Flat Amount
Definition of "Flat amount"
Same as term Defined Benefit Plan: retirement plan under which benefits are fixed in advance by formula, and contributions vary. The defined benefit plan can be expressed in either of two ways:
- Fixed Dollars: Unit benefit approach a discrete unit of benefit is credited for each year of service recognized by the employer.The unit is either a flat dollar amount or (more often) a percentage of compensation usually 1 1/2-2 1/2%. Total years of service are multiplied by this percentage. For example, if total years of service is 30 and the percentage is VA, 45% would be applied to either the career average earnings or final average earnings (highest three of five consecutive years of earnings). If the average of the highest five consecutive years of earnings is $100,000, the yearly retirement benefit would be $45,000. Level Percentage of Compensation After a minimum number of years of service (usually 20) and a minimum age (usually 50), all employees will receive the same percentage of earnings as a retirement benefit, regardless of income, position in the company, or years of service. For example, each employee who is at least 50 years of age, with at least 20 years of service receives 20% of compensation. This plan is more common than the flat amount approach described below, Flat Amount After having attained a minimum number of years of service (usually 20) and a minimum age (usually 50), all employees will receive the same absolute dollar amount as a retirement benefit, regardless of income, position in the company, or years of service. For example, each employee who is at least 50 years of age, with at least 20 years of service receives $8000 a year in retirement benefits.
- Variable Dollars: Cost-of-Living Plan benefits are modified according to changes in a predetermined price index usually, the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For example, when the CPI increases by at least 3% benefits are increased by that percentage, Equity Annuity Plan premiums are paid into a variable annuity plan to purchase accumulation units. At retirement, the accumulation units are converted to retirement units whose values fluctuate according to the common stock portfolio in which the premiums we reinvested.
Popular Insurance Terms
Coverage for numerous perils such as that found in the broad form personal theft insurance. ...
Legislation providing that, to the extent that all deductible medical care expenses exceed 7.5% of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income (AGI), expenses not reimbursed under qualified ...
Authority to act on behalf of an individual that terminates upon its revocation or death of that individual. ...
Type of guaranteed insurance contract in which the term is fixed, the rate is fixed, and the contract owner does not participate in the insurance company's earnings. ...
Appreciation in the unsold assets' value. When assets are sold, their capital gain (loss) is shown on the insurance company's income statement; any unrealized gain or loss is not included ...
Same as term Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance: form of accident insurance that indemnifies or pays a stated benefit to insured or his/her beneficiary in the event of bodily ...
Accounting method of establishing data on an annual basis. ...
Charitable planning strategy in which a donor sells an asset to the charity for an amount less than its fair market value. Internal Revenue Service regulations require that the tax basis ...
Retirement plan offered by public employers and tax-exempt organizations. Under Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, certain tax-exempt organizations such as public school systems ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.