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Mainstay Capital Management, LLC |
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| Important Consumer Disclosure: Mainstay Capital Management, LLC is an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Due to various state regulations and filing requirements, Mainstay and its representatives may only provide investment advisory services in those states in which it is first appropriately registered or otherwise exempt or excluded from registration requirements. The purpose of this website is to provide the public with general information about the services offered by our investment management firm. Mainstay does not render personalized investment advice or services or effect, or attempt to effect any securities transactions, on this website. Our firm continuously monitors its filing requirements in all states, and will provide individualized advisory services only in accordance with various state regulations. Mainstay does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party provider, whether linked to Mainstay's website or incorporated herein. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly. |
Ford SSIP and TESPHE Plans
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"Analysis of Management Services Available to Ford Employees" Maximizing Ford Company Match After AICP Contribution New Ford 401 (k) Plan Administrator Interest Income Fund Update Change in Credit Rate Process Funding Health Care costs After Age 65 For Your Interest ABC News Video:
"Automotive workers
seek advice on buyouts" The Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal Chicago Tribune Wall Street Journal |
Introduction
With 24 investment options available, the Savings
Stock Investment Plan (SSIP) for salaried employees and Tax
Efficient Savings Plan For Hourly Employees (TESPHE) are
among the best in the country. This large number of
funds provides ample opportunity to build a
well-diversified portfolio for your Ford 401k savings.
For your reference, we have provided a
fund table displaying
style, risk, and past performance for many of the funds in
the SSIP and TESPHE plans. In addition, please visit our
“Fund Commentary” section below for further information on
specific funds and/or fund types within the SSIP and TESPHE
accounts.
To the right you will find articles of interest as well as
news and updates to Ford employee and retiree benefits.
Check this page for future updates to the SSIP and TESPHE
plans, as well as news that affects Ford employees and
retirees.
News and Updates
Ford increases company match in the SSIP – January
12, 2012
Ford Motor Company announced an increase in the company match for the
Savings and Stock Investment Plan (SSIP) effective July 1, 2012. The
current match of $.60 per dollar of employee contribution up to 5% of
the employee’s eligible base salary will increase to $.80 per dollar of
employee contribution up to 5% of the employee’s eligible base salary.
Mainstay Capital Management recommends that all Ford salaried employees
contribute at least 5% in order to take full advantage of the company
match.
Ford STEP & SRI Separation Programs -
1st Quarter 2012
Ford
is offering special separation/retirement programs to eligible
UAW-represented Ford hourly employees company-wide. There are two
programs under which an employee may be eligible. The decision to accept
a separation program requires careful analysis and planning on the part
of each employee.
For those evaluating a buyout offer, there are important factors to consider:
- Am I financially ready to go?
- Have I developed a comprehensive Retirement Income Plan?
- How will the STEP or SRI impact my retirement plan?
- Are my investments allocated appropriately for this life event?
- What should I do with the assets in my 401(k)?
- Which distribution method for pension benefits is best suited for my personal situation?
Mainstay Capital Management is a fee-only, independent investment advisor that currently provides portfolio management and retirement planning services as well as counsels hundreds of Ford employees on buyout offers. We can provide a comprehensive Retirement Income Analysis, help evaluate "what-if" scenarios, and assist in making informed decisions concerning any buyout offer.
Call Mainstay Capital Management toll-free at 1‑866‑444‑6246 to discuss your personal situation with a Retirement Planning Specialist.
Ford Fund Change Announcement – June
2011
Ford has announced upcoming changes to the investment options in the Savings and Stock Investment Plan (SSIP).
The new investment options will provide similar investment strategies and risks, but the overall expenses for the
investment options will be lower. These changes will be effective as of the close of business on July 1, 2011.
Mainstay Capital Management’s CEO, David Kudla, has spoken and is published on the subject of reducing fees
(internal expense ratios) for investment options within 401(k) plans. For further insight read his article penned for
Forbes,
"Why Investment Choices In Your 401(k) Might Change", or contact Mainstay toll-free at
Ford SSIP & TESPHE Fund Change Announcement – March
2010
Ford has announced upcoming investment option changes for the SSIP and
TESPHE 401(k) plans that will take effect this spring. More than a third of the
existing investment options will be eliminated and new options will be added to
the plan. Account balances and new monies invested (contributions/loan
repayments) in the options being removed from the plans will be transferred
either to other existing investment options or to the new investment options. It
is important to analyze this new investment menu, prior to the transferring of
assets out of current investment options, to determine appropriate changes for
your SSIP or TESPHE account.
Affiliated Computer Services Replaced Fidelity –
January 2010
Effective January 5, 2010, Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) has taken over
administration of the Ford SSIP, FRP, DCP and BEP for salaried employees, as
well as the TESPHE for hourly employees, from Fidelity Investments. The
investment options that are currently available in these plans are not expected
to change initially, but may change over time as part of the regular monitoring
process. There is a new website for SSIP and TESPHE participants to view and
make changes to their plan effective January 5, 2010. For more details, read the
article on the right “New Ford 401(k) Plan Administrator”.
Fund Commentary
BlackRock LifePath Index Funds
The BlackRock LifePath Index Fund family is designed for those participants
who wish to base their asset allocation decision on a specific target
year. The account is typically aligned with the LifePath fund that most
closely matches the year you anticipate that you might begin to withdraw
your savings for your retirement.
Nine of these funds are included in the Ford plan, with 5-year incremental targets from 2015 to 2050, along with a fund targeted as a Retirement Fund. The way the LifePath funds are designed, the further away the target date, the more aggressive the asset allocation, conversely, the closer the date, the greater the emphasis on preservation of capital in the asset allocation.
LifePath funds hold some appeal in that they are simple to explain and administer. While this approach is unique, we believe the asset allocation decisions provided by these funds are crude at best. LifePath funds attempt to make decisions about asset allocation based solely on a target date. An investor’s tolerance for risk and financial goals are other key factors that should largely play a roll in determining the investment strategy and asset allocation. Additionally, they leave no room for the fund manager to tactically adjust the allocation strategy based on specific opportunities within the financial markets or in response to prevailing market conditions.
The returns realized in these commingled vehicles are diluted by a rigid adherence to mechanical allocation parameters. These parameters may prove to be shortsighted and inappropriate for everyone participating in the pool. The real world changes every day, yet proponents of LifePath funds, or similar funds, expect someone to stick to a single game plan for as much as 40 years, whether interest rates are rising or falling, or whether the economy is in expansion or recession. While LifePath funds offer a simple one-stop-solution, we continue to advise participants to avoid these funds and retain the flexibility to proactively adjust their portfolios as needed.
Please reference "Target-Date Funds Face Regulation", published in The Wall Street Journal.
Company Stock
As a general rule of diversification, no single stock should represent
more than 10% of your total investment portfolio. We believe this is a
good guideline for ownership of company stock in your 401(k). Most
individual stocks are much more volatile than mutual funds. To the
extent you invest more in your company 's stock, your overall portfolio
will exhibit more volatility (risk), and retirement investing is not
about hitting home runs, but about consistently hitting singles and
doubles.
That being said, many corporations often match a portion of employee retirement plan contributions with company stock, offer employees attractive incentives to purchase company stock either within or outside of retirement accounts, or include stock or stock options as part of employee compensation. We recommend that employees take full advantage of these opportunities, but remember to keep their total company stockholdings within reasonable levels.
Fund Table - December 31, 2011
The Ford SSIP and TESPHE fund table provides critical data on investment options within the plan.
Ford SSIP and TESPHE
- Fund Table
If you have any questions concerning our
website or your Ford 401(k) account, please feel free
to contact us using the
following e-mail link:
Mainstay@mainstaycapital.com
or call us toll-free
1‑866‑444‑6246.
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10775 South Saginaw St., Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439
Toll Free: 1-866-444-6246