Employee Benefits and Retirement Enrollment Administrative Services

TCG: Retirement Plan Administration, Consulting Services, and Financial WellnessFirst Financial: Employee Benefits and Administrative ServicesTCG has been working with OMNIA Partners/Region 4 ESC Co-op for over 15 years to provide investment and retirement plan administration services. Today, TCG and First Financial Group of America (FFGA) work together to provide the employee benefits through this contract. TCG still handles all the retirement services and plans and FFGA provides the Section 125 benefit plans and services for the Co-op. About TCGTCG was established to meet the unique needs of school administrators and government employers who are facing challenges like growing populations, shrinking budgets, and stringent compliance standards. We provide retirement plan administration, institutional investment advice, financial wellness, and cyber security solutions for organizations of all sizes. Today, TCG is proud to serve over 900 active plans, managing over $3.2 billion and

administering over $10 billion. Our focus is to provide independent, objective advice and asset management, helping provide peace of mind in an otherwise hectic environment. Why Choose TCG?We provide sophisticated investing, consulting, and retirement plan solutionsWe act as fiduciaries with a legal duty to act in our clients’ best interestTCG Is able to act as a third party consultant or as the plan provider About First Financial Group of AmericaFirst Financial was established in 1969. We are headquartered in Houston, Texas, and have satellite offices in Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina and Louisiana. First Financial currently services more than 500 School Systems and Government Entities. In September 2016, we teamed up to start working with TCG on the OMNIA Partners / Region 4 ESC 125 Co-op. First Financial provides Section 125 benefit plans and services, while TCG handles all retirement services and plans for the Co-op.The OMNIA Partners / Region 4 ESC 125 Co-op goes out to bid for the benefit plans every three years and evaluates vendors based on who offers the best benefit plans, value-adds, enrollment ease, electronic capabilities, claims processing and time frame, stability, insurance ratings and performance guaranteesWhen you work with First Financial, you will receive:Tailored value to the employerPersonalized value to the employeeFully-licensed, salaried account managers to educate employees on benefits and assist with enrollmentCustomized benefits packages that fit within your budget Our Mission Statement: First Financial’s mission is to provide best-in-class customer service with convenient group health solutions and administrative services. U.S. Communities and National IPA, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of OMNIA Partners, have come together as OMNIA Partners, Public Sector. All public sector participants already registered with National IPA or U.S. Communities continue to have access to all contracts, with certain exceptions, in the portfolio and do not need to re-register to use a legacy National IPA, legacy U.S. Communities, or new OMNIA Partners contract. U.S. Communities and National IPA remain separate legal entities and lead agency contracts completed under each brand are effective and available for use through the contract’s approved term. In the event we believe re-registration is necessary for any reason, OMNIA Partners will let you know. Employee Benefits and Retirement Enrollment Administrative ServicesRegion 4 ESC - TXContract Number: R221201March 1st, 2023 through February 28th,2026 Option to renew for two (2) additional one-year periods through February 29th, 2028 Executive SummaryExecutive SummaryDue DiligenceMaster Agreement DocumentsOfficial Signed ContractContract Award LetterContract Award DocumentsResponse EvaluationSupplier Response to RFPEvaluation DocumentsSolicitation ProcessOriginal RFP DocumentRFP Questions and AnswersProof of PublicationRFP Request ListRFP Opening Documents At First Financial, our sole purpose is to provide financial security solutions to our customers. We strive to accomplish this goal by making insurance understandable, accessible, and economical through an array of reliable services.Since 1966, First Financial has successfully provided a variety of services, insurance and retirement plans to public schools and governmental entities. First Financial has an understanding of the needs of both certified and classified personnel and offers quality products specifically designed to accommodate both. Our knowledge of employees’ needs better enables us to provide superior products and services to our valued customers. We will provide you and your employees with solutions for current and future needs.Here is a quick overview of what we offer each of our clients.Benefits ConsultingWe help you with all aspects of benefit plan design, communication needs and employee education through our comprehensive, integrated approach.Administrative SolutionsOur full range of services such as online billing, record keeping and program evaluation will keep your organization’s benefits running smoothly and efficiently.Enrollment ServicesWe are with you every step of the way to educate and assist, whether it’s in person or online.Investment OptionsWith people living longer, healthier lives, employees can plan for a comfortable retirement with one of our quality retirement plans. FFGA: Approved Benefit Partners HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTHSAs vs. FSAsFLEXIBLE SPENDING SECTION 125 Managing an organization’s retirement plan involves many moving parts, and the tasks involved can end up taking much of your valuable time. When you partner with TCG, you are collaborating with a team of professionals who leverage experience and technology in an effort to decrease your administrative duties and help enhance the plan participant experience. TCG Administrators help provide:Full-service administration of retirement plans such as 403(b), 457(b), 401(a), 401(k), and FICA AlternativeCompliance oversight and audit support24/7 online systems for plan sponsors and plan participants MAPPWe are proud to offer the Managed Asset Portfolio Program (MAPP)—a service designed to meet the unique financial objectives of school districts and municipalities. We utilize proven strategies managing portfolios to help meet your cash flow needs and help maximize yield. We invest in accordance with the core principles of the Public Funds Investment Act and your local policy.How we accomplish this:We focus on safety, liquidity, and yieldWe create a custom investment strategy based on your organization’s financial pictureWe consistently fine-tune the plan to manage current and future risk Institutional Retirement Plan AdvisoryOur goal is to help alleviate you of the administrative burdens normally associated with managing employee retirement plans and investments so you can focus on the higher-level tasks of running your organization. Leave the work to a team of professionals who will work on your behalf and help participants reach closer to a successful retirement.How we do it:We focus on improving participant education & outcomesWe manage fees, funds, and fiduciary responsibilitiesWe keep you informed for all industry trends FinPathMost Americans face financial stress because they spend all their time making money and not nearly enough time managing it properly. Not knowing how to properly budget, allocate, and invest your money is a recipe for financial failure. We understand that while people of distinct socioeconomic backgrounds face hardship at different respective income levels, financial stress is present and can take a detrimental toll on their personal wellbeing. FinPath provides solutions that help empower individuals of all income backgrounds to save for a secure financial future. Our team strongly believes the best approach to achieve financial wellness is through continuous education and active engagement with financial coaches that help bridge gaps on complex topics. These same core ideas power FinPath and our mission to improve the financial future of our communities.The program incorporates the following:1. Learning ModulesThe first level of service provides users with engaging Learning Modules (available in Spanish) that empowers them to make sound financial decisions. These self-guided modules cover over 25 financial topics, including: TRSSocial Security for educatorsSavings ratesBankingManaging debtImpact of interest ratesImportance of credit scoresFinancing higher educationRenting vs owning a homeBuying a carTaxesInsurancesProtecting elderly from fraud2. Planning ToolkitIn addition to the features of Base Camp, this plan provides users a platform that assesses their current financial situation and provides actionable steps to help improve it.How it works: Participants take a comprehensive assessment and receive a financial health scoreThe system generates a detailed, goal-oriented planA dashboard of actionable steps to take keeps participants accountable and helps improve their health scoreContests and incentives help keep employees engaged (optional)3. Live Advisor SupportConnecting your staff members with non-biased Live Support is crucial to their financial health. TCG Financial Wellness Coaches are available for group workshops and assistance via phone, chat, or email.4. Monthly courses through FinPath UniversityOur monthly courses follow a curriculum designed to help people through both the basic and the complex aspects of financial planning. Each course is taught by an advisor for TCG, and the teacher can be made available to any participant for follow-up questions. TCG provides sophisticated investment and consulting solutions, and we act as fiduciaries with a legal duty to act in our clients’ best interest. Investments are managed by a team of investment professionals on a fee-only basis; we cover everything from pension plans and OPEB trusts to operating funds and bond proceeds management. In addition to investment consulting, we also provide retirement plan consulting and can assist your organization with RFPs, investment menus and plan design, and executive compensation and incentive plan design. Everything we do with regard to consulting is accomplished in-house by a team of professionals that are dedicated to providing you and your employees with elite customer service. iLock 360Regarded as one of the fastest growing crimes in the world, identity theft occurs when personal identifiable information (PII) is accessed without permission with the intent to be sold, distributed, or misused. In 2015, identity fraud affected 13.1 million consumers costing a total of $15 billion. Our protection solutions can help you continue living your life without worry.You need protection you can rely on.The truth is that everyone can become a victim of identity theft. Think about some of the ways in which you share your personal data—your bank, your social media accounts, and your employer. If they experience a security breach, your information can land in the hands of unwanted people.With iLOCK360 protection, you can expect:Complete CyberAlert SM coverageProtection of your identity 24/7/365Easy online account management WEBINAR SERIES FINANCIAL WELLNESS PROGRAMRETIREMENT PLANNING & VOLUNTARY BENEFITS OVERVIEW OF SERVICESOMNIA Partners & TCG RETIREMENT PLANS BROCHUREFINPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS SPECIALIZED CONSULTINGMAPP CYBER SECURITY5 PILLARS PHILOSOPHY