Getting Started

About GuidedSavings

Q. What is GuidedSavings?
A. GuidedSavings is an application developed by GuidedChoice that provides online investment advice and portfolio management. It gives sound, personalized, professional investment advice based on Modern Portfolio Theory.

Q. What's different about GuidedSavings?
A. GuidedSavings is different from retirement calculators and retail advice web sites because it imports your basic information and plan rules, which are critical for accurate portfolio recommendations. The quality of the advice is different because GuidedChoice sets up personalized portfolios with a mix of funds. In addition, GuidedSavings is different because when you "accept advice", the software sends your new savings rate and investment directions to your recordkeeper or employer for implementation.

Before You Start

Q. What information should I bring to start using GuidedSavings?
A. The information you should have available is listed below (print the list). Please be sure to go to Entering Personal Information for specific details about what information is required for the best results. You will need:

About You

• Your most current pay stub to calculate or verify salary information.
• Your most recent statements for any:
• Previous retirement plans
• Other pension plans
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
• Other retirement investments/savings information (savings/brokerage accounts)

About your spouse
If you want to include your spouse's resources, you will need:

• Spouse's annual salary, other income.
• Spouse's retirement plan statements from current and previous plans.
• Spouse's current annual contribution and any employer match.
• Spouse's other investments set aside for retirement.

Dependent Children
If you have dependent children, you will need:

• Children's names.
• Children's birth dates.

Select plans will allow you to designate beneficiary data. In these instances, we prefer to have the names and Social Security numbers of those you wish to designate; however, Social Security numbers are not required.

You may want to also have your current monthly expenses available. If you are unsure of how much monthly income you will need at retirement, understanding how much you are currently spending will help.

Q. Do I have to use my most recent account statements? Can I use out-of-date ones?
A. It is always preferable to have the most recent data available. However, because GuidedSavings calculates a range of outcomes for your savings, it won't matter if your account information is a few months old. The impact of using older data is related to the amount of time you have until you retire. The more time you have, the less the impact.

Q. Can I give approximate balances?
A. For best results, GuidedSavings needs complete, accurate information about you. Remember, if you give approximate balances, our advice will be based on those estimates.

Most banks, brokerage firms and plan providers have a toll-free number that you can call to get your account balances.

Log On/PIN:

Q. I can't logon to GuidedSavings. Am I doing something wrong?
A. You need to enter your Social Security Number, birth date and ZIP code to validate who you are. Each field has to match exactly what your company has on record for you. For example, if your ZIP code is wrong in your employer's records, you won't get in because the information won't be a match. You may want to call your HR department to find out what they have in their system.

Q. What is a Personal Identification Number (PIN)?
A. A Personal Identification Number (PIN) is one component of GuidedSavings security. Don't let the name fool you. It is really a password and can be letters, numbers or a combination of both. Your PIN must have at least six characters and at most twelve. This ensures that you alone can access data from your account. No one else has access to your PIN. You have the option to set up a PIN, reset it or change it.

Q. What do I need to know to set up my PIN?
A. To set up your PIN, or Personal Identification Number, you need to enter your Social Security Number, birth date and ZIP code. This information has to match the data that is sent to GuidedChoice from your employer. If you cannot get the system to validate the information, contact your employer to make sure your data is correct in the employer's HR system. When you set up a PIN, as an added level of security, you will need to provide a "Secret Code", for instance, your favorite sports team or the name of your favorite pet, or, really, any code word that you will remember if you forget your PIN. If you need to reset or change your PIN, GuidedSavings will ask you for your Secret Code to verify your identity.

Q. I didn't get an assigned PIN. Are you going to send my PIN to me?
A. No, we will not send you the PIN. It is a secret between you and the system. We don't want your PIN to be available to anyone else in print or via e-mail. You can create your PIN within GuidedSavings.

Q. Does GuidedChoice know my PIN?
A. We don't know your PIN. It is a secret in the computer system, so only the computer knows it. No one else has access to your PIN. You have the option to set up a PIN, reset it or change it.

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Eligible Participants:

Q. What if I am a participant in the Plan but I am not an employee?
A. If you are a participating non-employee, you can only make investment changes in GuidedSavings. You will not be able to make savings rate changes. GuidedSavings will advise you on your investments, you can accept this change and the new investment mix will be sent to the recordkeeper, but we cannot implement the savings rate change because you are no longer an employee of the Plan Sponsor.

Q. I am a terminated employee can I use GuidedSavings?
A. Yes, if you have terminated from your employer but have left your money in the Plan, you may still use GuidedSavings. GuidedSavings can recommend and implement an investment change, but because you are not paid through this Plan's employer, we cannot implement the savings rate from your pay.

Q. I am not an employee, but am in the plan because an employee died and made me a beneficiary. Can I use GuidedSavings?
A. Yes, if you are a participant and have money in the Plan, you may still use GuidedSavings. GuidedSavings can recommend and implement an investment change, but because you are not paid through this Plan's employer, we cannot implement the savings rate from your pay.

Q. I am not an employee, but am in the plan because of a divorce settlement (a QDRO — a qualified domestic relations order). Can I use GuidedSavings?
A. Yes, if you are a participant and have money in the Plan, you may still use GuidedSavings. GuidedSavings can recommend and implement an investment change, but because you are not paid through this Plan's employer, we cannot implement the savings rate from your pay.

Q. If I change my address in GuidedSavings, will that change it with my employer?
A. In most cases, you will not be given the opportunity to change your address in GuidedSavings because employers prefer you change it through them. They then have systems in place to change it with all the appropriate service providers your company uses.

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