Aldine ISD 401(a) Matching Plan for Retirement Savings
Welcome

Aldine Independent School District is pleased to offer participants of the District’s 401(a) Matching Plan for Retirement Savings (the “Plan”) the opportunity to self-direct and manage the investments of their individual accounts under the Plan’s new participant directed investment program. The program is offered by PARS through Charles Schwab.

If you are vested* in your Employer Contribution Account you are eligible to self-direct your investments. Once PARS confirms that you are vested you will receive by mail a Personal Identification Number (PIN). With your PIN and your Social Security number, you may begin directing investments in your individual account on the PARS web site or by completing and submitting to PARS an Investment Selection/Change Notice Form.

As a participant in the participant directed investment program, you provide investment direction on your account by selecting from Investment Options determined by the District and the Investment Advisor to the Plan, TCG Advisors, LP. Along with having the ability to manage your own investments, the Plan also allows you to choose from three professionally managed investment portfolios, in addition to the Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund. A Stable Value/Stable Return Fund is similar to a money market account but may have somewhat higher returns due to the use of longer maturities on its fixed-interest investments.

Click HERE for the links to the performance sheets for the various investment options.

You may change your investment choices at any time online or by completing and submitting to PARS an Investment Selection/Change Notice Form.

If you are vested and choose not to direct your own investments, your account will automatically be invested in the Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund.

Aldine Independent School District and PARS welcome you to the new participant directed investment program under the 401(a) Matching Plan for Retirement Savings. If you have any questions about how the Plan works, please refer to the Plan Highlights, Frequently Asked Questions or contact PARS at (866) 708-3777. A representative will be happy to answer any questions related to the Plan’s features; however, any questions related to investment advice must be directed to a professional investment advisor.

*Participants are vested in their Employer Contribution Accounts after earning six (6) years of service under the Plan. Participants must be employed through the last day of their sixth Plan Year, unless retiring under the rules of TRS during or after the sixth year of participation in the Plan. Participants who become vested in their accounts during any Plan Year are eligible to participate in the participant directed investment program on the September 1 following the date on which they became vested. Please note that even though participants may be vested on September 1, account reconciliations will take place on or around September 30, at which time accounts may be accessed.

Updated: October 24, 2006