Tax Shelters

Written By Steve Glenn

Updated on October 1st, 2025, by Steve Glenn

Overview

All Knox County School employees may elect to participate in the Knox County Schools 403(b) tax shelter plan. The enrollment kit provides information about the plan and the available investment funds. All enrollments, deferral changes (salary reduction), investment changes and transaction can be completed or started through your USICG account.

Employees may enroll and change their contributions:

  • 200 & 221 day contract changes can be made August 1st through June 5th
  • 255 contracts may change at anytime
  • Changes will be made as soon as administratively possible

Employees currently contributing to Corebridge/Valic or National Life may continue to contribute. You will create a USICG account to change or stop your contributions. Transfers of Balances - create a USICG account to begin the process.

For additional information you may contact the Benefits Department at 865-594-1686, or KCS403b@usi.com 

Login to USICG

403b Service Provider List

Revised: October 2025

Deduction No.

Vendor Information

Agent(s)

7313/7314

8311/8312

8704

USI Consulting Group

 

Enrollment Kit

Summary of Plan Provisions

Janet Samar

USI Consulting Group

900 S. Gay St.

Suite 1796

Knoxville, TN 37902

KCS403b@usi.com

7308

VALIC (Closed to new accounts)

Customer Service: 1-800-448-2542

Corey Akins

AIG Retirement Services

9041 Executive Park Dr.

Suite 115

Knoxville, TN 37923

Cell: 865-202-7612

Office: 865-312-9659

FAX: 865-444-8417

corey.akins@aig.com

7303

National Life Group (Closed to new accounts)

Customer Service: 1-800-732-8939

Bentley Christopher: 770-683-8300

Brandy Jerrell: 865-320-8240

Julia Whipple: 865-556-2157

Sandra Rowcliffe: 865-603-851

Amy Plumlee: 865-591-1257

Supplemental Provider List

Revised: August 2025

Note: American Fidelity is the only vendor that provides a flexible spending account

Deduction No.

Vendor Information

Agent(s)

8927

Washington National Insurance Co.

P.O. Box 2022

Carmel, IN 46082-2022

Customer Service: 1-800-525-7662

Nick Barattini

District Manager

Cell: 803-622-7767

 

 

2300/2301

2302/2325

2330/8928

8929/8930

8931

American Fidelity Assurance Co.

9000 Cameron Pkwy

Oklahoma City, OK 73114

Tres Carter

Cell: 865-661-4978

tres.carter@americanfidelity.com

 

Ryan Moore

ryan.moore@americanfidelity.com

 

FAQ

Why do I need a new KCS 403(b) plan?

Your current retirement plan alone is unlikely to replace all of your pre-retirement income. That being said, the 403(b) Plan:

  • Can bridge the gap until Social Security payout
  • Diversify your income source, helping to reduce risk
  • Provides you more choice of investments and control
  • Has low fees
  • Is portable, with no surrender fees
 
 

Contribution Information

Payroll deductible employee deferrals will begin with the October 25th payroll.

Your contributions are a fixed dollar amount.

Pre-tax or Roth contributions:

  • Pre-tax: lowers your tax burden now, pay taxes when money withdrawn
  • Roth Contributions: pay taxes now, withdraw tax free later
 
 

USICG Account

Once you are on the USICG Website you click to register to access your account.

Be sure to have:

  • Social Security Number
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address
  • You may add a beneficiary if you wish at this time.

Account Home page – click Manage Deferrals, submit form to start, change or stop deferrals.

Your investments may be chosen now or later.

PLEASE NOTE: If no investments are chosen, your contributions will be placed in the APEX Standard Value Fund.

Navigating through web access

 
 

How do I transfer to USICG?

  • Follow instructions above to create an account
  • Manage Deferral page and click on Transfer
  • Complete form to begin the process or to ask questions

Please note that no funds will transfer until after October 1st

 
 

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