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IRA

Things to Consider as You Set Up a SOSEPP

Do you know how to set up a SOSEPP (72t) plan? It’s got to be done correctly, otherwise you’ll face some big problems and penalties.

The Heartbreak of Withholding From Indirect Rollover

An indirect rollover can cause problems, not the least of which is the mandatory withholding if the source account is an employer plan (401k).

IRAs Do Not Pass Through Your Will

Here’s a little fact that you may not realize:  when you assign a beneficiary for your IRA account, you are effectively bypassing any outside action against that account, including your will – assuming that the beneficiary assigned is appropriate. For most assets that you own, when you pass away, your last will and testament determines who will receive the assets. You may want to make sure that your daughter gets the heirloom china set, and your son receives the antique car, among other things – so you direct these wishes through your will. If you don’t have a will, your state of residence, through the probate process, determines how your assets are distributed. Generally this will direct your estate to your living heirs in order, from your surviving spouse to your children and then grandchildren. It’s different in each state, so it really makes a lot of sense to get […]

60-day Rollover Waivers

If you missed the 60-day window for a rollover, there are waivers that may apply to your situation. You have some homework to do, though.

Not So Fast! 9 Special Considerations Before Rolling Over Your 401(k)

If you are leaving an employer you may think it’s a no-brainer to rollover your 401k to an IRA or a new employer plan. Not so.

Converting Directly From a 401(k) to a Roth IRA

Converting directly from a 401k to a Roth IRA used to be a two-step process. But since 2008, this type of conversion has been very straightforward.

The Importance of IRA Custodial Documents

Most of us don’t pay attention to or even read the custodial documents that we receive when we open an IRA. It could cost you…

3 Ways to Do a Roth Conversion – Tax Free

There are several ways to do a tax free Roth conversion, and this article explains three ways you can do it.

Early Withdrawal from Retirement Plans

If you’re considering an early withdrawal from your retirement plan, there are tax consequences that you need to be aware of.

Will TCJA Encourage QCD?

A byproduct of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act may be a new appreciation for and much greater use of the QCD for charitable contributions from your IRA.

Disclaiming an Inherited IRA

Disclaiming an inherited IRA must be done with caution. There may be many reasons to do this, and there are many ways to mess it up.

IRA RMD Reporting

IRA RMD reporting may be a mystery – it’s not that complicated though. And the IRS is watching your every IRA move, so never fear, they’ll know.

New Deadline for Rollover of 401k Loan Distributions

TCJA allows an extended period of time to rollover 401k loan distributions. This will help folks who have left a job with outstanding 401k loans

Back-door Roth Blessed by Congress

The back-door Roth contribution method has always had an air of skepticism around it. With the passage of TCJA, the skepticism should be gone.

Roth Recharacterization is No Longer Allowed

Although used by few taxpayers, the Roth conversion recharacterization strategy is no longer allowed after the passage of the TJCA 2017.

Non-Spouse Rollover of Inherited IRA or Plan

Is a non-spouse rollover of an inherited IRA allowed? It depends on what you mean by rollover. There are many restrictions for the non-spouse beneficiary.

Creditor Protection for Retirement Plan Assets

Are my retirement accounts protected from a creditor in the case of bankruptcy? In most cases the answer is yes, but not always.

A SIMPLE Kind of Plan

The SIMPLE Plan is a type of retirement account for small businesses that is simpler (ah hah!) to administer and more portable than the 401(k) plans that are more appropriate for larger businesses.  SIMPLE is an acronym (probably a backronym, more likely) which stands for Savings Incentive Match PLan for Employees. A SIMPLE typically is based on an IRA-type account, but could be based on a 401(k) plan. What we’ll cover here is the IRA-type of SIMPLE plan.  The difference (with the 401(k)-type) is that there are more restrictions on employer activities, and less room for error (as can be the case with 401(k) plans). A SIMPLE Kind of Plan Much like a regular 401(k) plan, a SIMPLE Plan is an agreement between the employer and employee where the employee agrees to a salary deferral.  This deferral effectively reduces the employee’s taxable take home pay, and the employer then contributes […]

Recharacterizing

How much do you know about recharacterizing IRA contributions? I bet it’s not enough to keep yourself out of trouble, if the need arises…

IRA Distribution Pro-Rata Rule

How does the pro-rata rule for IRA distributions work? Can it cause problems as I implement the back-door Roth conversion strategy?