Making every penny count…. By Lawrence Groves- July 2005

More and more workers are leaving their jobs and taking their 401 k retirement plan funds with them. While some are rolling their funds over into IRAs or other qualified plans; many are taking their distributions in cash. Once an employee has left job, any payments of earned vacation, sick or other leave made after leaving job were not considered for inclusion in deferrals to Solo 401k, 401(k), or 403(b) plans. These plans’ definition of compensation excluded any post employment earnings as IRS excluded it from definition. As far as these plans’ were concerned, it’s as if money was never earned.

Since post employment earnings were not included in 401 k or 403 b compensation, these earnings were not a factor in any non discrimination or top heavy testing, as well as not being available for profit sharing or matching contributions.

1. Bar Charts

There is more to bar charts than meets eye with data visualization. Bar charts is just one example of many visual tools which can be used to convey information in most effective way. Bar charts, bar graphs, pie charts, or other charts and graphs are one of most common methods of displaying information of various kinds. Everyone from children to adults use them in school, study, and business. Data visualization works with bar charts to create informational displays to reach virtually any kind of audience.

2. Interactive Map

In addition to bar charts, other informational tools become interactive with data visualization. An interactive map allows information to be displayed on various levels by clicking on part of map about which one may want more information. This is called “drilling down.” The interactive map is a method of data visualization used by many business, government, and community programs. Many airlines proved an interactive map of plane interior so that travelers can choose their own seating. Many governments or communities create interactive maps of their countries, states, and cities. To learn more about a specific area, all on has to do is click on it. Information interacts with a user’s needs.

3. Reporting Tool

This article has already covered examples of how data visualization conveys information to various types of users for travel or education, but data visualization can also be used as a reporting tool. Imagine making a presentation for school or business come alive with an interactive map or bar charts. Information is presented in a helpful and meaningful way, often simplifying complex levels of information to become digestible to those to whom presentation is given.

4. Convert HTML to PDF

A presentation is one thing, a handout or file copy is another. By far, one of biggest challenges with data visualization in past has been printing HTML information without getting it cut off on one of margins. In past HTML format did not automatically format itself for computer printout. Data visualization software can create PDF images of HTML displays for others to follow during presentation or to file after.

5. Data Mapping