SkyWest Employee Stock Purchase Program and 401K

[CFIT]

I looked over the Deferred Compensation Plan (SkyWest) and the big thing that I don't like is that the assets are considered the company's. In the event of bankruptcy the creditors could go after them. Also you cannot roll over to an IRA. So what happens when you leave SkyWest? Do you have to leave your money in the plan until retirement? The fund choices are pretty limited. The positives of the plan are no maximum contributions, no mandatory distributions and tax deferred savings.

I've signed up for it and will try to maximize my contribution on my 401K without going to the point of getting a refund. I am going to put about 10K in each one a year which will lower my taxes. The deferred compensation program is a company assett but I don't think SkyWest is going anywhere soon.

 

[Skywest Pylot]

The deferred compensation program is a company assett but I don't think SkyWest is going anywhere soon.

I wonder if the folks at United, Delta, U.S. Airways, etc. at one time said the same thing. Not trying to bash you CFIT, but maybe we can all learn something from the past.

 

[CFIT]

I wonder if the folks at United, Delta, U.S. Airways, etc. at one time said the same thing. Not trying to bash you CFIT, but maybe we can all learn something from the past.

I think the key word in my post "going anywhere soon", but you are right, I'm sure at one point most of those thought there nest egg was safe too.

What I am also trying to find out is what can happen if the company is aquired, which I think is a situation that is more likely.

 

[auspac]

My deferred compensation plan is called a 401k or IRA. Curious as to what this other plan is that you are talking about?

Nevjets, We have just been introduced to a separate Deferred Compensation Plan for HCEs. This is NOT a 401K. There are significant differences:

- only a select group of highly compensated or management employees may participate
- the IRS does not limit how much may be contributed
- distributions made prior to age 59.5 are not subject to an early withdrawal penalty
- distributions may not be "rolled-over" to an IRA
- loans are not available
- hardship withdrawals are available under limited circumstances
- CONTRIBUTIONS ARE CONSIDERED ASSETS OF THE COMPANY AND ARE AVAILABLE TO SATISFY THE CLAIMS OF THE COMPANY'S CREDITORS IN THE EVENT OF ITS BANKRUPTCY OR INSOLVENCY
- forms of payment must be elected at the time of deferral, but can be modified as provided under the Plan


I don't see SkyWest going bankrupt anytime soon, however I'm sure the employees at Pan Am, United, Lehman Bros, Enron, insert company name....., all said that at one time. With a 401K your money is safe from creditors, the problem with our plan is we cannot max it out once we earn a certain amount because we get some of our money sent back to us.

 

[Nevets]

Nevjets, We have just been introduced to a separate Deferred Compensation Plan for HCEs. This is NOT a 401K. There are significant differences:

- only a select group of highly compensated or management employees may participate
- the IRS does not limit how much may be contributed
- distributions made prior to age 59.5 are not subject to an early withdrawal penalty
- distributions may not be "rolled-over" to an IRA
- loans are not available
- hardship withdrawals are available under limited circumstances
- CONTRIBUTIONS ARE CONSIDERED ASSETS OF THE COMPANY AND ARE AVAILABLE TO SATISFY THE CLAIMS OF THE COMPANY'S CREDITORS IN THE EVENT OF ITS BANKRUPTCY OR INSOLVENCY
- forms of payment must be elected at the time of deferral, but can be modified as provided under the Plan


I don't see SkyWest going bankrupt anytime soon, however I'm sure the employees at Pan Am, United, Lehman Bros, Enron, insert company name....., all said that at one time. With a 401K your money is safe from creditors, the problem with our plan is we cannot max it out once we earn a certain amount because we get some of our money sent back to us.

So you can participate if both?

 

[SKYWRJGUY]

Nev:

As you can see earlier, that was one of my questions I'm going to seek clarity on. I'd rather put 10k in the 401k and 5k into the DCP if at all possible. Limit my downside in addition to the less than stellar fund choice, also avoid becoming a creditor to SKYW.

 

[Skywest Pylot]

- CONTRIBUTIONS ARE CONSIDERED ASSETS OF THE COMPANY AND ARE AVAILABLE TO SATISFY THE CLAIMS OF THE COMPANY'S CREDITORS IN THE EVENT OF ITS BANKRUPTCY OR INSOLVENCY

I cannot believe there are guys at SKYW who are considering the DCP. Do you guys have rocks for brains? If so, I've got a great retirement program for you. Just send me a check every month and I'll add it to my assets. When you get ready to retire give me a call and I'll let you know whether or not my finances are financially sound enough for a pay out. Sound good?

Those who fail to learn from history are sure to repeat it.

One more thing, the ESPP you now have sucks. I was digging around in storage the other day and I came across the "Total Compensation" fliers R.R. sent out a couple of years ago. Looks like the ESPP was considered part of your "Total Compensation". The profit sharing really isn't that great of a deal (especially compared to the huge potential upside of the next 1 or 2 ESPP periods). Make no mistake, you guys just took a paycut.

 

[CFIT]

The 10% ESPP difference is being added to the profit sharing.

The profit sharing program increased my hourly rate about $6.50 an hour.

With the DCP program I will be able to save more and with assigned non taxed payouts I should be relatively safe, but nothing is fool proof.

Honestly I'm still on the fence about the DCP.

 

[Nevets]

Nev:

As you can see earlier, that was one of my questions I'm going to seek clarity on. I'd rather put 10k in the 401k and 5k into the DCP if at all possible. Limit my downside in addition to the less than stellar fund choice, also avoid becoming a creditor to SKYW.

I see, maybe you can just fund a regular IRA instead.

It sounds like Skywest should have people pilots start with an automatic 3-5% contribution enrollment with an the option to opt-out and then separate the pilots from the ADP/ACP computations and that should solve the HCE problem.

The 10% ESPP difference is being added to the profit sharing.

The profit sharing program increased my hourly rate about $6.50 an hour.

Honestly, I would rather have the $6.50 an hour (or even a bit lower) built into my wage and ditch the profit sharing.

 

[CFIT]

Nevets,
As strange as it may seem I agree with both, I wish the company did an automatic enrolement and the the income was fixed. I know for some it has been a hardship when you don't know what the profit sharing is going to be and you can't use the income for say a loan app.

But overall I still feel SkyWest is as good as any of the others and also as rock solid as an airline can be in this day and age.