Cobalt advises clients in the design, implementation and operation of employee benefit plans including employee retirement plans (pension, profit-sharing and 401(k) plans), welfare benefit plans (healthcare plans and cafeteria plans) and executive programs (supplemental executive retirement plans, equity plans, golden parachutes and perquisites). Cobalt also consults with respect to annual reporting and the myriad compliance issues that arise in connection with employee benefits. 

Cobalt specialists can work with your company to:

• Design and implement the most cost-effective retirement plans that can help provide financial security for employees

• Provide appropriate health and welfare benefits for employees in a cost-efficient and tax-effective manner; for example, by implementing a cafeteria plan

• Meet various compliance requirements for employee benefit plans, such as timely plan amendments, annual 5500 reporting, and required employee communications (e.g., SPDs)

• Maximize benefits to key employees while meeting required nondiscrimination rules

• Structure retention and severance packages in a tax-effective manner

• Perform crucial due diligence before a contemplated merger or acquisition

• Integrate benefit plans after a merger to meet applicable compliance regulations and support employee morale

• Assess and address compliance problems with qualified plans to avoid IRS penalties