A wide array of core investment options is available through your Plan. Each option is explained in further detail below. Investment option information is also available through the voice response system, toll free, at (800) 701-8255.
If you would like to know how the Kern County Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee selects the investment options available in the Plan, please refer to this Investment Policy Statement.
Can Empower Retirement or Kern County help me with my investment decisions?
Employees of Empower Retirement and Kern County cannot give investment advice.
How can I get help choosing my investment options?
Your Plan has a service called Empower Retirement Advisory Services (Advisory Services), offered by Advised Assets Group, LLC (AAG), a registered investment adviser. You can have AAG manage your retirement account for you through the Manged Account service. Or, if you prefer to manage your retirement account on your own, you can use Online Investment Guidance or Online Investment Advice. The Advisory Services provide a retirement strategy based on your investment goals, time horizon and tolerance for risk.
There is no guarantee that participation in any of the advisory services will result in a profit or that the account will outperform a self-managed portfolio invested without assistance.
For more detailed information, you may call the voice response system at (800) 701-82553, enter your Social Security Number and PIN,4 press "6", then "3" to speak to an AAG investment adviser representative.
What fees do I pay to participate in Empower Retirement Advisory Services?
While there is no cost to use Online Investment Guidance, there is a $25 annual fee, assessed at $6.25 quarterly, for Online Investment Advice. If you choose to have AAG manage your account for you, the annual Managed Account service fee is based on a percentage of your account balance as follows:
For example, if your account balance is $50,000, the maximum annual fee is 0.60% of the account balance. If your account balance is $500,000, the first $100,000 will be subject to a maximum annual fee of 0.60%, the next $150,000 will be subject to a maximum annual fee of 0.50%, the next $150,000 will be subject to a maximum annual fee of 0.40%, and any amounts over $400,000 will be subject to a maximum annual fee of 0.30%.
Empower Retirement Advisory Services offered by Advised Assets Group, LLC, a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company.
What is a Self-Directed Brokerage Account?
A Self-Directed Brokerage Account (SDBA) allows you to select from numerous mutual funds and other types of securities, such as stocks and bonds, outside of the Plan's core investment options for an additional fee or fees. These securities are not offered through GWFS Equities, Inc. There is a minimum balance amount required in your account of core investments: the greater of $2,500 or 70% of the participant's total account balance, or the amount required to pay fees, expenses and benefits in respect of the payment option selected under the plan. There is an additional $15 quarterly fee plus transaction fees to participate in the SDB Option.
For whom is this investment option appropriate?
The SDBA is for knowledgeable investors who acknowledge and understand the risks associated with many of the investments contained in the SDBA. By utilizing the account, you acknowledge that none of the available options in the SDBA have been reviewed for suitability by your employer, Plan sponsor, SDBA Provider, or Empower Retirement. You are solely responsible for determining the suitability of the investments that are available in the SDBA. You agree to fully indemnify and hold harmless your employer, Plan sponsor, SDBA Provider, Empower Retirement, and any and all service providers to the Plan against any claims, damages or other causes of actions which may arise as a result of any negative consequences resulting from using the SDBA. Before investing, investors should carefully consider a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Fund prospectuses contain this and other important information, and may be obtained by contacting your SDBA Provider. Investors should read prospectuses carefully before investing.
How do I get started?
Log in to your account and click on the "Investments" tile and then "Self-Directed Accounts" and complete the enrollment process online. Once the SDBA has been established, you will receive a welcome kit from your SDBA Provider. If you're not already enrolled in your Plan, go to the Enroll Now tab and learn how you can enroll on this website.
Brokerage services provided by TD Ameritrade, Division of TD Ameritrade Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Additional information can be obtained by calling TD Ameritrade at 866-766-4015. TD Ameritrade and GWFS Equities, Inc. are separate and unaffiliated.
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