Chroma Early Learning Academy |
SHIELDED HORIZONS
chroma.shieldedhorizon.org
ENTERPRISE BENEFIT ARCHITECTURE IRC Β§ 125, Β§ 79 & Β§ 106

Chroma Early Learning Academy LLC
Section 125 Central Executive Portal

One unified master portal providing executive leadership, campus directors, and Chroma's CPA with full visibility into the Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, permanent FICA tax capture, Manhattan Life $75k life insurance, and XGB health plan integration across all 353 staff.

Licensed Benefits Advisor
Robert Hill, Director
GA Lic #19559059 • NPN #839439
Shielded Horizons LLC
Employer Program Structure
100% Turnkey
Zero Out-of-Pocket Pre-Tax Architecture
Corporate Tax Efficiency
FICA Tax Shield
Permanent 7.65% Payroll Tax Exemption (IRC Β§ 3121)
Group Life Insurance
$50,000
Guaranteed-Issue ManhattanLife Coverage for All Staff
Digital Intake Portal
< 3 Minutes
Paperless Self-Service with 24/7 Live Advisory

Executive Overview & Comprehensive Benefit Architecture

High-level architectural blueprint designed for executive management, operational leadership, and board oversight.

🌐 Open Digital Intake Portal →
ENTERPRISE BENEFIT FRAMEWORK High-Level Executive Architecture

Shielded Horizons provides a turnkey, multi-tiered employee benefits architecture under IRC Β§ 125, Β§ 79, Β§ 105(b), Β§ 106, and Β§ 223. Designed specifically for enterprise childcare operations across 25 Georgia campus locations, the program couples baseline preventive care and life protection with comprehensive major medical options.

STATUTORY COMPLIANCE & SAVINGS Permanent Payroll Tax Efficiency

All program allocations are structured through IRS-approved pre-tax salary reductions. Under IRC Β§ 3121(a)(5)(G), pre-tax benefits reduce employer FICA payroll taxes by 7.65% on every qualifying deduction, creating substantial operational savings while providing first-dollar benefits to staff.

15-DAY TURNKEY ROLLOUT 25 Campuses • 353 Staff

Customized 15-Day Implementation Roadmap for Chroma

Director Robert Hill and the Shielded Horizons advisory team manage the entire rollout processβ€”from corporate adoption and carrier setup to payroll deduction mapping and virtual employee enrollment webinarsβ€”requiring minimal administrative time from campus directors.

πŸ“₯ Download Roadmap PDF

The Comprehensive Benefit Product Suites

HIGHWAY 1 Universal Baseline Wellness & Protection

Apex-MECβ„’ Clinical Preventive Care & $50,000 Group Life Anchor

The foundational pillar providing every participating staff member with certified ACA Β§ 2713 preventive medical care and institutional life insurance:

  • 63+ ACA Β§ 2713 Mandated Preventive Screenings: 100% covered at $0 copay through the nationwide MultiPlan PHCS PPO network.
  • 24/7 Bilingual Telehealth Engine: Virtual primary care, urgent care, and behavioral health sessions for employees and their families at $0 out-of-pocket cost.
  • $50,000 Guaranteed-Issue Group Term Life Insurance: Underwritten by ManhattanLife Insurance Company. No medical exams, no blood draws, and no Social Security Number required for enrollment.
  • Pre-Tax Section 125 Tax Shelter: Salary reductions executed via IRC Β§ 125, shielding taxable income and generating mutual employer/employee FICA tax savings.
πŸ›‘οΈ Zero Take-Home Pay Toll: Pre-tax tax shields offset program costs, delivering protection with net-zero take-home pay impact.
HIGHWAY 2 Comprehensive Major Medical

XGB HSA VL 1750 Major Medical Plan & Health Savings Account

An affordable, institutional-grade High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) carve-out designed to satisfy all Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate standards:

  • Low Deductible Structure: $1,750 Individual / $3,500 Family annual deductible with an $8,500 individual out-of-pocket maximum.
  • Predictable Office Visit Copays: $50 copay for Primary Care Physician (PCP), Specialist, and Urgent Care visits (up to 10 combined visits per year).
  • Comprehensive Inpatient & Surgical Coverage: Hospital admissions, ambulatory outpatient surgery, emergency room, and advanced imaging.
  • $0 Copay Generic Pharmacy: Routine preventive medications filled at zero copay through participating retail and mail-order pharmacies.
  • Employer HSA Contribution: $25.00/month employer Health Savings Account contribution under IRC Β§ 223.
  • ACA Β§ 4980H(a) Penalty A Shield: Eliminates catastrophic shared responsibility penalties across all 25 campus locations.
πŸ₯ Access through the national MultiPlan PHCS Extended PPO Network with dedicated claims administration via Marpai Health TPA.

High-Level Implementation & Governance Processes

1️⃣

Executive Adoption

Managing Partner executes the Master Service Agreement (MSA) and formal Corporate Adoption Resolution, establishing ERISA Plan 501 under IRC Β§ 125.

2️⃣

Carrier Master Binding

Group contracts established with Marpai Health (Major Medical), ManhattanLife ($50k Group Life), and Apex-MEC (ACA Β§ 2713 preventive network).

3️⃣

Payroll Mapping

Payroll processing system mapped with deduction codes SH_SEC125 and SH_SIMRP for seamless pre-tax deduction and Form 941 line exclusion.

4️⃣

Paperless Staff Intake

Staff complete mobile election intake at chroma.shieldedhorizon.org/portal. Robert Hill conducts virtual Zoom orientation sessions across all 25 campuses.

5️⃣

Fiduciary Defense

Shielded Horizons compiles and maintains the complete 67-page Master Legal Plan Document binder and handles ongoing IRS/ERISA regulatory substantiation.

6️⃣

Ongoing ASO Servicing

Monthly census reconciliation, employee status change updates, automated carrier premium remittance, and dedicated advisory support via phone, text, and email.

Ready for Plan Adoption & Staff Rollout?

Access the digital election portal, review legal adoption documents, or schedule an executive consultation.

🌐 Employee Intake Portal → πŸ“„ Master Plan PDF

Section B: CPA Tax, IRS & Payroll Compliance Guide

Technical tax and payroll implementation guide for Chroma's CPA and Payroll Manager (ADP/Gusto).

πŸ“₯ Download CPA Guide (.pdf)
CPA INQUIRY

Do We File or Submit Anything to the IRS?

ANSWER: NO UPFRONT IRS FILING IS REQUIRED OR PERMITTED.
Under IRS Notice 2002-24, the IRS suspended all Form 5500 and Schedule F filing mandates for Section 125 cafeteria plans. There is no IRS application, approval, or pre-filing process. The plan document is an internal governing corporate instrument that must be signed and kept in Chroma's corporate office/cabinet before the November 1 payroll run.

IRS REGULATORY AUTHORITY

Can Section 125 Be Automatic, or Do Employees Have to Opt In?

ANSWER: YES β€” EMPLOYERS CAN LEGALLY IMPLEMENT AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT (OPT-OUT).
Under IRS Revenue Ruling 2002-27 and Rev. Rul. 98-44, cafeteria plans are legally permitted to use Negative Election (Automatic Enrollment). Employees are provided written notice 30 days prior explaining the pre-tax salary reduction and their explicit right to decline coverage. If an employee does not submit an affirmative opt-out / waiver form, they are automatically enrolled pre-tax on November 1. This standard enterprise practice protects employer FICA tax capture and ensures all 353 staff receive guaranteed life insurance coverage.

1. Payroll Software Setup (ADP / Gusto / Paychex)

Create one single pre-tax deduction code in Chroma's payroll software:

Deduction Code: SH Pre-Tax Benefit
Tax Exemption Flags to Enable:
  • Federal Income Tax (FIT): Exempt (IRC Β§ 3401(a)(19))
  • Social Security Tax (6.2%): Exempt (IRC Β§ 3121(a)(5)(G))
  • Medicare Tax (1.45%): Exempt (IRC Β§ 3121(a)(5)(G))
  • Federal Unemployment (FUTA): Exempt (IRC Β§ 3306(b)(5)(G))
  • Georgia State Income Tax: Exempt (O.C.G.A. Β§ 48-7-21)

2. Quarterly Form 941 & Form W-2 Reporting

Quarterly Form 941 Line Items:

• Line 2 (Total Wages): Reduced by total Section 125 deductions.
• Line 5a (Taxable Social Security Wages): Reduced by pre-tax deductions.
• Line 5c (Taxable Medicare Wages): Reduced by pre-tax deductions.
Result: Chroma retains 7.65% cash on every dollar run through the plan.


Annual Form W-2 Reporting:

• Boxes 1, 3, and 5: Reduced by Section 125 salary reductions.
• Box 12 (Code DD): Reports cost of employer health plan (XGB) for ACA informational reporting only (does not add to taxable wages).
• Group Life over $50k (Β§ 79 Table I): First $50k is 100% tax-free. For the extra $25k, nominal monthly Table I cost (e.g. $0.08/mo) is reported on Box 1/12C.

βš–οΈ Nondiscrimination Safe Harbor Testing (IRC Β§ 125(b))

The 25% Key Employee Concentration Test requires that benefits provided to Key Employees do not exceed 25% of total benefits. Because Chroma has 353 teachers and staff across 25 campuses who are non-key employees, the non-key workforce accounts for over 94% of all benefits, easily passing all IRS nondiscrimination tests with substantial safe-harbor headroom.

TRANSMISSION MEMO

Ready-to-Send Executive Memo for Chroma's CPA & Payroll Team

Copy and forward directly to external CPAs and payroll administrators for seamless Nov 1 deployment.

25-Campus Enterprise Deployment & Census Modeling

Real-time campus roster accountability, census data, and interactive scenario modeling across 353 staff.

πŸ“₯ Download Master Census (.xlsx)

25-Campus Staff Deployment & Multi-Tier Allocation Framework

Overview of staff allocation between Highway 1 (Wellness & Life Anchor) and Highway 2 (Major Medical) across 25 Georgia campus centers.

ENTERPRISE MULTIPLIER

Tier 1: Comprehensive Major Medical (Highway 2)

Full-time instructional and campus personnel electing major medical coverage under the XGB HSA VL 1750 plan. Employer contributes 50% statutory minimum contribution, shielding Chroma against ACA employer mandate penalties.

Tier 2: Baseline Wellness & Life Anchor (Highway 1)

Staff waiving major medical or covered under spouse/parent policies enrolled in Apex-MEC preventive care and $50k ManhattanLife term life insurance under IRC Β§ 125, generating mutual FICA payroll tax exemptions.

Active Campus Roster Sampling (From Master XGB Census)

Campus Location Entity / Group Name XGB Group ID Campus Director Staff Census Status
McDonough Chroma Early Learning McDonough 58-2940191 Ms. Keisha M. 52 Staff Ready for Nov 1
Tyrone Chroma Early Learning Academy Tyrone 58-3920192 Ms. Angela D. 48 Staff Ready for Nov 1
Rivergreen Chroma ELA Rivergreen 58-4820193 Ms. Tanisha W. 44 Staff Ready for Nov 1
Stockbridge Chroma ELA Stockbridge 58-5720194 Ms. Valerie P. 46 Staff Ready for Nov 1
Douglasville Chroma ELA Douglasville 58-6620195 Ms. Cheryl B. 40 Staff Ready for Nov 1
College Park KIDazzle College Park Academy 58-7520196 Ms. Mone S. 38 Staff Ready for Nov 1
Lovejoy KIDazzle Lovejoy Center 58-8420197 Ms. Brenda J. 42 Staff Ready for Nov 1
Main Admin Chroma Management / Shared Services 58-9320198 Chellie Harris 43 Staff Ready for Nov 1

Rollout Roadmap to November 1, 2026 Launch

5-step execution workflow from legal adoption to first live payroll deduction run across 353 staff.

Target Launch Date: November 1, 2026
1

Step 1: Sign Corporate Adoption Resolution (October 5, 2026)

Executive leadership executes the Corporate Adoption Agreement. The signed Plan Document is retained in Chroma's corporate office files.

2

Step 2: Carrier Binding (October 12, 2026)

Robert Hill binds the Manhattan Life $75k Group Term Life policy ($1.25/mo per life) and confirms the active XGB Major Medical group contract.

3

Step 3: Payroll Deduction Setup (October 19, 2026)

Chroma's payroll manager sets up code SH Pre-Tax Benefit in ADP/Gusto with FICA, FIT, FUTA, and SIT tax-exempt flags.

4

Step 4: Digital Staff Enrollment & Notices (October 20 - 30, 2026)

Staff across all 25 campuses receive the 30-day automatic enrollment notice with mobile intake link to confirm details or submit a waiver.

5

Step 5: Live Payroll Launch (November 1, 2026)

First payroll run with Section 125 pre-tax deductions. Chroma captures its first monthly FICA savings (+$4,743.54/mo baseline).

πŸ”— Interactive Deployment Portals & Onboarding Engines

ADMIN COCKPIT

Onboarding Wizard & Admin

Track campus progress, adjust parameters, and review legal documentation.

Launch Admin Wizard →
STAFF INTAKE

Staff Mobile Enrollment

Zero-SSN mobile intake portal for teachers across all 25 campuses.

Launch Staff Intake →
CENSUS DATABASE

Master XGB Census

Complete 25-campus roster workbook with XGB group codes.

πŸ“₯ Download .XLSX
CUSTOMIZED FOR CHROMA 25 Campuses • 353 Staff

Chroma Early Learning Academy LLC • 15-Day Rollout Roadmap

Turnkey implementation engine specifically tailored for Executive Leadership, and Chroma's 25 Campus Directors. Primary Healthcare (XGB MVP) + Manhattan Life $50k–$75k Life Insurance Cafeteria Plan. Zero administrative burden for campus directors.

πŸ“₯ Download 1-Page Roadmap (PDF) πŸ“‘ 25-Campus Census (.xlsx)
Pillar A • Staff Healthcare Architecture

Primary Healthcare (XGB MVP)

Comprehensive major medical coverage with MultiPlan PHCS national PPO network access across all 25 Chroma campuses in Georgia. Provides zero-deductible preventive care, outpatient care, and eliminates ACA Β§ 4980H mandate penalties for Chroma.

PHCS National PPO 25 Campuses Covered $0 Copay Preventive ACA Β§ 4980H Shield
Pillar B • Cafeteria Pre-Tax Qualifying Anchor

Manhattan Life $50k–$75k Group Life

Guaranteed-issue Group Term Life Insurance under IRC Β§ 79 & Β§ 125(f). Serves as the statutory pre-tax cafeteria anchor generating +$56,922.42 to +$103,000.00/yr in permanent employer FICA tax savings for Chroma at $0 out-of-pocket employer cost.

$50k–$75k Guaranteed Issue +$56,922+ Annual FICA Gain IRC Β§ 125(f) Cafeteria $0 Employer Program Cost

Three-Way Division of Responsibilities: Zero Burden on Campus Directors

Strict contractual operational boundaries so Executive leadership and 25 campus directors never manage benefits paperwork.

Role 1 • Chroma Executive Leadership

1. Executive Leadership & Ownership

✍️ Sole Action: Sign & Authorize
  • βœ“ Execute Manhattan Life $50k Group Master Application
  • βœ“ Execute Section 125 Master Cafeteria Adoption Resolution
  • βœ“ Authorize payroll deduction code mapping with CPA/Payroll
βœ“ ZERO Ongoing Administrative Burden
Role 2 • 25 Campus Directors

2. Chroma Campus Directors

πŸ“… Sole Action: Schedule Windows
  • βœ“ Confirm preferred campus staff availability times
  • βœ“ Distribute staff Zoom calendar invitations to teachers
  • βœ“ No benefit administration or employee claim handling
βœ“ ZERO Paperwork Processing Required
Role 3 • Execution Engine

3. Robert Hill & Benefits Fleet

⚑ Full 15-Day Operational Engine
  • βœ“ Track 1 β€” 25-Campus Staff Zooms: Conduct employee presentations, answer policy questions, and collect 100% written census sign-offs (Option 1 Elect or Option 2 Formal Waiver).
  • βœ“ Track 2 β€” Direct Payroll Setup: Partner with Chroma's payroll platform & CPA to program, test, and audit automated pre-tax deduction codes.
βœ“ 100% Audit-Proof Compliance File Delivered
πŸ“… Chroma 15-Day Implementation Timeline & Milestones
1 Day 1 • Immediate

Master Carrier Binding

Execute master contracts for Manhattan Life ($50k Life) and XGB primary healthcare. Ingest 25-campus roster (353 lives) and initiate payroll mapping.

2 Days 2 – 10

25-Campus Staff Zooms

Robert Hill's fleet conducts group & 1-on-1 Zoom sessions across all 25 campuses. Plain-English education for educators; 100% written census sign-offs collected.

3 Days 11 – 13

Payroll Integration & Audit

Direct technical integration with Chroma's payroll platform. Setup, mapping, and audit of pre-tax Section 125 deduction codes with Chroma's CPA.

4 Days 14 – 15

Census Audit & Go-Live

Final census reconciliation across 25 campuses, underwriter transmission, and live payroll run with automated 7.65% employer FICA tax savings.

Official Underwriting Artifact • Chroma Early Learning

Chroma 1-Page Implementation Roadmap (Printable PDF)

Review the executive 1-page architecture document covering statutory IRC Β§ 79 & Β§ 125(f) criteria, operational matrices, and the complete 15-day timeline ready for Executive Management, CFO, and payroll administrators.

Executive Sponsor: Robert Hill • Georgia Dept. of Insurance Lic. #19559059 • NPN #839439
Chroma 15-Day Rollout Roadmap Preview
Click preview above to view / print high-resolution 1-page PDF

πŸ“… Schedule 1-on-1 Consultation with Director Robert Hill

Book a 15-minute consultation to review plan adoption, payroll deduction integration, or carrier underwriting.

πŸ“ž (470) 658-3185 πŸ”— Open in New Tab →
Managing Director & Licensed Benefits Advisor: Robert Hill • GA Lic. #19559059 • NPN #839439
Direct Email: [email protected]
Permanent Link: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/VNIKFQp8UXtGVcCV3s7v