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Tech Talk: The Difference Between 403(b) and 403(b)(7) Plans

What is the difference between a 403(b) plan and a 403(b)(7) plan? In Tech Talk, Susan Diehl tells us.
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Gary Odendahl
3 years 6 months ago

On this page above it says what is the difference between a 403B and a 403B 7 plan and in blue is Tech Talk but when I click on that message says page cannot be found?

3 years 6 months ago

Hi Mr. Odendahl, 

The information reads as follows. 

Q. What is the difference between a 403(b) plan and a 403(b)(7) plan?

A. Before 2009, there was a definite distinction between a 403(b)(1) and a 403(b)(7) — there was no requirement for employers to have a plan, so employees signed either an annuity contract (403(b)(1)) or a custodial agreement (403(b)(7)).

Fast forward to today: now, the employer maintains a 403(b) plan where the investments either can be in an annuity contract (403(b)(1)) and/or in a custodial agreement (403(b)(7)) where the investments are in mutual funds.

Note that many referred to the annuity investment as a 403(b) and left off the (1) which makes this even more confusing!