PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT
403(B) AND 457(B) PLANS:
Available to all District employees
Joliet Public Schools District 86, (the “District”) offers a 403(b) and a 457(b) plan (the “Plan”). All employees are eligible to participate in the 403(b)/457(b) plan. The 403(b) Plan is administered by TSA Consulting Group (TSACG) and the 457(b) Plan is administered by The Voyager Group, LTD.
A 403(b) or 457(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement program that permits an employee to reduce his or her compensation on a pre-tax basis and have the contribution deposited into a 403(b) and/or 457(b) account that the employee sets up with a 403(b)/457(b) vendor. Amounts deposited into a 403(b)/457(b) account and any earnings on those contributions are generally not taxed until the employee makes a withdrawal from his or her account following separation from service with the District.
To enroll in the plan, an employee must establish an account with one of the approved vendors and complete the District’s salary reduction agreement form and the vendor’s application or enrollment form. Employees may get the necessary forms and/or contact information for the 403(b) plan at https://www.tsacg.com/individualplan-sponsor/illinois/joliet-public-schools-district-86/ and for the 457(b) plan by contacting The Voyager Group, Ltd http://www.voyagergroupltd.com/. The contribution amount the employee designates in the salary reduction agreement form will continue unless it is modified or revoked in the future.
The District allows employees to start or stop their contribution, increase or decrease their contribution, or change from one authorized 403(b)/457(b) vendor to another upon request at the next available pay date (or as soon as administratively feasible as special rules apply to summer paychecks for 10 month contracted employees).
The contributions limit, set annually by the IRS, is $23,500 for 2025. Also, if employees are at least 50 years of age by the end of the year, they may qualify for special catch-up provisions of up to $7,500 above the basic annual limit.
Starting January 1, 2025, SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 includes a modification of the rules for participants utilizing the age 50 catch-up in 403(b) and 457(b) plans, which allows employees aged 60 to 63 to make higher catch-up contributions the greater of an additional $10,000 per year or 150% ($11,250) of the regular age 50 catch-up amount for that year.
The District maintains a list of approved 403(b) and 457(b) vendors, at https://www.tsacg.com/individual/plan-sponsor/illinois/joliet-public-schools-district-86/ for the 403(b) plan and http://www.voyagergroupltd.com/ for the 457(b) plan. (Employees must establish an account with one of these approved vendors before submitting a salary reduction agreement to start their pre-tax contributions.)
DISCLOSURE TO EMPLOYEES: The District has no liability for any employee’s election to participate in the 403(b) or 457(b) plan, employee’s choice of vendor(s), or expected tax consequences resulting from participating in the 403(b) and/or 457(b) plan. The District does not provide tax, legal or investment advice and recommends that employees seek advice from professionals who specialize in these areas.
SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS FOR EDUCATORS:
Available to TRS members only (certified staff):
TRS's Supplemental Savings Plan (SSP) 457(b) is an easy way to help you save additional retirement income. Please visit the TRS website directly for more information, enrollment, informational webinars and links for the new SSP.
TRS SSP Plan Highlights
TRS SSP Plan Document
Other ways to invest for retirement:
Retirement - Teacher Investing Guide
VOLUNTARY ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS:
Available to IMRF participants only (support staff)
IMRF’s Voluntary Additional Contribution (VAC) program is an easy way to help you save additional retirement income. Once you complete the form please scan/email to benefits@joliet86.org or interoffice to Benefits/Business Office/JFK
- Limited to a maximum of 10% of your IMRF reportable earnings.
- After tax, not tax-deferred.
- A separate individual account consisting only of your contributions and any interest you earn on them. Employers do not make any contributions to your VAC account.
- Accrue interest differently than traditional saving accounts.
- Continue to earn interest for as long as they are left on deposit with IMRF.