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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is ePIC?

A1: ePIC, the Electronic Payroll Investing Center, is a free Internet-based system provided to retirement plan sponsors to assist them in managing and monitoring their plan. ePIC is offered by Administrative Data Management Corp. (“ADM”), an affiliate of First Investors Corporation. Back to top

Q2: Why should a plan sponsor utilize ePIC?

A2: Organizations with full access can securely and conveniently submit their participant contribution instructions and payments electronically, and are provided a variety of detailed participant reports. 403(b) plan sponsors can select report-only access, providing access to participant reports as well as the information sharing reports mandated by 403(b) regulations. Back to top

Q3: How do I apply for ePIC?

A3: Applying for ePIC is easy. Simply complete and return an ePIC Application, which contains all of the necessary agreements and authorizations. An ePIC Application is available through your First Investors Registered Representative or by calling our Customer Service Department toll free at 1-800-423-4026, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Back to top

Q4: Once I apply for ePIC, how long will it take to have the service activated?

A4: The ePIC set-up process is fast. Once we receive your Application, we will promptly mail login information to the Administrator designated on the ePIC Application. This information will enable the Administrator to log into the ePIC site, review the ePIC User Guide and establish system access for additional Users and/or Administrators. If you apply for full access, we will send a pre-notification transaction, through the Automated Clearing House, to the bank indicated on the Application. The pre-notification period takes ten business days to complete. ePIC will not allow contributions to be posted to the system until the pre-notification period is completed. Back to top

Q5: Can I upgrade from report-only access to full access?

A5: 403(b) report-only employers who desire to upgrade to full access should simply complete and submit a new ePIC Application. The ePIC Application is available online by clicking on the “HELP” button, through your First Investors Registered Representative or by calling our Customer Service Department toll free at 1-800-423-4026, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Back to top

Q6: What is the difference between an Administrator and a User?

A6: ePIC recognizes that retirement plan sponsors may need to limit the functions performed by some of the organization's employees. This is why we have designated two different types of user access - Administrators and Users. Administrators have access to all of the functions permitted for the organizational access selected, and also have the ability to grant access to Users and designate additional Administrators. Users only have access to those functions authorized by an Administrator. Back to top

Q7: Can a retirement plan sponsor have more than one Administrator?

A7: ePIC can accommodate multiple Administrators. Each retirement plan sponsor must evaluate the needs of its plan to determine if more than one Administrator is needed. The initial Administrator is the authorized individual named on the ePIC Application. Although for security purposes we recommend that the number of Administrators be limited, we do recommend that more than one Administrator be assigned to a plan, ensuring adequate administrative support. Back to top

Q8: How many individuals from my organization can be designated as Users?

A8: ePIC can accommodate multiple Users. Each Administrator must evaluate the needs of its retirement plan to determine how many Users are required. For security purposes, we recommend that the number of Users be limited and that Users be restricted to specific functions. Back to top

Q9: How are Users and Administrators added or deleted?

A9: ePIC is easy to navigate. Once an Administrator is logged into ePIC, the Administrator can assign and revoke both Administrator and User access by clicking on the “ADMIN” button and following the prompts. Administrators may not revoke their own authorization or access. Back to top

Q10: What do I do if I forget my password, or if I am unable to login?

A10: Resetting a password on ePIC is simple. If you have User access, you should contact your plan's Administrator to have a new password assigned. If you have Administrator access, you may contact another Administrator for your plan to have a new password assigned. If you are the sole Administrator for your plan, you may call our Customer Service Department toll free at 1-800-423-4026, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and we will be happy to assist you. Back to top

Q11: Where do I turn for technical support?

A11: ePIC has a comprehensive User Guide that may be accessed by clicking on the “HELP” button. If your question is not covered in the User Guide, Administrators can call our Customer Service Department toll free at 1-800-423-4026, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Back to top

Q12: What steps are taken to ensure participant privacy?

A12: Your privacy and the privacy of each of your employees is very important to us. We use the strictest standards to safeguard the information of your organization and employees. We restrict ePIC access to our employees who need to process transactions and service your account. We also maintain physical, electronic and procedural measures to ensure that unauthorized persons do not obtain access. For additional information concerning our Security or Privacy Policies, please refer to the Privacy and Security Policies section located at the bottom of every page. Back to top

Q13: What steps should I take to increase the security of my payroll information?

A13: You share the responsibility for maintaining the security of your plan information. When you are finished using ePIC, click the logout button to leave the service and close the browser. In addition, you should never share your password with anyone. Our employees will not request this information from you. Back to top

Q14: What if someone learns my password?

A14: If you suspect that someone knows your password, you should change it online. Login using your password and then click on the “ADMIN” button. This will allow you to create a new password. Remember, you should never share your password with anyone. As an added security feature, ePIC is designed to automatically disable a User's password after four unsuccessful login attempts. Once a login is disabled, the Administrator will need to assign a new password. If an Administrator's login is disabled, another Administrator will need to assign a new password. If there is only one Administrator assigned to the plan, then the Administrator should contact our Customer Service Department toll free at 1-800-423-4026, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time for assistance. Back to top

Q15: Will I receive a printed expected remittance advice?

A15: ePIC eliminates the need for printed expected remittance advices. Remittance information for ePIC participants is available on-line so that you can access it at your convenience. Back to top

Q16: How will contributions be sent for investment?

A16: For full-access organizations, we will automatically debit the bank account indicated on the ePIC Application for the contribution amount authorized. This will eliminate the time and expense involved in disbursing and mailing contribution checks. Report-only organizations should continue to send contributions by check, or any other method used prior to ePIC enrollment. Back to top

Q17: Will you continue to accept contributions via check?

A17: ePIC eliminates the need for full access organizations to generate and mail contribution checks. Once the pre-notification period is complete, all contributions are funded quickly and securely via the Automated Clearing House. Report-only organizations should continue to send contributions by check, or any other method used prior to ePIC enrollment. Back to top

Q18: How do I submit a new contribution?

A18: Once the pre-notification period is completed for full access organizations, authorized Users and Administrators can log into the ePIC system, type in the plan's new contribution information, and select a Remittance Date for the Automated Clearing House payment. 403(b) and 457 plans have the option of importing contribution files. Back to top

Q19: How do I import a contribution file?

A19: There are three import format choices exclusive to 403(b) and 457 full access employers: FIC Standard, CSV (“Comma-Separated Variable”), or Excel. Choose the format of the contribution file, locate the file from your computer and click the “IMPORT” button. This will replace the existing batch with the imported data. Back to top

Q20: How do I submit a “Prior Year” contribution?

A20: Participants with certain IRA accounts may need to make prior year contributions for tax purposes. If available, the Roster screen has a column to allow this type of contribution. Simply click “EDIT” under the “Additional/Prior Year Contributions” column, and you will be directed to the appropriate screen where you can designate the participant's “Prior Year” contribution. Back to top

Q21: When will electronically submitted contributions be posted to the participant's accounts within the First Investors Family of Mutual Funds?

A21: ePIC contributions are posted to the participants' accounts within the First Investors Family of Funds on the date that funds are deducted from your bank account and received by ADM. Back to top

Q22: When are electronically submitted contributions forwarded to Outside Funds?

A22: ePIC contributions are forwarded to Outside Funds (non-First Investors mutual funds) within three business days following the date that the funds are deducted from your bank account and received by ADM. Please note that we reserve the right to return, to the Employer, contributions submitted for investment with Outside Funds on behalf of participants for which First Investors Corporation is not the designated dealer of record. Back to top

Q23: Will I receive confirmation that my transmission has been received?

A23: ePIC will prompt you to print a confirmation when you have completed the appropriate steps to post a batch. A confirmation number will be produced via the Batch Confirmation page. You should print and retain the Batch Confirmation page for your records. Back to top

Q24: How far in advance can I post remittance amounts?

A24: ePIC offers flexible scheduling and can accommodate remittances within thirty-one days of the current date. Back to top

Q25: Can a contribution file be edited after it has been submitted to ADM?

A25: ePIC will give you the option of verifying your contributions before submitting them. Once the contribution is submitted, it cannot be edited. Back to top

Q26: What do I do if I post an entire batch amount in error or for an incorrect date?

A26: ePIC allows you to un-post a batch and modify it at any time prior to the selected remittance date. Back to top

Q27: What do I do if I post a batch in advance and need to make an addition or change?

A27: ePIC allows you to un-post a batch and modify it at any time prior to the selected remittance date. Back to top

Q28: How do I add additional participants?

A28: ADM will gladly add participants to the ePIC system for you. Participants should work with their First Investors Registered Representative to select the appropriate investments and complete the necessary applications. Once ADM has received the applications in good order, ePIC will automatically reflect the new participants. Back to top

Q29: How do I update a participant's name due to marriage / divorce / legal name change, or correct a Social Security Number?

A29: ADM will handle all changes to a participant's name or any correction of their Social Security Number for you. Simply have the participant call our Customer Service Department toll free at 1-800-436-4026, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time for instructions. Back to top

Q30: How do I remove a participant?

A30: ePIC gives you the option to hide a participant from view within the Roster screen. Hidden participants can easily be restored by following the prompts on the left side of the Roster screen. ePIC will automatically hide participants that have had no recent contribution activity. Back to top