Planning ahead: Understanding your 403(b) retirement plan. Plan Participant Guide

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1 Planning ahead: Understanding your 403(b) retirement plan Plan Participant Guide

2 What is a 403(b) plan? The 403(b) is a tax-deferred retirement plan designed to help you invest regularly for your retirement. It is offered to you through your employer and is available to employees of qualifying hospitals, educational institutions, and many not-for-profit organizations. Your contributions are taken directly from your salary before it is taxed, and each plan offers you a selection of investment options. 403(b) basics and benefits Why should I consider a 403(b) plan? There are several benefits to consider when joining a 403(b) plan. Your retirement A 403(b) plan is an easy way to invest for your retirement. It s easy! You contribute through the convenience of automatic payroll deduction. Free money! Your employer may match all or a portion of your contributions. Tax-deferred growth Your money grows on a tax-deferred basis. Consistent savings Saving a set amount on a regular basis, such as every payday, can help increase your earnings. Reduced taxable income Your gross taxable income will be reduced by the contributions you make. Begin today Think you can t afford to start a retirement plan today? Consider this. If you were to commit just $10 a week probably what you might spend on coffee each week to your 403(b) plan, even small contributions can add up over time. $100,000 Account value $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $0 Today Years Assumes a $10/week contribution and a 6% annual return in a tax-deferred account. This hypothetical example is not indicative of any product or performance, and does not reflect any expense associated with investing. Taxes will be due upon distribution. It is possible to lose money investing in securities.

3 Once you ve committed to regular saving with your 403(b) plan, getting money into your account is easy. How do I make contributions? It s simple. Your contributions are made through payroll deduction. To participate in the 403(b) retirement plan, you must complete an enrollment form and a Salary Reduction Agreement. The amount you designate as a deduction will be automatically withdrawn from your paycheck and contributed to your 403(b) retirement plan. Be sure to check with your employer or Lincoln representative for your specific plan enrollment requirements. Can I change the amount or stop my contributions? Yes. To change the amount of your contribution, contact your employer or Lincoln representative and initiate a new Salary Reduction Agreement, as allowed by your plan. You can discontinue your contributions at any time by notifying your employer or Lincoln representative and terminating your Salary Reduction Agreement. How much should I contribute? Deciding on how much to contribute to your plan depends on many factors, including what you can afford and how long you have until retirement. Even a small amount, invested regularly, can add up to significant savings over the long term. Account value $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 $0 8% savings rate 6% savings rate 4% savings rate 2% savings rate Today Years $509,879 $382,409 $254,940 $127,470 This graph assumes a $40,000 annual salary and a 6% annual return in a tax-deferred account. This hypothetical example is not indicative of any product or performance, and does not reflect any expense associated with investing. Taxes will be due upon distribution. It is possible to lose money investing in securities. Changes in tax rates and tax treatment of investment earnings may impact the comparative results. You should consider your personal investment horizon and income tax bracket, both current and anticipated, when making an investment decision as these may further impact the results of the comparison. Are there limits to the amount I can contribute? Tax laws limit the maximum contributions that can be excluded from your salary. How much can I contribute if I join the plan midyear? If you join the plan midyear, you can make up for any missed months, as long as your total contributions do not exceed the annual limits.

4 What investment choices do I have for my 403(b) plan contributions? There are a variety of investment options available for, and specific to, your 403(b) plan. Contact your employer or Lincoln representative for the list of your choices. What about other retirement plans and my Social Security benefits? You can still contribute to other retirement plans (contribution limits may apply), and your Social Security benefits are not affected by 403(b) participation. How long can I contribute to my 403(b) plan? You can contribute to your 403(b) plan as long as you are an employee with an eligible employer, and the employer permits salary reduction contributions. What do I need to know about taxes and my 403(b) contributions? The consistent and convenient contributions to a 403(b) plan are just some of the benefits. You should also be aware of the tax benefits of investing in a 403(b): Tax deferral Any contributions made to your plan will be allowed to grow tax-deferred. This means you do not pay taxes on that money until it is withdrawn. 1 Tax deferral allows your money to accumulate faster than taxable investments. $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $0 $22,653 $32,653 End of year 10 without tax deferral with tax deferral $38,315 $57,662 End of year 15 $57,833 $91,129 End of year 20 This is a hypothetical example. It is not indicative of any product or performance, and does not reflect any expense associated with investing. It assumes $200 monthly contributions, 6% interest, and a 25% tax bracket. Taxes will be due upon distribution of the tax-deferred amount, and if shown, results would be lower. Actual investment results will fluctuate with market conditions, so that the amount withdrawn may be worth more or less than the original amount invested. Reduce your taxable income Your 403(b) contributions are deducted from your salary before taxes. Much like taking a deduction on your income taxes, this reduces your taxable income and the amount of tax due on that income. Keep in mind that when any money is distributed or withdrawn from the plan, it is taxed as ordinary income. If that happens during your retirement, you may be in a lower tax bracket at that time and may pay less tax on the money withdrawn. 1 Any withdrawals taken prior to age 59½ may also be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty.

5 Your 403(b) is designed as a long-term retirement plan. When you reach retirement, and in some cases prior to that, you may need access to your money. How can I access funds from my account? There are two ways to receive money from your 403(b) plan: Prior to retirement, you may take a withdrawal, subject to certain restrictions. Upon your retirement, you can begin taking distributions. When can I take a withdrawal from my 403(b) account? Withdrawals are available from your 403(b) plan for specific reasons, such as: retirement attainment of age 59½ separation from service with your employer distributions made to your beneficiaries upon your death total and permanent disability qualified domestic relations order (divorce payments to ex-spouse or children) financial hardship (some restrictions apply) Important considerations: If you take a withdrawal for one of these reasons, you will have to pay income taxes unless the distribution is rolled to an IRA or another qualifying plan. In addition, the account may have withdrawal or surrender charges, and any withdrawals made before age 59½ may be subject to a 10% tax penalty. Some plans may have additional withdrawal limitations. Once I retire, when am I required to take retirement distributions and for how long? The IRS requires you to begin receiving distributions no later than April 1 following the year you reach age 70½ (unless you are still working for the company). Once you begin receiving required distributions, you must continue to receive them until your account value is depleted or until your death. How will I receive my retirement distributions? Your retirement distributions may be paid out in a number of ways, such as: automatic withdrawal annuity payout options lump sum withdrawal Contact your employer or Lincoln representative for more information. What if I change jobs? If you change employers, you have several options: You may leave your accumulated assets in the investment options from your previous employer s plan. You must direct future contributions to your new employer s plan.

6 You can roll over assets from your present contract/program to the options offered by your new employer or to any other qualified funding vehicle such as an IRA. No taxes will be due if the rollover is executed properly. You may take a lump sum distribution. However, a distribution will be subject to a 20% federal withholding and will be taxed as income for that year. If it s taken before you reach age 59½, the distribution may also be subject to an additional 10% tax penalty. What happens to my 403(b) account if I die? If you die before electing a payment option and the named beneficiary is your spouse, he/she may elect any distribution method that was available to you, such as: roll the money over to another eligible retirement plan, leave the accumulated assets in the contract/program, or take distributions over his/her life expectancy. If the named beneficiary is not your spouse, he/she has two options: elect to receive a lump sum distribution, payable within five years of your death. elect, within one year of your death, to receive periodic payments based upon that beneficiary s life expectancy. If you die after you ve begun to receive distributions based on your lifetime, your beneficiary can receive payments over his/her remaining life expectancy. The beneficiary may also choose to take the entire remaining interest at any time during the payout period. May I take out a loan? Check with your employer or Lincoln representative to see if loans are available for your plan. If available, your loan must be repaid in five years unless it is being used to purchase your principal residence. If your loan defaults, it will be reported as taxable income.

7 Tomorrow s plan begins today Investing in a 403(b) is an easy, convenient way to begin securing your future. Automatic salary reductions alleviate the worry of making regular contributions on your own, and tax-deferred growth allows you to focus on building your financial future. Take advantage of the opportunity today. Waiting, even as little as one year, can cost your retirement thousands of dollars. Age Retirement plan balance at age $383, $359, $195, $182, $91, $83,634 Cost of waiting one year $24,039 $13,423 $7,496 This is a hypothetical illustration and is not indicative of any product or performance; it does not reflect any taxes due upon distribution or any fees associated with investing. Investment options are subject to market risk. It assumes $200 monthly contributions, 6% interest, and retirement at age 65. More than 8 out of 10 Americans that s over 70 million individuals take advantage of the retirement plan offered to them. 1 Join them and begin working toward your future today. 1 National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in Private Industry in the United States, U.S. Department of Labor, August If you have additional questions about your company s 403(b) plan, please contact your employer or Lincoln representative. You also have access to personal help spanning from enrollment through the building years and beyond. Lincoln LifeSpan learning program provides one-on-one guidance for retirement planning assistance as well as seminars, print materials, and Internet tools all geared to unique learning styles and changing needs over time. You can also meet with a retirement professional for personal help-compliments of your employer.

8 A tradition of integrity At Lincoln Financial Group, we have a heritage of helping companies find solutions to their funding and benefit needs with the same honesty, integrity, and responsibility that you d expect from our namesake. It s a legacy that we proudly and respectfully continue each day. The strength of Lincoln Financial Group affiliates We believe our continued commitment to strength and stability is indispensable to who we are and critical to your confidence in us. We pride ourselves on being able to identify and deliver sophisticated financial strategies and product solutions for the creation, protection, and utilization of capital. We are committed to assist companies in helping their employees and their families redefine their retirement because we don t believe retirement is an end it s an opportunity for everyone to start doing what they were meant for all along. Not a deposit Not FDIC-insured Not insured by any federal government agency Not guaranteed by any bank or savings association May go down in value 2009 Lincoln National Corporation > Employer Retirement Plans Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates. Affiliates are separately responsible for their own financial and contractual obligations. LCN EM-GEN EM-403B-BRC001_Z02 ECG 12/09 Z02 Order code: EM-403B-BRC001 This material was prepared to support the promotion and marketing of retirement products. Lincoln Financial Group affiliates, their distributors, and their respective employees, representatives, and/or insurance agents do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. Any tax statements contained herein were not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal, state, or local tax penalties. Please consult your own independent advisor as to any tax, accounting, or legal statements made herein. Two separate companies issue Lincoln retirement products. Products sold in New York are issued by Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York, Syracuse, NY, and distributed by Lincoln Financial Distributors, Inc., a broker/dealer. For all other states, products are issued by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN.