MMC Benefits Handbook
Transition Benefit
If you are eligible for a transition benefit as described in the Retirement Plan, the same transition benefit rules apply when calculating your benefit under the BEP.
For information on the Transition Benefit and the Temporary Transition Benefit, see the Marsh & McLennan Companies Retirement Plan A section.
Because benefit accruals were discontinued under both the Retirement Plan and the BEP effective December 31, 2016, the Final Average Salary used to calculate the transition benefit will be determined at the earlier of your first termination date or December 31, 2016.
Example – Han, a participant eligible for the transition benefit
Han was born on March 15, 1944, was hired by the Company on January 1, 1969 and terminated employment with the Company on March 31, 2009. Han accrued a Retirement Plan benefit and a BEP benefit before January 1, 2006 and on or after January 1, 2006. Because Han was employed, had an accrued benefit and met the specified age and service requirements on December 31, 2005, he was also entitled to a Transition Benefit with respect to his Retirement Plan benefits accrued as of December 31, 2005. The Transition Benefit also applies to his BEP benefit accrued as of December 31, 2005. The example below shows how the Transition Benefit applies to Han's BEP benefit.
  • Han had 483 months (40 years and 3 months) of both Benefit Service and Vesting Service as of March 31, 2009. Therefore, he is vested in his accrued Retirement Plan and BEP benefit.
  • Han was employed, had an Accrued Benefit in the Plan, was age 61 and 9 months and had 444 months (37 years) of Vesting Service on December 31, 2005, making him eligible for the Transition Benefit. This means that in addition to Han's Accrued Benefit as of December 31, 2005, Han will receive a Transition Benefit based on increases in his Eligible Monthly Pay after December 31, 2005.
  • For purposes of the Transition Benefit, Han's IRC-limited Final Average Salary increased from $203,000 to $218,000 (or by 7.39%) from December 31, 2005 to March 31, 2009.
  • Han's unlimited Final Average Salary increased from $224,667 to $250,667 (or by 11.57%) from December 31, 2005 to March 31, 2009.
How the BEP benefit as of December 31, 2005 is calculated:
"Unlimited" Retirement Plan Benefit - calculated without regard to IRC pay limit:
1.6% times unlimited Final Average Salary ($224,667) times 30.0 years = $107,840.00
Plus
1.0% times unlimited Final Average Salary ($224,333) times 7.0 years = $15,726.67
Minus
0.4% of the lesser of unlimited Final Average Salary ($224,667) or Covered Compensation as of 12/31/2005 ($57,636) times 35 years = $8,069.04
Equals $115,497.63
"Limited" Retirement Plan Benefit - calculated under IRC pay limit:
1.6% times IRC- limited Final Average Salary ($203,000) times 30.0 years = $97,440
Plus
1.0% times IRC-limited Final Average Salary ($203,000) times 7.0 years = $14,210
Minus
0.4% of the lesser of IRC-limited Final Average Salary ($203,000) or Covered Compensation as of 12/31/2005 ($57,636) times 35 years = $8,069.04
Equals $103,580.96
BEP Benefit:
"Unlimited" Retirement Plan benefit of $115,497.63
Minus
"Limited" Retirement Plan benefit of $103,580.96
Equals
BEP benefit of $11,916.67
(assuming for this example that payment begins once Han attains age 65, in the form of a single life annuity)
How the BEP Transition Benefit as of March 31, 2009 is calculated:
Transition Benefit rule applied to 12/31/2005 "Unlimited" Tax-Qualified Retirement Plan benefit:
11.57% (Han's increase in Final Average Salary from December 31, 2005 to March 31, 2009, without regard to IRC limits)
Times
"Unlimited" Tax-Qualified Retirement Plan benefit of $115,497.63
Equals
"Unlimited" Tax-Qualified Plan Transition Benefit of $13,363.08
Transition Benefit rule applied to 12/31/2005 "IRC-limited" Tax-Qualified Retirement Plan benefit:
7.39% (Han's increase in IRC-limited Final Average Salary from December 31, 2005 to March 31, 2009)
Times
"IRC-limited" Tax-Qualified Retirement Plan Benefit at 12/31/2005 of $103,580.96
Equals
"IRC-limited" Tax-Qualified Plan Transition Benefit of $7,654.63
BEP Transition Benefit
"Unlimited" Tax-Qualified Plan Transition Benefit of $13,363.08
Minus
"IRC-limited" Tax-Qualified Plan Transition Benefit of $7,654.63
Equals
BEP Transition Benefit of $5,708.45
(assuming for this example that payment begins once Han attains age 65, in the form of a single life annuity)