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Website Frequently Asked Questions


Revised May 2006

Logging into the System | Account Information | Modifications | Loans & Hardships | Participant Statements | Terminations

Logging into the System

Q. How do I log into the website?
You can access the Noble-Davis Consulting, Inc. participant web site by logging onto www.noblepension.com and clicking on "Participant Account Information." Then enter your user ID and password (see below) and click on the "Participant" button.
Q. What is my user ID and password?
Your user ID is originally set to your Social Security number without dashes entered. Your password is the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Q. Can I change my user ID and password?
Yes, you may change your user ID and password - in fact it is highly recommended that you change your password immediately and on a regular basis. Your password has the force of your personal signature and any transaction you initiate can be legally binding as if you had personally signed the request.

On the web site, select Transactions/Password Change from the choices at the left hand side of the screen. Please read the password criteria on the screen to make appropriate changes. Click on the submit button to save your changes.

Q. What if I forget my User ID or password?
If you forget your User ID or password, please ask your Human Resources department to inform Noble-Davis Consulting, Inc. and they will reset your account to the original user ID and password. Please be aware that your reset PIN code will be available after 10:00 am on the day after the day your request is received by Noble-Davis Consulting, Inc.
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Account Information

Q. How can I view my current account balance?
After logging in to the website, your current account balance will be shown in total along with a pie chart detailing your investments. For greater detail, choose Account Info/Account Balance from the choices on the left hand side of the screen. This will detail your account by source and fund, as well as display your vested account balance. Please note that pending transactions will be displayed in blue.
Q. What other information can I access?
  1. Personal Information: By choosing Account Info/Personal Info you can update personal information, including your address, birth date, marital status and contact information.
  2. General Information: By choosing Account Info/General Info you can view any general information your plan sponsor has chosen to communicate with you.
  3. Investment Elections: By choosing Account Info/Investment Elections you can view your current allocation percentages.
  4. Loan Information: By choosing Account Info/View Loans you can view your current loan information.
  5. Investment Profiles: By choosing Account Info/Investment Profiles you can view all investments available to your plan, along with the current share prices and a link to Morningstar.com, a fund ratings company that provides access to more investment information.
  6. Transaction History: By choosing Transaction History/Transaction History you can view a complete detailed listing of all transactions that have occurred in your account by source, investment or date.
  7. Web/VRU Requests: By choosing Transaction History/Web/VRU Requests you can view all requests you have made over the web or VRU (if enabled) for a specified period of time.
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Modifications

Q. How do I change my beneficiary?
You may change your beneficiary at any time by completing a new "Designation of Beneficiary Form". These forms are available in your Human Resources department.
Q. May I change my payroll deductions?
Yes, you may modify your dollar amount or your percentage amount four times each year. To change the amount of your payroll deduction you must complete a new "Enrollment Application". Simply complete the front page of the form and enter the new amount you wish to contribute. Then submit your form to your Human Resources Department.
Q. May I stop my payroll deductions?
Yes, you may stop your payroll deductions by completing a new "Enrollment Application". Simply mark the box indicating that you want to stop payroll deductions. Then sign and date the form and return it to your Human Resources Department.
Q. How can I change my future investment elections?
Changing these elections will change how any money is allocated into your account after the day it is changed. It will not change any current account balances in your account.

After logging in to the web site, select Transactions/Investment Elections option from the options on the left side of the screen. In the New Allocation % column, enter the new percentages you want next to each desired fund. Use only whole percentages and make sure the column totals 100%. When you are satisfied with your choices, click the Submit button at the bottom of the screen.

Q. How can I rebalance my investments?
Rebalancing your investments allows you to reinvest your account based on your most current allocation percentages. This allows you to keep your funds in line with your preferred asset allocation. Most investment professionals recommend that you perform this step at least annually.

After logging in to the web site, select Transactions/Rebalance Portfolio option from the options on the left side of the screen. You should be able to create either a one-time rebalancing or set a recurring schedule for rebalancing where the system will automatically rebalance for you at your specified intervals. When you are satisfied with your choices, click the Submit button at the bottom of the screen.

Q. May I rebalance to a different set of allocation percentages?
Similar to the Portfolio Rebalancing, this option allows you to rebalance your entire account to a set of allocation percentages that are different from your current allocations. Your account will be reallocated to the target percentages you provide.

After logging in to the website, select Transactions/Conform to Target option from the options on the left side of the screen. Here you can choose the new percentages for which you would like your funds to be allocated. Use only whole percentages and make sure the column totals 100%. When you are satisfied with your choices, click the Submit button at the bottom of the screen.

Q. May I transfer amounts from one investment to another investment?
You may transfer amounts from one investment to another investment.

After logging in to the website, select Transactions/Transfer Between Investments option from the left hand side of the screen. Select the source of your money you wish to transfer, if required. Then select the type of transfer you would like to make. Your choices may be Dollar to Dollar, Dollar to Percent or Percent to Percent. This allows you to pick a fund you are already in and to transfer a percentage or dollar amount from that fund to as many other funds as you wish. When you are satisfied with your selections, click the Submit button.

Q. How often may I change my investment elections?
You may change your investment elections as often as you wish. Please keep in mind that if you have requested a transfer of amounts between funds you must wait at least four business days before you can request another transfer between funds.
Notes for all transactions:

CAUTION: The Submit button should be clicked ONLY ONCE. Hitting it more than once runs the risk of having your requested duplicated.

Note that a transfer request takes four full business days to post to your account. Day one consists of selling the applicable funds. Day two consists of settling the "sell" trades from day one and then buying the corresponding funds. Day three consists of settling the "buy" trades from day two. Day four requires that information to be posted to the website. During the process, you will not be notified nor will you be able to monitor the progress of the transaction. There may be a time when your account appears to have "lost" money. Rest assured that this happens when the "sells" have been made and posted to the account but the "buys" are still in transit. When the process is complete, your account will reflect the transfers that occurred.
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Loans & Hardships

Q. How do I request a loan?
After logging in to the website, select Transactions/New Loan from the choices on the left hand side of the screen. After you input the information asked for, click the Submit button. CAUTION: The Submit button should be clicked ONLY ONCE. Hitting it more than once runs the risk of having your requested duplicated.
Q. Is there a limit on the amount I can borrow?
Yes, the IRS has limits on the amount that can be withdrawn from your account for a loan.

The maximum loan is the lesser of:

  1. 50% of your vested account balance, or
  2. $50,000 reduced by the highest outstanding loan balance in the immediately preceding twelve months

Please remember that the value of your account changes on a daily basis. Therefore, if the fair market value of your account decreases between the time that you apply for a loan to the time the loan is processed, your maximum loan amount available will automatically be adjusted to the lesser amount.

Your plan may also impose certain restrictions on loan availability. Some plans only allow a certain number of loans while some plans have minimum loan amounts. Please check your loan policy for these restrictions.

Q. How often must I make loan payments?
Loan payments must be payroll deductions and will be deducted from your paycheck on an after-tax basis.
Q. May I decrease my loan payments?
No, you may not decrease your loan payments. A participant loan will automatically default if the payments are decreased. When a participant loan defaults the entire outstanding loan balance becomes taxable income and is reported to the IRS on a Form 1099-R.
Q. May I increase my loan payments?
Yes, you may increase your loan payments. All you need to do is make the request in writing. The request should state the new amount to be deducted and the date the increase should be effective. The request should be signed and forwarded to your Human Resources department.
Q. How do I request a Hardship Distribution?
You may request a Hardship Distribution by completing a form titled "Application for Hardship Distribution". These forms are available in your Human Resources department. Please note that a Notary Public or a Human Resources Representative must witness your signature. The Human Resources Department will forward completed forms to Noble-Davis Consulting, Inc. for processing.

Please note, in order to take a Hardship distribution you must not be eligible to take a loan from the Plan.

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Participant Statements

Q. What if there is incorrect data reported on my quarterly participant statement?
Each quarterly participant statement should be reviewed for accuracy. If any of the data needs to be amended, simply make a copy of your statement, circle the incorrect data and provide the correct data. This statement should then be given to your Human Resources department and they will forward it to Noble-Davis Consulting, Inc. You must notify your Human Resources Department of any errors within 30 days of receiving the statement.
Q. What if I am receiving two quarterly participant statements from the 401(k) Salary Deferral Plan?
If you are receiving more that one quarterly participant statement then your deferrals have been inadvertently recorded under two different social security numbers. Please notify your Human Resources department and your accounts will be combined immediately.
Q. What if I think I should be receiving quarterly participant statements although I am not receiving them?
If you have been contributing to the plan and you are not receiving quarterly statements then you need to make sure that the Human Resources department has your most current address.
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Terminations

Q. What happens when I terminate?
When you terminate the Human Resources department will complete a form titled "Data Required for Distribution" which authorizes Noble-Davis Consulting, Inc. to start the distribution process. This form must be signed by a Human Resources Manager or Administrative Assistant, not the participant.

Noble-Davis Consulting, Inc. will mail directly to your home the distribution forms that you must complete and return to Noble-Davis Consulting, Inc. before your distribution check can be processed. You will receive the following distribution forms:

  1. Distribution Notice
    1. Please check that all the participant information is correct.
    2. The amount of distribution equals the fair market value of your account on the day the forms are processed. Please note that the actual amount of your distribution check will depend on the fair market value of your account on the day your account is liquidated.
  2. Benefit Election Form
  3. Special Tax Notice Regarding Plan Payments

Please note that some plans may require that your distribution be processed after the end of the next valuation period or after the completion of a year break-in-service (a plan year with less than 501 hours worked). We will automatically send distribution paperwork when you are eligible to receive it. You do not need to request your distribution paperwork.

Q. How long does it take to process a distribution check?
The timing of your distribution will depend on how quickly you complete your "Benefit Election Form" and return it to Noble-Davis Consulting, Inc. It may take up to three weeks to process your distribution check.
Q. Why is the amount of my distribution check different from the amount shown on my distribution notice?
The amount of distribution shown on the Distribution Notice equals the fair market value of your account on the day the Distribution Notice is processed. Since your account is valued daily, the fair market value of your account changes on a daily basis. Your final distribution check will be equal to the fair market value of your account on the day your account is liquidated for distribution. Consequently your distribution check will either be more or less than the amount shown on your distribution notice depending on stock market fluctuations. By law, we are also required to withhold 20% federal withholding tax on all distributions that are not rolled over into an IRA or qualified retirement plan. If you choose for your distribution to be paid directly to you, it will be reduced by the mandatory 20% withholding.
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