University of Southern California

Financial Security

Legal services

The Hyatt Legal Plan provides access to a nationwide network of more than 10,000 experienced attorneys who can provide you with a wide range of services. You can find your attorney using Hyatt's online attorney locator. Fully covered services under the plan are free when you enroll and pay the small monthly premium of $15.74. The plan provides unlimited, confidential telephone advice and office consultation, giving you the opportunity to discuss with an attorney any personal legal problems that are not specifically excluded matters, even if the matter is not fully covered under the legal services plan. During the consultation, the attorney will explain your rights, point out your options and, if needed, recommend a course of action. The network attorney will identify any further coverage available under the plan, and will undertake representation if you wish. If representation is covered by the plan, you will not be charged for the network attorney's services. If representation is recommended, but is not covered by the plan, the network attorney will provide a written fee statement in advance.

Some of the services provided include:

• Purchase, sale or refinancing of a primary residence
• Wills and estate planning
• Deed preparation and immigration assistance
• Debt matters and identity theft defense
• Civil litigation defense

To find out more about the Hyatt Legal Plan, visit their website at info.legalplans.com (password for USC employees is 1500723) or call them at (800) 821-6400. You must enroll within 60 days of your employment at USC or wait until the next open enrollment.

Group auto and home insurance

Travelers Insurance offers USC employees competitive rates and the convenience of monthly payroll deduction for automobile, home, renters, motorcycle, and personal property insurance. For a no-obligation quote and information, call (800) 890-4840 or locally at (626) 795-9921. You also can visit capsnet.usc.edu/Risk/TravelersInsurance/index.cfm for more information.

529 college savings plan

A 529 college savings plan, available through the Workplace 529 College Savings Program, is a state-sponsored program designed to help you save for higher education expenses. Earnings grow tax-deferred and distributions for qualified higher education expenses—including tuition, books and related fees—are free of federal and California state income tax. Any U.S. resident 18 years or older who has a Social Security or Taxpayer ID number can open a 529 plan account; there are no income restrictions and the beneficiary can be changed to an eligible member of the original beneficiary's family at any time without penalty. Adults can use the program to save for their own qualified higher education expenses.

You may contribute up to $65,000 ($130,000 per married couple) per beneficiary in a single year without incurring a federal gift tax. Once assets are in the account, they are generally excluded from your estate. You maintain ownership of the assets until funds are withdrawn. Simply complete a form to take a distribution from the account. You may withdraw funds from the account at any time for any reason, but you will incur income tax and an early-distribution penalty of 10% if you use the funds for something other than qualified higher education expenses.

Funds in California's 529 Plan are managed by TIAA-CREF. The minimum initial investment is $50 or just $15 per month if you set up an automatic deduction from a bank account. To find out more or to enroll, call (800) 544-5248 or visit www.scholarshare.com.

Banking

USC Credit Union

USC Credit Union is a full-service financial institution dedicated to serving the Trojan Family and owned by its members. This allows the credit union to offer lower rates on auto, home, personal and education loans, and higher yields on money market, IRA and certificate accounts. The credit union offers a wide range of checking products including the totally free Cardinal checking account, and when you sign up for direct deposit, you receive further discounts on loan and deposit products. Visit them online, or drop by one of their convenient campus branches – at UPC, on the second floor of King Hall, or on the first floor of the Credit Union Building (CUB) at 3720 South Flower just off campus; at HSC, in Seaver Residence Hall, room 101B. USC Credit Union members also have access to over 25,000 free ATMs nationwide for banking convenience.

Preferred Banking Program at Bank of America

The Bank of America at Work™ program provides a comprehensive package of discounted banking services to USC employees who have at least a portion of their salary direct-deposited to a Bank of America account. Participants receive discounts on checking accounts, preferred rates on loans, discounted fees on mortgage loans, and other benefits. Contact Bank of America at (800) 782-2265 or visit one of their participating banking centers to establish their preferred banking rates for USC employees. Visit their website for more information.