Edgar Filing: TFS Financial CORP

Document

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

ANNUAL REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT

OF 1934. [NO FEE REQUIRED, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 7, 1996].

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. [NO FEE REQUIRED].

For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

Commission file number 001-33390

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

Third Federal 401(k) Savings Plan

B. Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

TFS Financial Corporation

7007 Broadway Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44105

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Financial Statements:

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Notes to Financial Statements

Supplemental Schedule:

Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes at End of Year

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Plan Participants and Administrative Committee

Third Federal 401(k) Savings Plan

Cleveland, Ohio

We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of the Third Federal

401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statements of

changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the

responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial

statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight

Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable

assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not

required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.

Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit

procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on

the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such

opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and

disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used

and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement

presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net

assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the changes in net assets

available for benefits of the Plan for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles

generally accepted in the United States of America.

The supplemental schedule of assets held for investment purposes at end of year as of December 31, 2015

has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial

statements. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit

procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedule reconciles to the financial statements

or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the

completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedule. In forming our

opinion on the supplemental schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedule, including its

form and content, is presented in conformity with Department of Labor’s (DOL) Rules and Regulations

for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our

opinion, the supplemental schedule is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial

statements as a whole.

/s/ Meaden & Moore, Ltd.

MEADEN & MOORE, LTD.

Cleveland, Ohio

June 21, 2016



STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

Third Federal
401(k) Savings Plan

		December 31,
		2015		2014
ASSETS
Investments, at fair value		$	107,928,125	$	97,487,902

Receivables:
Employer contributions		1,451,865		1,327,630
Notes receivable from participants		2,642,319		2,720,955
	Total Receivables	4,094,184		4,048,585

	Total Assets	112,022,309		101,536,487

LIABILITIES		—		—

	Net Assets Available for Benefits	$	112,022,309	$	101,536,487



See accompanying notes.



STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

Third Federal
401 (k) Savings Plan

				Year Ended December 31,
				2015		2014
Additions to Net Assets Attributed to:
	Contributions:
		Employer		$	3,375,839	$	3,069,707
		Employee		3,675,859		3,246,591
		Rollover		451,690		285,855

			Total Contributions	7,503,388		6,602,153

	Investment Income
		Interest and dividend income		1,145,441		778,965
		Net unrealized/realized appreciation		5,194,995		7,225,745

			Total Investment Income	6,340,436		8,004,710

Deductions from Net Assets Attributed to:
	Benefits paid to participants			5,143,663		6,631,893
	Administrative expenses			30,484		40,590

			Total Deductions	5,174,147		6,672,483

			Net Increase	8,669,677		7,934,380

Transfer from Third Federal Savings Associate Stock Ownership Plan				1,816,145		1,594,055

Net Assets Available for Benefits:
	Beginning of Year			101,536,487		92,008,052

	End of Year			$	112,022,309	$	101,536,487

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Third Federal

401(k) Savings Plan

Description of Plan

The following description of the Third Federal 401(k) Savings Plan (Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan Document or Summary Plan Description for a complete description of the Plan's provisions.

General:

The Plan is a profit sharing plan and provides for employee contributions under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). A portion of the administrative costs related to the Plan are absorbed by the Company.

The Plan was restated effective January 1, 2013 and amended effective July 22, 2014 to make adjustments in the Plan document as required by the IRS.

Eligibility:

Employees of Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland (Third Federal) with at least one year of eligible service are entitled to participate in the Plan following the completion of the eligibility requirements. A participant is credited with one year of eligible service for each "computation period" in which he completes at least 1,000 hours of service. An employee shall be deemed to meet this requirement on the date he first completes 1,000 hours of service in his most recent 12 consecutive months of employment. A participant must also be at least 18 years of age to become eligible for matching contributions (Tier I) and discretionary profit sharing contributions (Tier II) and at least 18 years of age for discretionary contributions (Tier III). Prior to January 1, 2015, participants were required to be 21 years old for discretionary contributions (Tier III).

Contributions:

Employee Contributions: The Plan allows participants to contribute up to 75% of their eligible compensation to the Plan, up to the IRS maximum. The Plan allows participants who have attained age 50 by the end of the Plan year to make catch-up contributions in accordance with Code Section 414(v). Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified plans.

Employer Matching Contributions: Third Federal makes a matching contribution (Tier I) equal to 100% of 401(k) deferrals up to the first 4% of compensation deferred.

Employer Discretionary Contributions: Third Federal may make a discretionary profit sharing contribution (Tier II) or a discretionary contribution (Tier III) to eligible participants. There were no Tier II profit sharing contributions made in 2015 or 2014. For 2015 and 2014, Tier III contributions of 2.5% of eligible wages were made.

Contributions are subject to limitations on annual additions and other limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code as defined in the Plan agreement.



1	Description of Plan, Continued

	Participants' Accounts:

	Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution, an allocation of Third Federal's contributions, if eligible, and Plan earnings net of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant contributions, participant earnings, or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's account.

	Vesting:

	Participants are 100% vested in their own contributions and income thereon, at all times. Amounts contributed to a participant's Tier I and Tier II will be immediately 100% vested. Vesting of Tier III contributions is based on years of service in accordance with the table below:

		Years of
		Service	%
		Less than 2	—%
		2	25%
		3	50%
		4	75%
		5 or more	100%

	Retirement, Death and Disability:

	A participant is entitled to 100% of his or her account balance upon normal retirement, death or disability.

	Forfeitures:

	At December 31, 2015 and 2014, forfeited non-vested accounts totaled $1,064 and $285, respectively. Forfeitures used to reduce contributions were $17,871 in 2015 and $41,192 in 2014. The Plan also allows forfeitures to be used to pay administrative expenses. For the plan years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan used $0 and $10,765, respectively, of forfeitures to pay administrative expenses.

	Payment of Benefits:

	Upon termination of service, a participant may elect to receive an amount equal to the value of the participant's vested interest in his or her account in a lump-sum amount or transfer the value of the vested interest in his or her account to the trustee or custodian of another qualified retirement plan.

Description of Plan, Continued

Plan Termination:

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, Third Federal has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA and its related regulations. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts.

Investment Options:

Upon enrollment in the Plan, a participant may direct employee and employer contributions to any of the investment options offered by the Plan. Participants are allowed to change their investment options once per day.

Investments in TFS Financial Corporation stock, the employer stock of Third Federal Savings, are based upon each employee's investment allocation. Purchases of stock occur when the custodian receives the employee and employer contributions. These purchases are conducted through a broker at the prevailing market price of the stock on the exchange in which these shares trade.

Notes Receivables from Participants:

Participants may borrow from their Tier I fund accounts up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance. Loan transactions are treated as a transfer to (from) the investment fund from (to) the Loan Fund. The term of the loan shall not exceed five years unless the loan is for the purchase of a primary residence. The loan must bear interest at a reasonable prevailing rate. Participant loans are categorized as notes receivable from participants. These loans are valued at unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest.

The Plan considers a loan in default when the participant fails to comply with the loan note and security agreement for a period of 90 days. In the event of default, the Plan Administrator may declare the loan payable due in full immediately. At that time, there shall be a "deemed distribution" from the participant's account in the amount of the outstanding loan balance. Participant loans continue to accrue interest until the loan is settled by repayment or distribution from participant's account, including "deemed distribution". There were no participant loans in non-accrual status at December 31, 2015 or 2014.

Transfer from Associate Stock Ownership Plan (ASOP):

Participants in the ASOP who are at least age 55 with at least five years of vested service may elect to transfer all or any portion of their accounts in the ASOP to the Plan under the diversification provision of the ASOP. During 2015 and 2014, participants elected to transfer $1,816,145 and $1,594,055, respectively, from their accounts in the ASOP to their accounts in the Plan.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The policies and principles which significantly affect the determination of net assets and results of operations are summarized below.

Accounting Method:

The Plan's financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Continued

Valuation of Investments and Income Recognition:

The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Quoted market prices are used to value investments in registered investment companies and TFS Financial Corporation stock. Units of pooled separate accounts are valued by the asset custodian at the daily net asset value, which represents the cumulative market values of the pooled separate accounts' underlying investments. The Third Federal CD Portfolio is valued at the original cost plus the accrued interest which approximates fair value.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Plan management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts and disclosures, and actual results could differ from these estimates.

Risks and Uncertainties:

The Plan provides for various investment options including any combination of mutual funds, pooled separate accounts, and other investment securities. The investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investments and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the values of investments, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investments will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits and participants individual account balances.

Payment of Benefits:

Benefits are recorded when paid.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance that eliminates the requirement to categorize investments in the fair value hierarchy if their fair value is measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) using the practical expedient in the FASB's fair value measurement guidance. An entity must disclose the amount of investments measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) under the practical expedient to allow reconciliation of total investments in the fair value hierarchy to total investments measured at fair value in the statement of changes in net assets. The accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (effective January 1, 2016 for the Plan) and should be implemented using a retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Plan's financial condition or results of operations.

In July 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting guidance, Plan Accounting: Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Topic 960), Defined Contribution Plans (Topic 962), Health and Welfare Benefit Plans (Topic 965): (Part I) Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts, (Part II) Plan Investment Disclosures, (Part III) Measurement Date Practical Expedient. Part I of the ASU is not applicable to the Plan. Part II of the ASU eliminates the requirements to disclose individual investments that represent 5 percent or more of net assets available for benefits and the net appreciation or depreciation in fair value of investments by general type. It also simplifies the level of disaggregation of investments that are measured using fair value. Plans will continue to disaggregate investments that are measured using fair value by general type; however, plans are no longer required disaggregate investments by nature, characteristics and risks. Further, the disclosure of information about fair value measurements shall be provided by general type of plan asset. Part III of the ASU is not applicable to the Plan. The ASU is effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. Management has elected to adopt Part II early and, accordingly, the presentation of the financial statements and notes herein have been changed and reflect such adoption.

Investments

The Plan's investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in value by $5,194,995 in 2015 and $7,225,745 in 2014.

In 2015 and 2014, the Plan's investments earned interest and dividend income of $1,145,441 and $778,965, respectively. Of these amounts, $58,153 (2015) and $73,405 (2014) was interest earned on the Third Federal CD portfolio. Dividends earned on TFS Financial Corporation common stock in 2015 and 2014 were $436,025 and $186,881, respectively.

Fair Value Measurements:

Under generally accepted accounting standards, a framework has been established for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the framework are described below:

Level 1

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.

Level 2

Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

Inputs other that quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;

Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The asset's or liability's fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Pooled separate accounts and the CD portfolio can be redeemed on a daily basis with no redemption restrictions. If the Plan were to initiate a full redemption of the pooled separate account, the investment adviser reserves the right to temporarily delay disbursements from the trust in order to ensure that securities liquidations will be carried out in an orderly business manner. Mutual funds and common stock trade within industry standard settlement periods with no redemption restrictions. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, there are no unfunded commitments related to the Plan's investments.

The investment strategies for the Plan's investments are varied and include long term growth of capital and income, market capitalization, high level of current income consistent with preservation of principal and maintenance of liquidity. They may invest in a broad range of domestic and foreign equities, real estate investments and fixed income funds with the objective of matching or exceeding the total return of certain market indices.

Investments, Continued

Fair Value Measurements, Continued:

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value:

Common stock and Registered Investment Companies: Valued using the market approach at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities were traded.

Pooled Separate Accounts: Valued at the net asset value ("NAV") of shares held by the Plan at the year-end.

CD Portfolio: Valued at the original cost plus accrued interest.

There were no changes to the valuation techniques used in fair value measurements at December 31, 2015 or 2014.

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.



The following table sets forth by level on a recurring basis, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan's assets at fair value as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

		Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2015
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total

Pooled Separate Accounts		$	—	$	31,053,885	$	—	$	31,053,885
Registered Investment Companies		38,003,904		—		—		38,003,904
Common Stocks		23,935,705		—		—		23,935,705
CD Portfolio		—		14,934,631		—		14,934,631
	Total Investments at Fair Value	$	61,939,609	$	45,988,516	$	—	$	107,928,125



	Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total

Pooled Separate Accounts	$	—	$	30,571,969	$	—	$	30,571,969
Registered Investment Companies	33,479,670		—		—		33,479,670
Common Stocks	19,866,947		—		—		19,866,947
CD Portfolio	—		13,569,316		—		13,569,316
Total Investments at Fair Value	$	53,346,617	$	44,141,285	$	—	$	97,487,902

There were no significant transfers in or out of Levels 1, 2, or 3 during the year ended December 31, 2015 or 2014. In the event that transfers between levels occur, the transfers are deemed to have occurred as of the end of the reporting period in which the transfer occurs.

Concentration of Investments

Included in investments are shares of TFS Financial Corporation common stock amounting to $23,935,705 (2015) and $19,866,947 (2014). This represents 22% and 20% of total investments as of that date for the years 2015 and 2014, respectively. A significant decline in the market value of TFS Financial Corporation's stock would significantly affect the net assets available for benefits.

Tax Status

The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed Third Federal, by letter dated October 21, 2014, that the restated Plan is designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Recent plan amendments were not included in the 2014 favorable determination. However, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and that, the Plan continues to qualify under the IRC and the related trust continues to be tax-exempt as of December 31, 2015. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements do not include a provision for federal income taxes.

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability if the Plan has taken uncertain tax positions that more-likely-than-not would not be sustained upon examination by applicable taxing authorities. The Plan administrator has analyzed tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, there are no uncertain tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, that would require recognition of a liability or that would require disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions.

Party-in-Interest Transactions

Parties-in-interest are defined under Department of Labor Regulations as any fiduciary of the Plan, any party rendering service to the Plan, the employer and certain others. During 2015 and 2014, the Plan paid professional fees totaling $30,484 and $40,590, respectively, for the administration of the Plan. Certain Plan expenses relate to investments managed by Principal Financial Group, the Trustee as defined by the Plan, and therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest.

Certain Plan investments consist of shares of TFS Financial Corporation. Third Federal is the Plan sponsor, and TFS Financial Corporation is the parent company of the Plan sponsor. Certain Plan investments also consist of balances in Third Federal CD, which is managed by Third Federal. Therefore, these related transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

Subsequent Events

Management evaluates events occurring through the date the financial statements are issued in determining the accounting for and disclosure of transactions and events that affect the financial statements.

The Board of Directors approved a dividend of $.10 per share to stockholders of TFS Financial Corporation stock on February 25, 2016, payable on March 21, 2016 to shareholders of record as of March 7, 2016. On May 26, 2016, the Board of Directors approved another dividend of $.10 per share to stockholders of record on June 10, 2016 to be paid on June 24, 2016.

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AT END OF YEAR

Form 5500, Schedule H, Part IV, Line 4i

Third Federal

401(k) Savings Plan

EIN 34-057493

Plan Number 002

December 31, 2015

(b)

( c )

Identity of Issue,

Description of Investment Including

(e)

Borrower, Lessor,

Maturity Date, Rate of Interest,

(d)

Current

(a)

or Similar Party

Collateral, Par or Maturity Value

Cost

Value

Third Federal S&L

Third Federal S&L Certificate of Deposit Portfolio, due 6/16 - 11/20, 0.25% - 2.133%

N/R

14,934,631