Hernsberger QDRO Law April 2019

Revisiting a Classic In this issue we’re diving into an old classic that helped define the modern personal development genre and has helped millions of readers improve their lives. “The Magic of Thinking Big” flew off shelves when it was first published in 1959, propelling author David J. Schwartz from university professor to foremost authority on ideas feel old hat to modern audiences, the essence of what he wrote in 1959 still rings true today. In fact, one could argue that several core concepts of this decades-old work are even more applicable today. A running theme in Schwartz’s book is the incomparable

‘The Magic of Thinking Big’

motivation. But does his seminal work still hold true 60 years later? Is there still magic in letting yourself think big in the 21st century? In a word, yes. The lessons in “Thinking Big” are broad, but their wide applicability is also what makes them timeless. While today, many authors and motivational coaches — from “influencer” culture to “growth hacking” — focus on whatever is new and shiny, Schwartz focuses on the fundamentals. This can make the opening chapters in “Thinking Big” feel excessively familiar to those who have read other personal development books. The power of positivity and self-confidence may have been groundbreaking ideas back when Eisenhower was president, but today they’re a given. While this may make some of Schwartz’s

benefit of treating people like people. While many personal and business dealings hinge on the power of a handshake, there’s something refreshing about the common human decency of Schwartz’s outlook. So many motivational works today focus solely on personal reflection — “Thinking Big” reminds us that there is great power in simply being good to other people. Perhaps the largest takeaway today’s readers can find here is to take on more and think bigger. “Thinking Big” is replete with real-world success stories of people doing precisely that, from students collaborating to solve supposedly impossible problems to wounded paratroopers making their way across the mountains of Burma toward safety. Whether you’re dusting off an old copy or picking it up for the first time, this classic is still worth a read in 2019.

The 4 Complete Steps of the QDRO Process

Step 2. Submit a draft copy of the QDRO to the plan administrator for pre-approval.

A QDRO is much more than a document. It’s a process. If you prepare a QDRO but don’t walk it through the four steps of the approval process, you might as well not prepare the QDRO at all. It doesn’t matter if you’re a lawyer working on the closing documents after a divorce or you’re a non-lawyer trying to do your own QDRO; these steps will take you to the finish line. We maintain a very large library of retirement plan documents, summary plan descriptions, QDRO approval processes, and model QDROs for thousands of retirement plans — and the library grows daily. We use these documents, the biographical information you supply us, and the specific language of the divorce decree to prepare your QDRO in compliance with Texas law, federal law, and the specific provisions of the retirement plan. Step 1. Prepare the QDRO.

Not all plan administrators will pre-approve a QDRO, but if the plan administrator offers this service, you should take advantage of it. If they pre-approve the QDRO, you can be sure they will approve it after the judge signs it. If they reject the QDRO, they’ll tell you exactly why they rejected it. We can then revise the QDRO to satisfy them (at no additional charge) and still protect your client’s rights before you take it to the judge. The version of the QDRO that you send to the plan administrator should have the addendum attached to it. They will need the information on the addendum to review the QDRO. Before you decide to have the QDRO pre-approved, you should know that many plan administrators take 30–60 days to review your QDRO. This can be a problem if you are in a hurry to get to court.

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