average

Annual Cost of Living Adjustment:– Tiers 1, 2 and 3 - 0% - 3%– Tiers 4 and 5 - 0%

The County of Fresno will provide contribution rates for all Tiers effective for this fiscal year

Contributions may change annually

FCERA’s web site has a benefit calculator– http://www.fcera.org (internet) or E-services Department

Sites Retirement Association (intranet)

Contributions Tiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 -

– Are deducted from your bi-weekly salary based on your salary and the age you enter the retirement system. Your contributions can change based on salary changes or actuarial valuations, which may cause contribution rate changes

– Your age (for contribution calculations) does not change as long as you are continuously employed with the County of Fresno

Tier 5 -– Are deducted from your bi-weekly salary based on

a flat rate. Your contributions can change based on salary changes or actuarial valuations, which may cause contribution rate changes

Contributions (continued) Tiers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 -

– Deducted the 1st day of the pay period following your date of hire

– Tax deferred

– Employer contributes to the retirement system on the member’s behalf when member retires

– Interest is credited twice per year on June 30 & December 31

What is reciprocity? Reciprocity is the relationship that exists

between: – Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) – 20 County Retirement Systems in California governed

by the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937– State Teachers Retirement System (STRS)– Judges Retirement System– Other Public agencies with a contracted agreement

with PERS (Example: City of Fresno)

Reciprocity is designed to protect your earned retirement benefits when you transfer from one public agency to another. It is intended to encourage career public service.

What are the requirements to establish reciprocity? Terminate your employment covered by another

retirement system that has a reciprocal relationship with FCERA

Leave your contributions on deposit with the reciprocal agency

Establish membership with FCERA within 6 months of your termination from reciprocal agency

Notify FCERA that you wish to establish reciprocity

Reciprocity is available upon becoming a member of FCERA as well as when you are leaving Fresno County Employment and going to a reciprocal agency

What benefits do I accrue from establishing reciprocity? Tiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 –

– FCERA will use your entry age from the reciprocal agency to determine your contribution rate

Tier 5 –– Your retirement contribution rates are based on a flat rate.

Tiers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 –– Members who establish reciprocity after having worked for the

reciprocal agency on or prior to 12/31/2012 will be placed into Tier IV

– Your service credit from other reciprocal agencies will be added to service credit from FCERA to determine eligibility for benefits under all systems for purposes of vesting (not for determining all benefits)

– Your highest final compensation average from FCERA or the reciprocal agency is used to determine your benefit from both agencies

– You must retire concurrently from all systems in order to receive the benefits of reciprocity

Consequences of Breaking Reciprocity

Once reciprocity is established there are consequences if reciprocity is broken

Years of eligibility service for retirement may be impacted

Entry age for contributions may change– Tiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 –

• Age at which contributions are calculated may be impacted

– Tier 5 –• Contributions are not age based

Buy Back of Fresno County Service Service credit that may be purchased:

– Extra help– Part time service - less than 50% of full time – New hire period - period between hire date and FCERA membership– Unpaid medical leave - maximum one year of each leave– Unpaid military leave - all time served while a County employee– Redeposit previously withdrawn contributions - prior to retirement.

(However, return to membership with a FCERA plan sponsor within 90 days and redeposit withdrawn contributions within 180 days of your termination date with a FCERA plan sponsor will retain your original age.)

You must complete a Request for Service Credit Calculation form

Purchases in progress at termination may be purchased before your date of retirement provided your funds have remained in the plan

Members whose funds remain in the plan after termination can purchase available service prior to retirement

Death Benefits Before Retirement A death benefit is payable to your beneficiary upon

your death as an active member before retirement The basic death benefit consists of:

If you have completed at least 5 years of service, your surviving spouse or dependent children may elect to receive, in lieu of the basic death benefits, a continuing benefit

Deferred members – receive lump sum of member’s contributions plus associated interest

Your accumulated contributions

Interest+ + Last 12 months of pensionable pay

xOne month for every year of service (not to exceed 6 months

pay)( )

Required Documents Prior to Retirement Birth Certificates

– Member– Beneficiary

Marriage Certificate – California is a community property state. Current spouse is your legal beneficiary at your death. Minor child – beneficiary after spouse

Court Filed Divorce Documents - (status only – not acceptable)

Reminder: To change your beneficiary for any reason, you must complete a FCERA Beneficiary Designation Form and provide necessary documents for the new beneficiary

FCERA and Employee Benefits do not share information. Provide changes to both depts.

Retirement Qualifications –

You are eligible for service retirement benefits if: You terminate your employment Leave your contributions and interest with the retirement plan

Tiers 1, 2, 3, and 4 - Have completed at least 10 years of service and are age 50+ You are a General Member with 30 years of service credit

regardless of age You are a General Member and age 70 regardless of years of

service credit You are a Safety Member with 20 years of service credit

regardless of age

Tier 5 – Have completed at least 5 years of service

– General, minimum retirement age - 52– Safety, minimum retirement age - 50

Deferred Member To be eligible to defer your retirement benefits to a later

date, you must have at least 5 years of service (Vested)

Tiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 –– If you do not have 5 years of service, you may leave

your funds with FCERA in an interest bearing account until you are ready to withdraw your funds or General members reach age 70 and take a retirement benefit

Tier 5 –– You must have 5 years of service

(Vested) to retire at a later date

Withdrawal of Contributions

You may not borrow your contributions for any reason. As long as you are employed, including extra help, you cannot withdraw any of your contributions

If you terminate employment, you need to file a Disposition of Member Retirement Contribution form with our office, indicating your election for the disposition of your funds

Withdrawal of Contributions (continued)

You only receive your contributions and the interest associated with them

You do not receive the contributions made by the employer

You will only receive the employer portion if you stay long enough to draw a monthly retirement benefit

Withdrawal of Contributions (continued)

If you choose to withdraw your contributions, when you terminate your employment, there will be a MANDATORY 20% Federal Tax withholding taken from your check

If you Roll Over your contributions to another tax deferred account, there will not be a 20% withholding

Smith John 111-11-1111


1111 H. Street Fresno CA 93721

11/01/2005

Retirement Coordinator

Retirement Association



11/01/2005

Retirement Association Retirement Coordinator



11/01/2005

Retirement Association Retirement Coordinator

03 01 1977



Smith Mary

IRC 415 Notice IRS code that limits the amount of benefits a

Public Retirement Plan may pay an individual in one year

ie: Age 62-65, maximum annual limit is $205,000 (general)

ie: Age 60-65, maximum annual limit is $205,000 (safety)

Any Questions?