Resources TPA Enhancements Corner Transamerica is committed to the TPA Channel and continues to focus on creating efficiencies and streamlining processes for our TPA Partners. You have spoken, we have listened. Transamerica diligently continues to make systems and product enhancements that our TPA partners have requested. Below is a full summary. Please click on the appropriate links to review a quick tutorial for these enhancements.
Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
Reviewing Transactions |
Effectively immediately, the email sent to you for approval that accompanies all loan and distribution requests submitted online, will now include the plan name and participant name. This new information will be available for the following transaction types:
- Loans
- Distributions
- Hardship Withdrawals
- In-service Distributions
Click here for a sample communication. |
You will no longer need to spend time researching names to fulfill multiple transaction requests. |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
Search Capabilities |
Search Capabilities: We've added an efficient and user-friendly search capability to the Plan Information and Plan Administration pages. This allows you to search across all column headers (i.e. advisor, dollar amount, plan name, participant count, etc.). Click here for more details. |
This saves you valuable time. |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
New Automated Reporting |
Streamlined Auto-Reporting
Beginning in April, Transamerica will offer plan-level reports automatically.
Reports Available The following reports are available on a quarterly and year-end basis:
- Investment Summary Report
- Account Data Report (in Excel and CSV format)
- Loan Register Report
- NEW Forfeiture Summary Report
How You Are Notified Once all of your firms' reports have been generated, an email will be sent to plan administrators, notifying them of report availability. This will be sent around the 16th of the month following each quarter end.
How to Access the Reports The reports are housed on www.TA-Retirement.com behind login, under Plan Reports>Scheduled Administration Reports.
- Click on the check box to select plan(s)-Maximum of 20 plans
- Option to sort by clicking on column heading
- Option to search by Plan Name, Company Name or Contract ID using 'Search all' box
- Click on the arrows above the check boxes to view your selections on one page
- Click on Submit to view your reports
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This time-saving new feature puts reports containing all of a plan's financial activities at a TPA administrator's fingertips in seconds. |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
Vesting |
Streamlined Vesting Process Moving forward, anytime you attempt to make an update and certain individuals are not enrolled, Transamerica will accept the file and display a message listing the social security numbers of those not in our system. You are able to print out the message for your convenience. This prevents a complete file rejection and allows the updating for all other participants.
Click here to view vesting update screenshot. |
This change saves you time by preventing multiple upload attempts. |
Forfeitures |
Real-time Forfeiture Sweeps Starting in January 2013, non-vested monies will now be moved from the participant account to the plan's forfeiture default fund as part of all distribution transactions. |
This process updates Forfeiture allocations in real-time, enhancing system accuracy. |
Disbursement Status |
Simplified Money-Out Viewing
The Check Status menu has been renamed Disbursement Status as we now display both ACH Deposit and Check Status information. To access, follow these menus: Plan Administration >> Select your plan >> Loans and Distributions >> Disbursement Status.
Click here to view disbursement screenshot.
Click here to view ACH Status screenshot. |
This gives you a complete look at money-out transaction status. |
TPA Firm Profile and Fees Update |
Promote Your Firm
We are able to showcase our TPA Partners to prospective plan sponsors through our integrated Proposal system. After you log in to our system, you can provide us with a Firm Profile (an introduction of your firm) in a Microsoft Word format only, and also supply a potential fee schedule. The fee schedule simply acts as a representation and is not meant to be exact.
Click below for instructions to:
Upload Profile
Enter TPA Fees
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This feature allows you to increase your exposure to potential prospects. |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
Plan Design |
Online Distribution Question
The question "Will the plan allow online distributions?" has now been moved from the Special Features section and is now located under Plan Design>Loans and Distributions. |
This change makes this selection more intuitive and reduces confusion. |
Loan Documents |
Loan documents online
Loan documents for both paper and online requests are now available for TPAs, plan sponsors, and participants at www.TA-Retirement.com. To access the documents online, navigate to Plan Administration > Select Your Plan > Loans and Distributions > View History. The TPA, Sponsor and Participant will receive an email notification once loan documents are available for viewing.
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This feature easily puts all loan documents at your fingertips, saving time and needless paperwork. |
Participant Automated Clearing House (ACH) Processing |
Automated Clearing House (ACH) processing
Participants can elect to have their funds electronically transferred to their U.S. bank account, if online loans and distributions are elected features of the plan.
Note: If the ACH funds are returned by the bank for any reason, Transamerica will issue a check to the mailing address on file. ACH is not available for TPA entered loans. |
Gives participants direct access to funds in a faster timeframe, great green alternative that eliminates the need to print a paper check. |
Check distributions |
Check distributions
Participants can now request a loan or distribution check be sent with overnight delivery. During the approval process, you can also now request a loan or distribution check be sent directly to participants' homes or to an alternate address via U.S. mail.
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This gives you another level of service to your participants, helping them receive funds within 24 hours. |
Loan and distribution check status |
Check status
You now have the ability to view participant check statuses for loans, in addition to distributions.
Simply log into your account and access the Check Status link under Plan Administration > Loans & Distributions. |
This feature is yet another way that you can offer stellar customer service. With the click of a mouse, you can quickly find the check status for any loan or distribution. |
Online Beneficiary Maintenance |
Beneficiary Maintenance
For plans with online enrollment, participants are able to choose a beneficiary at the time of enrollment. If they are already enrolled, they can make beneficiary changes online. Participant beneficiary reports are available online to you and your clients. |
This time-saving feature let's participants make beneficiary elections quickly and efficiently with no paperwork. |
Plan Design |
Special Features Section
The Special Features section, under Plan Design has now been grayed out so you will no longer need to manage the election options – they will be managed by the plan sponsor. If you would like to make changes, please contact the plan sponsor directly, or call TPAConnect.SM
Click here to preview the Special Features section. |
This change gives the plan sponsor the option to make selections, removing the responsibility from the TPA. |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
TPA Choice |
TPA Choice Election Report
We created a report that captures your involvement with Loans, Distributions and Vesting for each of your plans with Transamerica. If any of your plans have elected one or more PASS services, those are also displayed on this Excel report. Accessing the report is really simple. On the Plan Information screen, select "Download" and your report will appear in a new window. Click here to view screenshots. |
The TPA Choice Election Report provides an efficient & effective way for TPAs to determine their involvement in Loans, Distributions and Vesting. Also, if any plans have PASS Services, TPAs are quickly able to see which of these services they have elected. |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
Plan Provisions/Audit |
Audit Indicator
We have added a question on the Plan Type & Features area of our website (Plan Information>Plan Provisions>Plan Type & Features) that reads: "Is the plan required to obtain an independent audit?" If the "Yes" radio button is selected, Transamerica will automatically post the annual audit package to the Document Center for you and the Plan Sponsor. |
This enhancement increases efficiency — all you need to do is answer the question once and the Annual Audit Package will be generated and appear in the Document Center when appropriate. Calling Transamerica to request Audit Packages is no longer required. If an Audit Package has been generated in the past, Transamerica will be populating a "Yes" answer to this question for you (completion date 12/31/11). |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
Loans |
Condensed Loan Documents
New Participant loan documents are now available in a condensed 2-page format. Participant signatures are no longer required and their signature on the check will serve as consent to the terms and conditions of the loan. |
Streamline some of the tasks in the Participant Loan workflow for the Plan Sponsor and makes the overall process more efficient. |
Loans |
Enhanced Loan Check Design
Loan checks now feature a new design with additional disclosure, which clarifies the responsibilities of the lender(s). Newly issued checks also contain language stating that lenders are required to disclose in writing the interest rate, finance charges, and amount being financed |
This redesign brings clarity to lender responsibilities and added transparency around interest rate, finance charge, etc. |
Reporting |
New Report – Loan Register*
A new loan report is available that brings together all loan data into one report. Its CSV format provides an easy way to manipulate data fields. This report can be accessed under Plan Reports>Loan>Loan Register. Simply enter your date range and select the plan.
*Report only available for plans record kept at CSC. |
This report allows you to reconcile loan activity at both a participant and plan level. |
Survey Tool |
TPAConnectSM Survey
A new monthly-generated survey is available that allows you to give us feedback based on your customer service experiences with TPAConnectSM during the prior month. If you have any feedback that you would like to share outside of the survey, please contact your TPA Development Manager directly. |
Your feedback will help us continue to raise the bar in offering best-in-class service. |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
TPA Choice |
TPA Choice icon
A TPA Choice icon will display next to every TPA plan. When you roll over the image, you will see how that plan is set up for Vesting, Loans and Distributions. |
Having these icons makes it easier for you to quickly get TPA Choice information saving you valuable time. |
PASS
Plan Administration Service Support |
PASS icon
A PASS icon will display next to each plan that has PASS services. When you roll over the icon, you will see which PASS services the plan elected. |
You are able to see at-a-glance which services under the PASS offering was selected.
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Reporting |
New Plan Administration Report
A new report is now available called the Plan Administration Report that can be run for a given date range in real-time. This report shows:
Page 1
- Plan-level at-a-glance views of beginning, ending and loan balances
- Participant and employer contributions and loan repayments
- Distributions and dollar amounts in the forfeiture account
Page 2
- Forfeiture detail, showing distributions (date, participant, distributed amount and amount forfeited)
Page 3 Forfeiture Account Summary – showing amounts previously in forfeiture account, adds in new forfeiture amounts, and subtracts any amounts used to give a new Account total based on activity |
This report ties forfeiture amounts to the participant, and provides a full and complete summary. |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
Business Promotion |
Feature Your Website
By populating a simple field in the plan design screen, plan sponsors will be able to easily link over to your website. Find out more... |
In addition to showcasing your firm, this link gives your clients a direct pathway to review or download any documents that sit on your website. |
Audit Packages |
Paperless Audit Packages
In an effort to "go green" and streamline the audit process, our annual audit packages are now available in a secure environment on our website and accessible to you and your clients. |
The majority of participant data will be combined into one usable file regardless of product type, and loan information will be consolidated into one single file, eliminating the need for eight prior existing reports. |
Forms |
Transamerica Forms-Wizard
As we continue to expand our platform, we've created a tool that allows you to pre-populate certain forms for distributions and rollovers before you provide them to participants. Find out more... |
This helps you add a simple, yet effective, layer of additional client service. |
Reporting |
Reporting Updates
The Account Data report has been enhanced to show participant first and last name and shows division/location codes for participants.
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This report saves you time by providing all pertinent information in one report, and prevents you from having to research participant names elsewhere. |
Loans |
Loan Requests
When a loan is requested, our system now automatically defaults the date to the current date. |
This eliminates any loan miscalculations from manual request date entries |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
Fee Schedule |
One fee schedule on proposal system:
You can enter proposal fees online. |
This simplifies the online proposal fee entry by using only one web form instead of two. |
Proposal |
TPA Profile:
You can upload a firm biography online to be used with all proposals. |
This enables us to showcase your firm in proposals to potential clients. |
Loans and Distributions
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Real-time Vesting updates:
You can update vesting in real-time prior to approving or submitting a transaction; without having to deny the request. |
This new process saves considerable time with processing distributions and loans. |
Hierarchy for loans and distributions:
You can now set the available withdrawal sources and related hierarchies at the plan level. |
Removes the need to provide a hierarchy per transaction, saving processing time. |
TPA Involved Online Loans and Distributions:
You can choose to either be involved or to outsource loans and distributions to Transamerica on any given plan. |
By answering certain questions up-front it's easy to set your preferences during new plan set-up. |
Vesting |
TPA Involvement:
TPAs can choose to either be involved or to outsource Vesting updates to Transamerica. |
This provides TPAs with choice and flexibility for working with Transamerica. |
Working with Transamerica |
Setup your level of involvement with Loans, Distributions and Vesting when working with Transamerica:
For new plans, new questions are asked as part of plan design so you can set preferences up front.
Example: If a TPA does not want to handle vesting for a certain plan, you can set the appropriate provision. |
This provides TPAs with choice and flexibility for working with Transamerica. |
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Category |
Efficiency Building Enhancement |
Benefit |
Distributions |
Sequencing Change:
Online distributions now have one flow.
Participant>Sponsor Review/Approval>TPA Review/Approval |
This new process simplifies the review and approval process for all distributions. |
Vesting Maintenance |
Simplified Vesting Upload File:
New file with only the SSN, Name and Vested Percentage needed to upload. |
Helps expedite vesting updates by including only necessary fields. |
Reporting |
New Investment Summary Report:
This new report shows subtotals by source and fund, plan and participant level data, forfeitures, and separate subtotals. |
Easily access data in one user-friendly report. |
Reporting |
Account Data Report:
This report condenses participant-level data, shows loans by source, and participant listings by fund |
Breaks plan level information into three separate categories; helping to expedite plan data review. |
Reporting |
Plan Information Page:
This page provides a summary of your book of business with Transamerica. (plan year-end date, financial advisor information, # of participants, assets, AUM, and more). |
This gives a full book of business snap shot that can be accessed anytime. |
Year- End Reporting
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Schedule D:
Plan level Schedule D information available online. Excel file details only the funds within the plan. |
Helps expedite data gathering for year-end reporting. |
Year- End Reporting |
Schedule C:
Large plan filers can now access this information online. |
Helps expedite data gathering for year-end reporting. |
Administrator Trainings |
TPA Training Event Library:
Audio visual recordings are made available for every TPA Administrators Training |
Review and stay up-to-date on new trends or enhancements, even if you can't attend the live event. |
Industry Leaders |
Speakers Bureau Event Library:
Audio visual recordings are made available after every Transamerica Industry Speakers Bureau event. |
Stay informed of regulatory changes, the financial landscape and much more, even if you can't attend the live event. |
Plan Design |
Installation Enhancements:
Online enrolment is no longer a requirement. In the plan design module, notes can be entered, fields can be skipped, and save-in-processes are allowed. |
This allows completion of plan design without having to stop the process due to a field requirement. |
Reporting |
Check Status:
A new quick search status page is available for distributions that show – Issue date, check#, amount, participant, check status and the withdrawal type). |
This gives a TPA a snapshot without having to search multiple places for this information. |
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