Every employee is at a different stage on the road to saving for retirement. Wherever you are, there is a convenient, tax-advantaged way to save for the future: the Publicis Benefits Connection (PBC) 401(k) Plan, administered by Fidelity. You can enroll anytime, and do not have to take action during your enrollment period.
To access your account, visit Fidelity NetBenefits or call Fidelity Customer Service at 1-800-835-5095.
You and Publicis help create savings for your future through the Publicis Benefits Connection 401(k) Plan in the following ways:
All regular, salaried, full-time new hires are immediately eligible upon date of hire (for employees who work at least 1,000 hours of service per year or upon reaching 1,000 hours).
There are two ways to enroll in the Publicis 401(k) Plan: Auto-Enroll and EasyEnroll.
You will be automatically enrolled in the Plan within 35 days of your hire date at a rate of 5% of your eligible pay. Your contributions will be invested into one of the FIAM Index Target Date Commingled Pools Class Y funds according to your birth date.
You have 30 days from your date of hire to opt out of auto enrollment; once contributions start you can opt out at any time. You can request a return of your automatic contributions adjusted for gains and losses, up to 90 days after you have been automatically enrolled in the plan by calling the Fidelity Retirement Benefits Line at 1-800-835-5095.
You do not have to wait to be auto-enrolled in the Plan — you can elect to contribute to the Plan with EasyEnroll available on Fidelity NetBenefits. With EasyEnroll you can choose your contribution amount from pre-set contribution rates of 8%, 10%, or 12% of your eligible pay. Your contributions will be invested according to your birth date into one of the FIAM Index Target Date Commingled Pools Class Y funds.
Employees can contribute up to a maximum of $22,500 (IRS Section 402g limit) in 2023. Employees are 100% vested in their employee contributions to the Plan, as well as any earnings on them.
The Publicis matches 100% of the first 3% of eligible pay you contribute and 50% on the next 2%, to a maximum Publicis-provided match of 4% of your eligible salary (capped at $285,000) for calendar year 2023.
The Company’s matching contributions and earnings vest according to the following schedule:
Years of Service | Percent Vested |
---|---|
0 ‒ 1 | 0% |
1 ‒ 2 | 25% |
2 ‒ 3 | 50% |
3 ‒ 4 | 75% |
4+ | 100% |
If you will reach age 50 or older during the calendar year January 1 to December 31 and are making the maximum plan or IRS pre-tax contribution, you may make additional “catch-up” contributions each pay period (up to $7,500 in 2023). You may also make after-tax contributions to the Roth 401(k). If you elect to use a Roth 401(k), you may make after-tax Roth catch-up contributions.
You are always 100% vested in your contributions to the Plan. The Publicis’s matching contributions and any earnings vest according to the following schedule:
Years of Service | Percent Vested |
---|---|
0 ‒ 1 | 0% |
1 ‒ 2 | 25% |
2 ‒ 3 | 50% |
3 ‒ 4 | 75% |
4+ | 100% |
To help you meet your investment goals, the Plan offers you a range of investment options. You can select a mix of investment options that best suits your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
Publicis Connection offers investment options across all asset classes in the following categories:
Although your account is intended to be a savings vehicle for your future, you may borrow from your vested account balance for any reason while you are an active employee. You then pay the money back to your account, plus interest, through after-tax payroll deductions.
You may borrow up to 50% of total vested account balance:
While you are employed, you can access your account balances through in-service withdrawals in certain situations, including:
Keep in mind that withdrawals are subject to income taxes and are possibly subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty.
The value of your vested account balance is payable to you if you terminate employment before you reach the retirement age, normal or early retirement, if you retire due to a disability, and death. If you retire, you may:
You will be required to take a distribution no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the year in which you reach age 70½.
Fidelity offers the Planning & Guidance Center through Fidelity NetBenefits. The Planning & Guidance Center can help you create a retirement plan or investment strategy and monitor your progress. Watch a short video which includes information on the following:
If you need assistance or have questions about the Planning & Guidance Center, you can speak with a Fidelity Guidance Consultant at 1-800-420-2363.
You have a variety of tools and resources to help you manage your account and save for the future:
If you are a “hands off” investor, Fidelity offers the Retirement Plan Manager (RPM) program under the Publicis Benefits Connection 401(k) Plan. This service manages your 401(k) account for you at no cost to you. You can get more information about this voluntary service by contacting Fidelity Retirement Services at Fidelity NetBenefits or at 1-800-835-5095.