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This document is being provided exclusively by AGL Resources, which retains responsibility for the content.
AT ANY TIME
Visit the Merrill Lynch Benefits OnLine® website to access your retirement benefit information (401(k) and
pension, if eligible).
Review your 401(k) information and estimate your pension benefit assuming various retirement dates.
Access the “Financial Education Learning Library” on the Merrill Lynch web site to view short education
videos on a variety of financial topics such as “Planning for the Retirement you Want,” “Managing Income in
Retirement,” “Making Choices about your Social Security Benefits,” and “Planning for Healthcare Costs in
Retirement.”
90 – 180 DAYS PRIOR TO RETIREMENT
Contact Merrill Lynch (online or by phone) to request your Pension Election Packet. In preparation, you
should have estimated your pension benefit online assuming various retirement dates.
Contact HR Retirement to inform them of your upcoming retirement date. This will initiate the preparation of your Retirement Benefits Packet.
If you are 62 or older, contact your local Social Security office or log in to their website to obtain the
necessary forms should you choose to begin drawing these benefits. If you are age 65 or older, you will
need to enroll for Medicare benefits.
60 DAYS PRIOR TO RETIREMENT
Notify your manager of your retirement date, and request they enter the event into PeopleSoft.
Decide if you want to take any of your unused vacation before retiring, or you can elect to be paid for
your unused vacation on your final paycheck.
Complete, make a copy for your records, and return the original forms from your Pension Election
Packet to Merrill Lynch.
30 DAYS PRIOR TO RETIREMENT
Complete, make a copy for your records, and return the original forms f rom your Retirement Benefits
Packet to HR Retirement.
AFTER RETIREMENT
You may defer distribution of your Retirement Savings Plus (RSP Plan – 401(k)) until you reach age 70½,
as long as the value of your account is greater than $5,000. Distribution of your account, in whole or in
part, may begin at any time.
If you have an RSP Plan loan, contact Merrill Lynch if you wish to make a one-time repayment for all or a
portion of your outstanding balance to avoid a taxable distribution.
Contact Zurich American Life Insurance Company within 60 days of your retirement date if you want
information on portability or conversion options for your active group life insurance.
Contact the Benefits Resource Team (BeRT) if you have a change of address or phone number, change
changes to your retiree medical, dental and vision coverage, premium debit authorization, to discontinue
any of your covered dependents, or need to change your beneficiary for your Company-paid retiree life
insurance.
Contact Merrill Lynch if you need to change your beneficiary for the RSP Plan.
Attend local Gold Flames chapter meetings to stay connected.
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLUS PLAN - 401(K) You have the following options in regard to your account balance in the RSP Plan:
BALANCE OF $5,000 OR LESS
Take a lump sum distribution of your account balance. Ordinary income taxes apply to distributions paid
to you; there is no 10% excise tax due on your distribution if you leave the Company after age 55. You
may choose to receive shares of AGL stock held in your 401(k) account in-kind (stock) instead of having
the shares converted to cash. There may be tax advantages you should consider before withdrawing
AGL Resources stock. Please consult your personal tax advisor for further information.
Roll over some or all of your account balance to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Distributions
from an IRA before age 59½ may be subject to a 10% excise tax, in addition to ordinary income taxes.
If you do not make a choice to receive your distribution, your vested account balance will be paid to
you in cash if it is $1,000 or less. If your balance is more than $1,000 but not over $5,000, your
account balance will be rolled over by the Plan to an individual retirement account (“IRA”) with
Merrill Lynch after you terminate employment. For additional information on a Merrill Lynch IRA and the
associated fees and expenses, contact Merrill Lynch.
BALANCE MORE THAN $5,000
Leave your money in the RSP Plan until a later date, but no later than April 1 of the year after you
reach age 70½ (distribution is mandatory at this time). If you do nothing, your account balance
automatically will stay in the RSP Plan until you take action or reach age 70½.
Take a distribution from your account balance. You can choose to take a partial withdrawal, total
withdrawal, or monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual installments. Ordinary income taxes apply to
distributions paid to you; there is no 10% excise tax due on payments from the RSP Plan if you leave
the Company after age 55. You may choose to receive shares of AGL stock held in your 401(k) account
in-kind instead of liquidating them (having the shares converted to cash). There may be tax advantages
you should consider before withdrawing AGL Resources stock. Please consult your personal tax advisor
for further information.
Roll over some or all of your account balance to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Distributions
from an IRA before age 59½ may be subject to a 10% excise tax, in addition to ordinary income taxes.
Contact Merrill Lynch at 800.228.4015 when you are ready to take a distribution from the RSP Plan.
You always have access to your RSP Plan account through the Benefits Online website at benefits.ml.com.
Remember to keep your beneficiary information updated.
NOTE: If you have one or more outstanding loans in the RSP Plan and do not want your loan balances to
become taxable income, you must pay off your loan before you take a distribution. You will have 60 days
after your termination of employment to pay off all or part of the outstanding loan balance. Please contact
Merrill Lynch at 800.228.4015 if you wish to exercise this option.
You have choices for what to do with your 401(k). Depending on your financial circumstances, needs and goals, you may choose to rollover to an IRA or convert to a Roth IRA, rollover a 401(k) from a prior employer to a 401(k) at your new employer, take a
distribution, or leave the account where it is. Each choice may offer different investment options and services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, tax treatment, and provide different protection from creditors and legal
judgments. These are complex choices and should be considered with care.
Merrill Lynch makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”) and other affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, member SIPC and a wholly
owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. BofA Corp is not affiliated with any other organizations referenced in this document. Benefits Online is a registered trademark of BofA Corp.
To set up automated electronic payments (debited directly from your checking or savings account),
complete the Direct Bill Premium Debit Authorization Form included in your Retirement Benefits
Packet.
If you sign up for electronic payments, your account will be debited on the 10th day of the month or the
next following business day by Empyrean, our new billing administrator.
If you do not sign up for electronic payments, you will receive a monthly statement mid-month to pay
your premiums by check or money order. The first bill will be for your retirement month and the next
month.
NOTE: If you elect to discontinue any of your retiree coverage at any time after your retirement date, you will
not be able to re-enroll in the coverage at any later date.
NOTE: As a retiree, you also are offered COBRA continuation of your healthcare benefits (medical, dental
and vision). The COBRA notice is the legal notice indicating your right to continue participation in the
AGL Resources plan for 18 months.
WELLNESS PROGRAM AND EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP) If you and your dependents are covered under retiree medical, you remain eligible for the Wellness and EAP
programs. Your online account access will remain the same as when you were an active employee. Both
programs are administered by Health Advocate. You can contact them at healthadvocate.com/aglr for the
wellness program and at healthadvocate.com/aglreap for the EAP, or call 855.424.6400.