Employee vs. Employer Contributions
In a corporate plan like the Nicolehollis 401(k) Plan, it’s common to see both employee deferrals and employer-matching contributions. These two sources of funding are often treated differently when dividing the account:
- Employee contributions are always 100% vested and typically divided proportionately.
- Employer contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule. Only the vested portion can be assigned to the alternate payee.
Be careful when dividing percentages—requesting “50% of the account” without specifying whether it includes just vested amounts or both vested and unvested portions can create disputes or delays.

