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  Allison SERSP and HERSP Plans  
 

Funding Health Care Costs After Age 65

For Your Interest

ABC News Video: "Automotive workers seek advice on buyouts"

Dow Jones Newswires
Adviser Fights Fear About GM With Fact

Chicago Tribune, May 4, 2008
Consider financial future before accepting buyout

Wall Street Journal, February 20, 2008
How to Value the Buyout Offer

Wall Street Journal, June 21, 2007
Getting Personal: Financial Planning Before the Buyout

Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Create a pension back up plan

Flint Journal, April 2, 2007
Buying in to a buyout
 

Introduction

With close to 40 investment options available, the Salaried Employee Retirement Savings Plan (SERSP) and Hourly Employee Savings Plan (HERSP) are among the best in the country. With this large number of funds, there is ample opportunity to build a well-diversified portfolio for your 401(k) savings.

For your reference, we have provided a fund table displaying style, risk, and past performance for many of the funds in the SERSP and HERSP plans. In addition, please visit our “Fund Commentary” section below for further information on specific funds and/or fund types within the SERSP and SERSP accounts.
 
To the right you will find articles of interest as well as news and updates to Allison employee and retiree benefits. Check this page for future updates to the SERSP and HERSP plans, as well as news that affects Allison employees and retirees.

Request Mainstay Capital Management’s, “Allison Transmission 401(k) Investment Guide.”


News and Updates

Allison Savings Plan Changes - As of August 3, 2009

Allison announced changes that will affect the participants of the Allison Transmission Salary Employee Retirement Savings Plan and the Allison Transmission Hourly Employee Retirement Savings Plan.

The following investment options are closed to new investments as of 4:00 PM on August 3, 2009:

Fidelity Value Fund
Fidelity Mid Cap Stock Fund
Fidelity Real Estate Investment Portfolio

The following investment options are added as of August 3, 2009:

Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund - Investor Class
Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund - A

Anyone that was making contributions to the funds that will be closing, will have needed to redirect them by 4:00 PM on August 3, 2009. If no change was made, future contributions to the closed funds would have been redirected automatically according to the following table.

Fidelity Value Find To Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund
Fidelity Mid Cap Stock Fund To Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund
Fidelity Real Estate Investment To Vanguard REIT Index Fund

Roth 401(k) Option

The Roth feature within a 401(k) plan allows employees to “tax diversify” their income sources for retirement. Employees have the flexibility to direct contributions between both types of 401(k) accounts as their current and future tax situation dictates. Additionally, for those Allison employees who are ineligible for a Roth IRA, a Roth 401(k) provides an opportunity to build a tax-free retirement income source.

We applaud Allison Transmission for taking advantage of this provision in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA).

Request a free copy of Mainstay Capital Management’s “Roth 401(k) Investment Guide”.

Roth 401(k)s - Frequently Asked Questions

Mainstay "In The News" On The GM and Delphi Roth 401(k)


Fund Commentary

Pyramis Active Lifecycle Funds

The Pyramis Active Lifecycle fund family is designed for those participants who wish to base their asset allocation decision on a specific target date, typically aligning the account with the fund that most closely matches their projected retirement date.

Eleven of these funds are included in the new plan, with 5-year incremental targets from 2000 to 2050. The way the Lifecycle 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.

Lifecycle 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. Lifecycle 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 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 lifecycle 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 lifecycle funds offer a simple one-stop-solution, we continue to advise participants to avoid lifecycle 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.


Fund Table - June 30, 2010

The Allison Transmission SERSP and HERSP fund table provides critical data on investment options within the plan.

  Allison Transmission SERSP and HERSP - Fund Table                                        


If you have any questions concerning our website or your Allison Transmission 401(k) account, please feel free to contact us using the following email link: Mainstay@mainstaycapital.com 
or call us toll-free at 1-866-444-6246.

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